MICF Assists Community, Announces Grants

Projects of a number of organizations to improve the community received $18,730 in grants from the Mackinac Island Community Foundation this winter. The grants were announced by Jennifer Bloswick, executive director, Sunday, December 3, during the Christmas Bazaar.

"This has been a very exciting year for the Community Foundation," said Mrs. Bloswick. "I think our fall grant awards are some of our best yet. The Foundation and local nonprofits are really teaming up to fund some very exciting programs. None of this would be possible without our very generous donors, and we are very grateful to them for making all of this possible."

Nine grants were awarded Sunday.

• Allied Emergency Medical Services received $8,200 to send five ambulance corps recruits to training in St. Ignace to become emergency medical technicians. Although enough students participated, St. Ignace instructors were not willing to fly to the Island to provide the classes, Allied reported.

• Allied Emergency Medical Services also will receive $1,730

for a mannequin that can be used for practicing airway access and protection.

• Mackinac Island Public School will use $2,400 to allow mathematics teachers to monitor calculations students are making on calculators and provide immediate feedback. The capability will allow teachers to better assist students as they work through mathematics problems.

• Mackinac Island Public School also was awarded $1,400 for a high school ski trip to Boyne Highlands in Boyne Falls.

• Mackinac Island Public School received $599.95 to reorganize the library to better accommodate evening and weekend hours.

• Mackinac Island Public School will be given $1,100 for a computer projector.

• Mackinac Island Fire Department was awarded $250 for smoke detectors, which will be available to residents who do not have them.

• Trinity Episcopal Church was given $500 to be used by Pat McCreary of St. Ignace to gather an oral history from 10 Straits area residents. The history will be housed at the Mackinac Island Library.

• Mackinac Island Girl Scouts will receive $800 to enable them to earn a mushing badge. Girl Scouts will travel to Boyne Highlands and learn how to raise and train sled dogs, and they will have the opportunity to drive a sled dog team.

• Mackinac County Child Protection Roundtable was granted $550 to enable a youth mentioning program on the Island.

The Community Foundation provides grants to support nonprofit projects, with funding coming from earned income on endowed funds. Many of the endowments have been created by donors to support programs in specific areas of interest.

Applications for the spring round of grants are due April 15.

Foundation officers include Chairman Wesley Maurer, Jr., Vice-chairman R. Daniel Musser III, President Bradley Chambers, Secretary Margaret Doud, and Treasurer Mike Young. The Foundation board includes Penny Barr, Jack Dehring, Charles Kleber, Kimberly Kolatski, Kathleen Lewand, John Lore, Mary K. McIntire, Walter North, Carol Rearick, and Lorna Straus.