Community Foundation Grants Focus on Island Youth Programs

Community projects will receive $12,740.92 in financial support from the Mackinac Island Community Foundation, awarded during the winter grant cycle and announced Sunday, December 2, during the Christmas Bazaar.

Over the last 10 years, $837,000 has been awarded by the Mackinac Island Community Foundation to nonprofit groups and programs. In 1997, during the first year of the grant program, $6,242 was awarded. This year, the Foundation awarded $88,456.99.

"The grants this fall have had a tremendous focus on programs for the Island youth," said Executive Director Jennifer Bloswick. "We are excited to be able to assist in programming that will provide them with educational and developmental opportunities. We are also very pleased to assist in carrying on existing critical programming, such as Meals on Snowmobiles and adult development programs like the weekly cooking class at Ste. Anne's."

Financial support is awarded to nonprofit organizations whose grant applications meet community needs, foundation guidelines, and were received by the November 1 deadline.

• Ste. Anne's Church will use $2,000 to help support the Meals on Snowmobiles Program. The volunteer service is managed by Kathy Andress. This year, Dan Seeley will help prepare the food and Vic Beaune will assist with snowmobile delivery. Each Tuesday and Thursday, the program provides hot meals to elderly and handicapped residents beginning in January. The service runs through St. Patrick's Day.

• Ste. Anne's Church will use $884 for a winter cooking class. Tim Leeper will lead the class that will begin January 15 and continue for eight weeks. The community is welcome and cooks will meet once a week at Ste. Anne's Church.

• Ste. Anne's Church will use $2,239.94 for equipment and food for a Teen Night Program for Saturday evenings. The church will purchase a television, Nintendo Wii video game system, video games, and food, for the kids to entertain themselves throughout the winter.

• Mackinac Island Public School will receive $1,716 fo a ski trip this winter to Boyne Highlands in Boyne Falls.

• Another $478 grant will buy hand weights to be used for physical education classes and be available to the community in the workout center.

• The school will use $1,200 to purchase golf equipment for use by physical education classes and the golf team.

• The City of Mackinac Island was awarded $1,000 to pay for gasoline to operate its senior transportation program provided through the police department. The department offers rides to residents 60 years and older, disabled citizens, and those with special needs who cannot be accommodated by the horse-drawn taxi service.

• Mackinac Island Police Department will be able to purchase waterproof binoculars designed for police use with $422.98. The binoculars will be used to view the waters surrounding the Island and the ice bridge this winter.

• Mackinac Island Arts Council will receive $800 to introduce children to the deaf music rapper D-Pan, which stands for Deaf Performing Artist Network. The program will teach students about overcoming physical limitations.

• Girl Scout Troop 127 will receive $2,000 to help fund a trip to Niagara Falls and to attend the theater in Toronto in April.

The Community Foundation provides grants from earned income on endowed funds. Many of the funds have been created by donors to support programs in specific areas of interest, such as community arts, youth activities, the environment, conservation, historical writing and preservation, health and human services, and horses.

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, Lorna Straus, and Randy Stuck.