Community foundation awards over $23,000 in grants

HART — The Community Foundation for Oceana County recently awarded $23,699 in grants to area organizations. Support for these grants came from the Child Abuse & Neglect Fund, College Positive Communities YAC Challenge Grant, Bessie E. & Allen Gray Health Fund, William R. Lathers Golden Township Fund, Little Point Sable – Arts for Oceana County Fund and the Foundation’s Unrestricted & Youth Funds.

The Community Foundation for Oceana County was created in 1989 to improve the quality of life for Oceana County residents and is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The foundation receives and manages contributions from community citizens and organizations that are committed to the future of Oceana County. As of first quarter 2014, the foundation has assets of $ 8.3 million and has provided $3.1 million dollars in grants and scholarships back to the community since 1989.

The spring grant round provided support for 14 different programs and projects:

– American Red Cross – $1,225 recommended to provide fire preparedness and prevention trainings and information to families in Oceana County.

– Arts Council of White Lake: $1,365 to support Oceana Strings instruction – specifically to continue to support violin and cello introductory summer camp and to offer a new one day “Chamber Music Camp” for existing string students. Summer instruction will also include a “White Lake Guitar Fest” for 20 Oceana students in collaboration with Curt Isakson, band director and guitar instructor in Shelby schools.

– Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lakeshore: $1,000 recommended to establish a site based mentoring program called Lunch Buddies.

– COVE: $3,000 to help match funds from an anonymous donor to build a new shelter facility for victims of domestic violence and their families in Ludington.

– Fountain Hill Center for Counseling – $1,450 to develop the Parent U program to help parents achieve their greatest parenting potential with free education classes.

Golden Township – $3,000 for phase 1 development at Golden Township Park at Silver Lake Sand Dunes.

– Harbor House of Hart – $1,300 to restructure and re-roof a needed ministry outbuilding at the new family foster home facility in Hart for teen girls.

– Hart Area Public Library – $1,500 to create a stronger sense of community within Oceana County through the reading of one book, providing opportunities for dialogue and coming together for an author visit, as presented by all Oceana area libraries.

– Hesperia Community Schools – $1,000 to purchase books targeted to the interests of boys. The books will be placed on a mobile reading bus. The purpose of the bus is to provide children easy access to books over the summer to help reduce summer reading loss, serving rural Ferry, Hesperia and eastern Shelby district.

– Oceana Christian School – $2,000 to outfit a new computer lab and set up for technology classes.

– Oceana County Habitat for Humanity – $2,750 to provide minor exterior home repairs to low income homeowners, seniors and veterans.

– Oceana County Historical and Genealogical Society – $859 to enlarge and improve the exhibit space in the Old Town Hall in Mears and installing new carpet.

– True North Community Services:  $1,250 to provide a college and career readiness program.

– West Shore Educational Service District – $2,000 to provide children K-6 with hands-on science learning experiences.

– The Community Foundation for Oceana County awards grants to non-profit organizations and institutions twice each year (next deadline: September 30, 2014). Those interested in seeking a grant are asked to call Foundation Executive Director Tammy Carey at 231-861-8335 to discuss their proposal. Past grant awards and information on the online grant application process & guidelines can be accessed at the Foundation’s web site – www.oceana-foundation.org.