Community foundation awards over $75,000 in grants

PENTWATER — The Oceana Community Foundation awarded over $75,000 in total grants to 20 organizations during its Spring Community Grant round. 

“These investments support a wide range of initiatives across our county, focusing on community restoration, youth development, housing and family stability, animal welfare, local economic growth, and much more,” states a press release from the organization.

Basic needs grants were awarded to Trinity Lutheran Church to expand its food pantry building; Revive Church in Hesperia to create an essential needs pantry; and Rothbury Community Church to increase local, fresh foods at its pantry. 

Youth development awards went to The Playhouse at White Lake’s Rocking Confidence for its Songwriting and Private Rocker Musical; West Shore ESD’s Defined Careers online learning initiative; Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center’s expansion of services into Oceana County for child abuse victims; and MI Work’s pre-apprenticeship program. 

Environment focused grants were awarded to Pentwater Township for its Community Beach Restoration project and We Want the Land Coalition for eradication and control of invasive autumn olive species on its 650-acre Walkerville-area camp property. 

Support for local economic growth and planning funding was awarded to the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission for an Agricultural Cluster Impact Analysis and to the Village of Hesperia for its HesperiART Initiative. 

 “Twice a year, these requests to the foundation are a barometer for our area’s changing needs,” said Oceana Community Foundation CEO Tammy Carey. “Last fall, community organizations were looking for support for arts programs, public healthcare, and nonprofit programmatic support. However, this spring the focus shifted to meeting immediate community needs while fostering long-term impact. This grant cycle balances urgent support with strategic investments in youth, health, food, environment, and community infrastructure. Our donor-advised fund partners and supporters of the community investment fund allow the foundation to be flexible to our partners’ needs.”

Grants include:

• $4,650 – Camp Newaygo – True North for five full scholarships for STEM camp for girls 
• $5,000 – Family Promise of the Lakeshore for emergency assistance to families who are housing vulnerable

• $3,000 – Hospice of Michigan for their Gestures of Grace program providing essential support for uninsured and underinsured families during hospice care
• $1,200 – First Tee-West Michigan to provide 4-6 golf sessions at area schools
• $5,000 – Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center to expand child abuse services to Oceana County
• $5,000 – LASSI for a fenced in recreation area for dogs at the Oceana animal shelter
• $1,500 – Michigan Works! West Central for three youth not funded via other programs to participate in a pre-apprenticeship career program
• $4,530 – Oceana County Parks and Recreation Commission to add two concrete pads for ADA picnic tables at Cedar Point park
• $1,400 – Pentwater Historical Society for the ‘Journeys to Pentwater’ museum exhibit
• $5,000 – Pentwater Township for the beach restoration project at Charles Mears State Park.
• $2,500 – Revive Church to establish an essential needs pantry in their new downtown Hesperia church location
• $2,576 – Rothbury Community Church to increase local, fresh foods for their Helping Hands food pantry 
• $2,000 – Sable Points Lighthouse Keeper Association to provide maritime history materials to Lighthouse visitors and at area schools
• $2,500 – Tall Turf Ministries to purchase a camp defibrillator
• $5,000 – The Playhouse at White Lake to host a creative collaboration for the writing of its youth musical
• $5,000 – Trinity Lutheran Church for its pantry building expansion
• $5,000 – Village of Hesperia for two new art installations, a sculpture and mural
• $4,200 – We Want The Land Coalition for removal and control of invasive Autumn Olive species at the Walkerville area camp for women and girls
•  $5,000 – West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission for an agricultural cluster impact analysis
• $5,000 – West Shore Educational Service District to support school districts with transition age students with online learning resources towards future employment

Around $30,000 in this season’s grants came from funds advised by the foundation’s grant committee. The committee makes recommendations from the Foundation’s Community Investment Fund, which consists of unrestricted dollars to meet our community’s top needs, as well as from field of interest funds. These endowed funds were created to support specific charitable areas like health, arts and environment needs. In this round, $12,000 was granted from the community investment fund and an additional $18,000 came from field of interest funds, including the Bessie E. and Ethan Allen Gray Health Fund, Oceana County Parks and Trails Fund, Eugene Kuhne Fund, Healthy Youth Healthy Seniors Fund, the William R. Lathers Golden Township Fund, the R.P. and M.J. Henry Family Fund, and the Little Point Sable – Arts for Oceana County Fund.

Another $10,000 was granted under the direction of the foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee through the Oceana Youth Fund. This fund is led by local high school students and emerging philanthropists who meet monthly to identify youth needs in the community and schools and respond through grant-making and volunteerism.

In addition, $34,225 was granted by the foundation’s donor-advised fundholders and community partners. These grant recommendations came from the Gail Paulus Family Fund, Randall and Linda Wagner Family Fund, Mrs. Mullen’s Closet Fund, Frank Family Memorial Fund, William R. Lathers Foundation Fund, the Electric Forest Charitable Fund and an anonymous donor.

The next community grant application will open Aug. 1 with letters of intent due on Aug. 15 and full applications on Aug. 3. In mid-October, grantees will be notified of funding decisions. More information on the upcoming fall competitive grant round is available at www.oceanafoundation.org.

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