Gratiot Community Foundation reaches milestone
Organization hits $6M in grants given
The Gratiot County Community Foundation has reached a significant milestone.
Since awarding its first $500 grant in 1995, the nonprofit organization recently reached the $6 million mark, according to Board President Tim Lambrecht.
“This amazing milestone is a testament to the generous donors who have made a commitment to our community,” he stated in a press release. “It is also a tangible reminder of the important role that the Foundation plays in helping make Gratiot County a better place to live.”
Countywide strategic planning regarding the formation of the foundation began in 1992, and was incorporated later that year.
Since then it has provided funding for emergency services, community development, education, senior citizen and youth programs, science and technology, arts and recreation, and grants to address hunger and homelessness in the local community, among other worthy causes.
“We are fortunate we live in a generous community that holds the idea of giving back as a core value,” Foundation Executive Director Tina Travis stated in the press release. “It is thanks to our donors that our endowments generated over $600,000 to grant this year. Those dollars will be particularly critical in responding to local needs resulting from the global (COVID-19) pandemic.”
The $ 6 million mark was reached following the fall grant cycle, she added.
Among those awarded funding was the Gratiot County Players, who received $20,000 for the purchase of new seats at the Strand Theater in Alma. In the past the group has also received grants to pay for the theater’s facade renovations, sound and lighting systems, listening equipment for the hearing impaired, and summer youth workshops, among other projects.
In addition, the Perrinton Fire Department was given a $10,000 grant for communications equipment and the Keep Alma Beautiful Committee was awarded $ 2,500 for a downtown mural project.
The foundation also has a Youth Advisory Council, which is comprised of nearly 100 area high school students who get involved in community service projects.
The group has awarded more than $ 100,000 in grants to youth organizations such as 4-H Clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Little League, and individual school classrooms, among many others
The foundation also awards a variety of scholarships each year to high school, college and vocational students from the county.
All donations, which are tax deductible, are endowed and never spent. Instead they are invested to generate new grant dollars annually. Donors can choose to support one of the more than 100 funds already created or establish one of their own, Travis said.
Gifts to the foundation can be cash, real estate, life insurance policies or personal property made during one’s lifetime or through wills and trusts.
For a list of funds currently available visit www. gratiotfoundation.org.
For more details on giving contact Travis at ttravis@gratiotfoundation.org or call her at 989- 8750230.
The next grant application deadline is Feb. 1. For information on how to apply contact Program Officer Ashtyn Maniez at amaniez@gratiotfoundationorg. or call her at 989- 8754222.