Thanks to hard working people who truly care about the condition of the community at large, more than three dozen agencies will share in more than $65,000 this year in special grants from “The Heart of Cook,” generated by the men and women who work at the Cook Nuclear Plant at Bridgman operated by Indiana Michigan Power.
This year’s Heart of Cook award grants will go to 38 non-profit organizations under the corporate-advised fund held by the Berrien Community Foundation.
Shane Lies is Site Vice President at the Cook Plant. He says, “This year, our fund allowed us to give out a few more dollars than we have in the past.” He was on hand to present awards at a reception held Thursday night in Bridgman. He adds, “The need is never ending, and we are pleased that this employee-driven effort is able to provide some additional support for these very important community organizations.”
The 2019 grants will support a wide range of programming with everything from school supplies and fire safety programs to services for people with disabilities. The Heart of Cook focuses on programs that address education, human services and environmental projects and gives priority to programs that involve a Cook Nuclear plant employee.
While the Heart of Cook grant program is administered by the Berrien Community Foundation, a committee comprised of Cook Nuclear Plant employees reviews all of the grant applications and makes decisions. This year, the Heart of Cook committee received and reviewed over 68 grant applications requesting more than $300,000.
Organizations receiving 2019 grants include:
- Advancing Christ’s Kingdom Ministries-Michigan City
- Alano House of Southwest Michigan
- Bangor Community Fire Department
- Berrien Community Foundation
- Berrien Conservation District
- Bethany Christian Services
- Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor Michigan
- Bread of Life Food Pantry
- Bridgman Fire and Rescue Department
- Coloma Downtown Development Authority
- Coloma Youth Baseball/Softball Association
- Disability Network Southwest Michigan
- Fairplain Presbyterian Church
- Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank
- Friends of the Lincoln Township Public Library
- Gateway, Inc.
- Immanuel Lutheran Church
- Kinexus
- Lake Michigan Catholic Schools
- Lakeshore Public Schools
- Lest We Forget
- Logan Community Resources, Inc.
- MyTeam Triumph Southwest Michigan
- National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, Rebecca Dewey Chapter
- New Life Church
- Niles District Library
- North Central Community Action Agencies
- Paris’ Purse
- Readiness Center, Inc.
- Relevant Church
- River Valley Senior Center
- Senior Nutrition Services Region IV, Inc.
- Servants at Work
- Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church
- SW Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force
- Therapeutic Equestrian Center
- Three Oaks Township Public Library
- Water Street Glassworks
Grant applications for 2020 will be available in January by contacting the Berrien Community Foundation at www.berriencommunity.org.
Indiana Michigan Power is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana and serves more than 580,000 customers in Indiana and Michigan. As part of American Electric Power, I&M is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. For more information visit www.indianamichigan power.com or www.cookinfo.com
The goal of the Berrien Community Foundation is to connect needs with resources in the community. Working with individuals, corporations and other foundations, BCF creates endowments and other funds that support the ever-changing needs of Berrien County. For more information about BCF and how you can create your own legacy of giving, visit their website at www.BerrienCommunity.org or call (269) 983-3304.
In the photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market, as provided by Heart of Cook, Cook Plant Site Vice President Shane Lies has handed over a Heart of Cook Grant Award check to New Life Church Food Pantry volunteers Evan Kirby, Cole Kirby and Angela Story.
