The Berrien Community Foundation has announced $270,000 in grants to community organizations throughout the county as it held its 73rd Annual Meeting and Celebration on Thursday night.
BCF President Lisa Cripps-Downey tells us the event is a way for volunteers from throughout the community to celebrate their achievements and look ahead to the year ahead.
Five major awards were announced Thursday, including the $75,000 Alamar Nonprofit Sustainability Grant, which this year went to Rising Kites. It’s a group that seeks to celebrate the gift of Down syndrome with encouragement, resources, inclusion, and support. It runs Rising Kites Coffee shop in Bridgman.
“It started as a small coffee shop, and now they are including some other work opportunities for people with developmental disabilities,” Cripps-Downey said. “This is just a really great way for them to stabilize and to sustain the growth that they’ve had.”
Cripps-Downey says the Carolyn’s Kids grant program also announced $140,000 in grants. $50,000 is going to the Child Advocacy Center to help children and adults recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse. $50,000 also went to Ready For School for the literacy program, Reach Out and Read.
Cripps-Downey says another $40,000 grant went to United Through Motherhood as group founder, Ruth Kremer, was accepting a Golden Acorn Volunteer Award.
“And then as a surprise as Carolyn Hanson provided a Carolyn’s Kids grant of $40,000 to United Through Motherhood so that she could continue the great work she’s doing.”
United Through Motherhood donates diapers to organizations throughout Southwest Michigan.
The $50,000 Stephen E. Upton “Love Your Community” Grant went to Samaritan Counseling Services to address the youth mental health crisis, and the Golden Acorn Award for Excellence was presented to Lake Michigan College.
Cripps-Downey says more than 200 people came out for the celebration at the Mendel Center, describing it as an “electric” night.
Photo: Mike Upton presents Samaritan Counseling Services’ Bruce Nitz and Kim Forsey with the $50,000 Stephen E. Upton Love Your Community Grant to address the youth mental health crisis.
