The South Haven Area Community Foundation has awarded $72,000 to 24 local nonprofits to help support educational, cultural, art, and youth programs and projects servicing the South Haven area. Its South Haven High School student affiliate, Youth Advisory Council, has awarded $6,861 in additional grant funding to support youth, educational and SHPS initiatives.
The Foundation continues to make sizable impacts in the South Haven area. Last year, the Foundation distributed $55,000 to grant applicants during the annual grant cycle, the most the organization has ever been able to distribute. “Over the last five years we’ve made it our goal to distribute substantially more to each grant recipient to increase the impact we have on our communities. We look forward to being able to continue giving more funding to more organizations,” says President Roger Beglin.
This year’s recipients include Junior Achievement of SW Michigan, Hope Parent Resource, Michigan Flywheelers Museum, Lory’s Place, The Mitten Children’s Museum, Al-Van Humane Society, South Haven Region Business Hub, South Haven Area Emergency Services, South Haven Theatre Series, People Helping People, Irving Gilmore International Piano Festival, South Haven Boating Foundation, South Haven Speakers Series, Foundry Hall Jazz Festival, South Haven Public Schools Maple Grove Elementary, We Care Community Resource Center, Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, Beautify Pullman, American Red Cross of SW MI, South Haven Scott Club, Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum Memorial Fund, Youth Development Company/PAL, City of South Haven, South Haven Center for the Arts, and Foundry Hall Riverfront Concert Series. A short ceremony was held during the June 5 City Council Meeting to honor the grantees. Local 501(c)(3) organizations interested in grant funding opportunities should visit www.southhavencf.com/grants.
The Youth Advisory Council of South Haven High School also awarded 10 grants to district applicants. The grants will fund the following South Haven Public School initiatives; third grade chapter book sets, SHHS Diversity Club events, College & Career Fair, SHHS art classes, PBIS incentives, SHHS store heat press, North Shore art exhibit, SHHS Quilting Club, Teacher Treat Fridays, SHHS yarn crafts and the South Haven Poetry Slam Project.
Each spring, The Foundation requests grant proposals from the area’s nonprofit organizations concentrating on art, culture, education, recreation, information and community health with the goal of enriching and improving the lives of area residents. To date, it has awarded over $700,000 to local organizations. Grant monies are made available by donations made to the South Haven Area Community Foundation endowment fund. In addition to grant distribution, The Foundation manages endowment funds for many local nonprofits and scholarship organizations. Those interested in starting an endowment fund or making donations to existing funds can contact the South Haven Area Community Foundation at execdirector@southhavencf.org. or visit www.southhavencf.org for more information.
