announcing the 2024 geographic Enrichment grant awards

We're excited to share that in October we responded to grant requests from nonprofit partners in four geographic areas in Charlevoix County. Thanks to our dedicated donors who look to us to make a difference close to home, grants have been awarded to nonprofits who will work to improve the quality of life on Beaver Island and in Boyne City, Charlevoix, and East Jordan. In all, $176,193 in grants were awarded during the Geographic Enrichment cycle.

In Boyne City, four organizations were awarded a total of $33,869. The Boyne Citizen, a local nonprofit news source for the Boyne area, received support for professional writers and editorial and bookkeeping services. Boyne District Library Children's Services will host a "Family Battle of the Books," which will meet once a month for four months, starting in January of 2025. A grant to the City of Boyne City supports the Community Heart & Soul initiative—a grass-roots program which emphasizes broad, locally-driven community engagement. The Boyne Valley Community Greenhouse will be expanding to offer a community space with a classroom and commercial kitchen for teaching people how to cook, preserve, and store their local harvest.

In Charlevoix, four organizations were awarded a total of $39,425. Funds to Charlevoix Township will support an engineering study and conceptual site plan which will allow the Township to begin the planning to improve access for all people at Charlevoix Township Park. Charlevoix Circle of Arts received support for its community outreach programs, particularly welcoming youth and lower-income families. The Charlevoix Historical Society will update their technology to keep up with the demands of their mission, which is to enrich Charlevoix culture through preservation, education, and engaging experiences celebrating our history. A grant to the Bergmann Center supports the necessary upgrading of internet equipment and connections to improve efficiency for all staff.

In East Jordan, five organizations were awarded a total of $70,275. A grant to the City of East Jordan supports park upgrades and amenities, such as lighting and memorial benches, as part of the current Memorial Park Improvements Project. Friends of the Jordan River Watershed received support for a professional redesign of the permanent, outdoor, year-round Jordan River flatboat exhibit that will better stand up to the elements and further inform visitors of this important legacy in local history. Training Wheels Childcare Center will purchase a play structure called the "Smart Play Nook"  to provide sensory, motor skill, cognitive, and social skill engagement for children 6 months and older. East Jordan High School will use their grant to make improvements to the community auditorium space, thus improving the audience experience at both school and community events and performances. Grant funds to The Depot Jordan Valley Teen Center will help to purchase and install appropriate fencing to increase the safety and security of East Jordan teens.

Finally, on Beaver Island, six organizations were awarded a total of $32,624. A grant to the Beaver Island Wildlife Club supports the building of a larger, ADA-compliant pier that will extend further into Lake Genesereth, ensuring that individuals of all physical abilities have the opportunity to enjoy fishing at one of the Island’s most beloved inland lakes. The Beaver Island Performing Arts Alliance grant supports a holiday concert for the community followed by an in-school performance and educational programming at the Beaver Island Community School in December. Grant funds to Tunes Music Makers will allow the organization to bring in an Indigenous fiddle instructor and to continue offering music lessons for children. The Beaver Island Historical Society will renovate the “Miss Bay City”, a trap net fishing boat, into an interactive museum exhibit. A Beaver Island Rural Health Center grant will replace obsolete equipment, such as office desk chairs, to make office operations more efficient and improve office morale. Funds to the Little Traverse Conservancy will support the purchase and protection of 40 acres of wetland property on the Island.

 

Meet the 2024-2025 YAC executive committee

Join us in welcoming the 2024-2025 YAC Executive Committee. These emerging philanthropists will help lead the C3F Youth Advisory Committee in their work this year – a big responsibility. Congratulations (from left to right) Treasurer Benjamin Schultz, Vice President Emma Patten, President Lindsey Jibson, and Secretary Olivia Pineda-Andersen.

Click the icon above to watch the video.

 

 

 

 

National philanthropy day

National Philanthropy Day, celebrated on November 15th, acknowledges the entire spectrum of services provided by the nonprofit community and recognizes the profound impact that philanthropy has on the fabric of society.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?

Our Legacy Society members are people who care about our community and included C3F in their Will, trust, or IRA to leave a legacy that will benefit C3F and area nonprofits forever. Learn how you can join Jon & Lisa today.

 

 

read jon and lisa's story here

WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

financial facts

An endowment is established and grown through donations from people like you. All donations, large and small, are joined together for investment and maximum impact. The principal value (all donations in the fund) is kept intact and a portion of the investment earnings is used for grants to nonprofit partners. An endowment is permanent, allowing donors to support the causes they care about most. Forever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON INSTAGRAM

Stay up-to-date with all the latest news and information about C3F and our programs by joining us on our Instagram Page! Just seach for us at CharlevoixC3F or follow this link.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grants in Action - preservation association of beaver island

At C3F we enjoy hearing about the ripple effects that can sometimes come from our grantmaking. Sometimes the ripples are small, and other times they can be more like big waves! A recent Geographic Enrichment grant to the Preservation Association of Beaver Island certainly felt some big ripples last year. The grant itself was to help the Irish Feile (Festival) bring a couple of Currach rowing teams to the Island to compete in an Irish cultural event. Festival organizers said, "the grant did much more than provide two days of Irish Currach rowing in beautiful Paradise Bay; it supported a festival that is an authentic cultural connection between Arranmore Island, Ireland and Beaver Island. A crowd of over 300 gathered on the Beaver Island Ferry Dock for the arrival of the over 120 people from our sister island and all will forever remember when the ramp of the Emerald Isle Ferry dropped and the Arranmore Pipe Band in their glory and their grief (they had just lost their band leader to a heart attack) marched onto the dock to cement a centuries old connection between Beaver Island and Arranmore Island. From that moment the festival took on a life of its own and all the planning in the world could not have anticipated the warmth and camaraderie that would permeate the island for the next few days.  The grant helped make that happen and the Currach Rowing was a major part of the festival, bringing festival goers together on the beach and in the boats and gave them common experiences to share during the festival." The Irish Feile takes place the second weekend in September each year. You can learn more about it here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067454371257

 

 

 

Grants in Action - crooked tree arts center theater painting

Crooked Tree Arts Center recently had help from a C3F Arts & Culture grant to paint their theater. While the organization had to overcome some delays and obstacles in getting this work done, it is now beautifully completed! Getting into all the lovely nooks and crannies up high was certainly a feat, and you can see how creative the team had to get with the scaffolding to reach everywhere they needed to paint. Thanks to many donors and the community, this theater is now freshly painted and gorgeous! If you haven't found a reason to get in there and check it out, you can stay tuned on CTAC's Facebook page to see what's coming up so you can catch the next show and enjoy this beautiful space. 

 

 

 

Grants in Action - Village of Boyne Falls Dam

The Village of Boyne Falls is stepping up to do something extraordinary – free the Boyne River’s South Branch of its only remaining dam. The Village owns Boyne Falls Dam on the South Branch of the Boyne River, a significant tributary to the Boyne River mainstem and Lake Charlevoix in Charlevoix County. The health of the Boyne River and Lake Charlevoix is essential to the region’s quality of life. The Village of Boyne Falls and community partners want to complete a feasibility study to provide a clear “road map” from which to base future management decisions for the dam and nearby infrastructure. Before they could do that, though, they needed to get the word out and have the community better understand what's at stake. A recent C3F Community Priorities grant helped the Village to create an informational pamphlet, explaining the problems and outlining the proposed solutions. The pamphlet is now available in Boyne Falls for anyone interested in learning more. Removing the dam will help to protect aquatic habitat diversity, protect and improve water resource quality, maintain excellent recreational opportunities, and support sustainable watershed management practices. Those interested in reading the full informational pamphlet or getting their own print copy can reach out to the Village of Boyne Falls at 231-549-2443, village011@centurytel.net, or you can swing by the village office on Mondays between 6:30 and 8pm. 

 

 

 

Grants in Action - Charlevoix-emmet isd

Many local families find themselves struggling to afford the cost of preschool tuition. Two government programs (federal and state) that provide free preschool to children based on financial need and risk factors fill to capacity quickly, leaving about 40 children in our area waiting for a preschool opportunity. A recent Community Priorities grant to Charlevoix-Emmet ISD helped to put 8 Charlevoix County kids through preschool in the '23-24 school year. Both pre and post preschool assessments showed developmental growth in students. Parents who received scholarships reported experiencing reduced stress levels and noted that their children were engaging more with others, communicating more effectively, and acquiring school readiness skills.

 

GRANTS IN ACTION - LITTLE TRAVERSE CONSERVANCY

The Little Traverse Conservancy set themselves a big goal when they worked with the sellers of the largest remaining undeveloped, unprotected shoreline on Lake Michigan in Emmet and Charlevoix Counties last year. With a price point of more than $3 million, every dollar really did count. A C3F Community Priorities grant, combined with more than 150 other donors and contributors, helped LTC to acquire the property and secure its protection forever. Sometimes, on these larger projects, our grants can seem like a drop in the bucket, but we believe in the power of collaboration because we have seen our community come together to do big things that matter, like this. Thanks to so many in our community who care for our natural resources, Enji-minozhiiyaamigak, the Place of Peacefulness, is now protected. Great news - you can go there because it's open to the public! And soon, there will be a universally accessible trail to enjoy as well. We are proud to have partnered with LTC on this work. 

 

 

GRANTS IN ACTION - NORTHERN MICHIGAN EQUINE THERAPY

NMET is dedicated to using the healing nature of horses as a therapeutic tool to enhance independence, self confidence, and quality of life for those living with physical and mental health needs Programs are offered by licensed and certified professionals From autism, depression, at risk youth and high anxiety, to spinal cord injuries and strokes, their promise is simple, horses heal humans. Due to inflation, costs of horse feed, hay, supplements, and vet care have increased exponentially. Grant funds will be used toward therapy horse costs.

 

 

GRANTS IN ACTION - solar boat washing station

Did you know? There is a new law requiring boaters to clean, drain, and dry their boats after exiting a body of water in Michigan, and before entering another body of water. This new law is intended to help stop the spread of invasive species in our beautiful lakes and rivers. Currently, one local organization is leading the pack in providing a practical way to comply with this new law. Thanks to an Environment & Land Use grant from C3F, Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy has installed solar boat washing stations at 4 of the 6 boat launches on Walloon Lake. Their larger goal is to have a boat wash station at all 6 of the launches, so they are well on their way, thanks to support from grants, the community, and collaboration with local townships. Right now, the only invasive present in Walloon Lake is Eurasian milfoil, and according to board chair, Russ Kittleson and former Executive Director, Josephine Roberts, (pictured with C3F Staffer, Ashley Cousens) they did not see an increase in that plant this year, a credit to the over 2,500 uses of the new boat wash stations around the lake. Each boat wash station includes a brush, vacuum, blower, and other tools to help boaters remove plants and water from their boats when they are ready to leave the lake. In this way, one small action from boaters can help to make a big ripple effect in protecting our beautiful natural resources.

 

 

 

GRANTS IN ACTION - Don & Eileen Klein Nature Trail 

We love a good collaboration! And the community of East Jordan is delivering a great one, as the team of partners bring the Don & Eileen Klein Nature Trail to fruition. A group of citizens, plus the City of East Jordan, Little Traverse Conservancy, Friends of the Jordan River Watershed, C3F, local businesses, and community donors are seeing the fruits of their labor! A grant through the C3F Geographic Enrichment cycle last year helped to bring the first trail segment to life. Beginning at Sportsman's Park, the universally accessible trail will continue on, with boardwalks and packed gravel, winding its way through the Jordan River Valley and up to meet the Rogers Homestead Preserve on the corner of Erie and Echo Streets in East Jordan. Way to work together to bring something truly awesome to our community!

 

 

grants in action - Good Neighbors food pantry of Boyne City 

Good Neighbors Food Pantry has been using a trailer (loaned to them each week by a friend of the pantry) to pick up the weekly 1,800 pounds of food from Manna Food Project in Harbor Springs, to stock the pantry in Boyne City. This trailer was old and in need of major repairs to make it safe for volunteer drivers. Grant funds helped Good Neighbors Food Pantry to purchase a new trailer with a braking system, which will provide the pantry with many years of reliable service.

 

grants in action - the honor star

Students from East Jordan and Boyne City designed and created a ten-foot stainless steel star in honor of local veterans through an artist in residence program hosted by the Jordan River Arts Council. With help from a Geographic Enrichment grant, JRAC hired Ann Gildner, an artist from the Industrial Arts Institute, to work with East Jordan High School welding students to design and build a sculpture for the Jordan Art Walk. Students brainstormed the words to be included on the star, which describe what it means to be a person in service to our country. A strong partnership emerged between JRAC, EJPS, Dave Muladore's welding class, and the American Legion through this work. The sculpture is now in a place of honor in the newly redesigned American Legion Veterans/ GAR Park on Main Street and is a permanent addition to the Jordan Art Walk.

 

GRANTS IN ACTION - Raven Hill discovery center - Smithsonian spark! Places of innovation exhibit

A recent Arts & Culture grant helped bring students out to Raven Hill Discovery Center for field trips to see the Smithsonian Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit while it was here, from August to early October 2023, showcasing innovations in rural areas. Cheri Leach also talked to students about some of the innovations at Raven Hill, like the magnet table, the energy bike, and the periodic table of elements. Connecting science, history, and art during a recent field trip, Cheri led 4^th graders from Boyne City (pictured) through a couple of rooms and then everyone spent some time exploring the hands-on features of the Spark! exhibit. Students were connecting what they learned at Raven Hill with what they were learning in their science classes at school and had fun doing it! The Smithsonian exhibit may have moved on, but there's always lots to see and learn at Raven Hill any time of year. 

 

 

 

grants in action - seed to salad program at EJPS

Last year, an East Jordan Geographic Enrichment Grant to EJPS made a huge difference for the school's outdoor garden program "Seed to Salad". 

With the support of a C3F grant, lots of donors and the help of the Shoe Club and the community, the Seed to Salad program installed a new hoop house and revitalized an indoor growing area. They purchased growing racks and lights for the indoor space and renovated the windows to provide light for plants. Students’ lives are being enriched through these additions – they are able to continue their hands on learning by growing plants year-round.

 

Youth Needs Grant success story - Boyne District Library

The C3F Youth Advisory Committee supported the Boyne District Library with funding to host “Family Dinner Book Club Nights” every Tuesday in March 2023. Families could join Ms. Mary for a delicious meal, reading of a children’s book, casual discussion, and activities for kiddos - all free of charge. By listening to the book reader, the children learned about how they can cope with their "worries" and "whatifs". Then they created a friendly looking "worry friend" out of yarn during craft time to help share their feelings when they can't quit find their words. The YAC were excited to see this grant come to fruition and to highlight youth mental health for young people and their families. Worries don't seem so big when you are able to share them with others.