Saginaw Community Foundation News

SCF grants $10,000 to support CAN Council’s Great Start University

2012-01-17

NEWS RELEASE
Saginaw Community Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 9, 2012

CONTACT
Rachel Esterline
Marketing & Communications Officer
(989) 755-0545

Saginaw Community Foundation grants $10,000 to
support CAN Council’s Great Start University program

Child abuse has been listed as one of Saginaw County’s top health concerns by the Department of Public Health’s Community Health Assessment. There were 1,195 confirmed victims of abuse in Saginaw County in 2009, according to KIDS COUNT Data Center.

One of CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region’s newest programs, Great Start University, supports parents and caregivers by improving their parenting skills through a 10-week course. The Saginaw Community Foundation recently granted $10,000 to support Great Start University.

“We’re looking forward to growing the program to reach all corners of our county, as well as providing education and support for parents,” said Suzanne Greenberg, CAN Council president and CEO.

In 2010, CAN Council started Great Start University as a pilot project modeled after the Harlem Children’s Zone, a project called “one of the most ambitious social-service experiments of our time,” by The New York Times.

“The program utilizes the Parenting Wisely curriculum, which teaches new skills for handling typical child development phases such as parenting your child when he or she interrupts you while on the phone, taking your child to the grocery store and so much more,” Greenberg said. “Frankly, we have so many requests for these classes that we are grateful to receive this investment in providing consistent parenting support across Saginaw County.”

The program is expected to serve approximately 250 parents in 2012.

“Over the last few years, research has shown that the optimal time for children’s learning is birth to age five,” said Reneé Johnston, Saginaw Community Foundation president and CEO. “We feel it’s important to support this program so that the children in our community can be successful through school, college and into their careers.”

Learn more about Great Start University at www.cancouncil.org. Information about grants offered by the Saginaw Community Foundation is available at www.saginawfoundation.org.

The Saginaw Community Foundation granted more than $72,000 in December 2011. The next grant application deadline is Feb. 1. The following organizations received grants for projects that affect the Saginaw community:

Underground Railroad - $5,000
Project: Girls on the Run - Securing the Future

CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region - $10,000
Project: Great Start University

Emmaus House - $10,000
Project: Homes for Hope

Saginaw Choral Society - $5,000
Mozart Requiem and African Sanctus Concert Production

Old Saginaw City - $1,627.87
Project: Saginaw River Walk

Thomas Township Parks Association - $10,000
Project: Roberts Park Expansion

Covenant HealthCare Foundation - $7,500
Project: Mid Michigan Teen Safe Driving Program

Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square - $3,183
Project: Getting Children Back to Nature, Back to School

Major Chords for Minors - $3,350
Project: Establishing a Performance Music & Instructional Library

Saginaw Valley State University - $2,000
Project: Saginaw County Juvenile Detention Center Mural Program

Saginaw Township Community Schools - $3,000
Project: Great Lakes Bay Great Read

Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra - $3,000
Project: Art in the Concert Hall

Chesaning Union High School - $3,027
Project: HD Video and Communications

Historical Society of Saginaw County - $5,289
Project: Let your Motto be Resistance

Saginaw Community Foundation in top philanthropic tier nationally

2012-01-09

NEWS RELEASE
Saginaw Community Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 9, 2012

CONTACT
Rachel Esterline
Marketing & Communications Officer
(989) 755-0545

Saginaw Community Foundation in top philanthropic tier nationally

Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Community Foundation recently received notification that it has met the nation’s highest philanthropic standards for operational quality, integrity and accountability.

The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations Program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration. The notice comes from the Council on Foundations, a national professional association based in Washington, D.C.

“In addition to affirming our philanthropic services, the National Standards validates our grantmaking practices for the nonprofit community,” said Reneé Johnston, Saginaw Community Foundation president and CEO.

The Saginaw Community Foundation helps Saginaw County residents build a better community by linking donor interests with the community's most pressing needs and promising opportunities. As a nonprofit corporation, the foundation serves three important constituencies: its donors who want to make a difference; the nonprofit organizations that provide services and programs essential in the community; and the individual communities within Saginaw County.

With more than 200 community foundations already confirmed in compliance nationwide, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisors.

“This is similar to the Good Housekeeping Seal for community foundations,” said Steve Gunderson, Council on Foundations president and chief executive officer.

The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations program is the first of its kind for charitable foundations in the United States.

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Applications for Saginaw Community Foundation scholarships due Feb. 1

2012-01-03

NEWS RELEASE
Saginaw Community Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 3, 2012

CONTACT
Rachel Esterline
Marketing & Communications Officer
(989) 755-0545

Applications for Saginaw Community Foundation scholarships due Feb. 1

Saginaw, Mich. - In 2011, the Saginaw Community Foundation awarded more than $345,000 in scholarships to more than 200 students. Students can apply for more than 150 different scholarships administered by the foundation with just one online application. Applications for 2012-2013 scholarships are due Wednesday, Feb. 1.

The Saginaw Community Foundation will offer one-on-one assistance with the scholarship application from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 1 Tuscola St., Suite 100 in Saginaw, Mich.

Parents and students may learn more by visiting www.saginawfoundation.org or contacting LeeAnn Martuch at 989-755-0545 or leeann@saginawfoundation.org.

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Local Foundation Hires New Marketing and Communications Officer

2011-12-05

NEWS RELEASE
Saginaw Community Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 5, 2011

CONTACT
Rachel Esterline
Marketing & Communications Officer
(989) 755-0545

Local Foundation Hires New Marketing and Communications Officer

Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Community Foundation recently hired Rachel Esterline as its new marketing and communications officer.

“I’m excited to join the Saginaw Community Foundation team because I am passionate about helping nonprofits succeed,” Esterline said. “I look forward to the challenge of increasing awareness for the foundation, as well as working with local organizations and donors.”

Esterline graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. She worked at AGP & Associates, a marketing communications agency in Midland, Mich., for two years before moving to the foundation.

“Rachel’s strong background in marketing and writing, as well as her expertise in public relations and social media, will be an asset to the foundation,” said Renee Johnston, Saginaw Community Foundation president and CEO. “She will be able to help take the foundation to a new level, enabling us to make an even bigger impact in the community.”

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About the Saginaw Community Foundation Since 1984, the Saginaw Community Foundation (SCF) has helped Saginaw County residents build a better community by linking donor interests with the community's most pressing needs and promising opportunities. As a nonprofit corporation, SCF serves three important constituencies

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2011-09-27

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Saginaw Community Foundation News

SCF grants $10,000 to support CAN Council’s Great Start University

Saginaw Community Foundation grants $10,000 to support CAN Council’s Great Start University program

Saginaw Community Foundation in top philanthropic tier nationally

Saginaw Community Foundation in top philanthropic tier nationally

Applications for Saginaw Community Foundation scholarships due Feb. 1

Applications for Saginaw Community Foundation scholarships due Feb. 1

Local Foundation Hires New Marketing and Communications Officer

Local Foundation Hires New Marketing and Communications Officer

Give more for less

Saginaw Community Foundation grants $10,000 to
support CAN Council’s Great Start University program