Saginaw, Mich. – The Saginaw Community Foundation (SCF) granted $138,907 in the third quarter to support 20 programs and projects in the Great Lakes Bay Region via its administrative and  competitive grant processes.

“We strive to grant funds to support programs that will truly make a difference in our communities,” said Reneé Johnston, president and CEO of the foundation. “Every person who has supported the foundation – whether through donations, volunteering or advocacy – has helped us give much needed support to area programs. It’s people like you who truly help make an impact in Saginaw and make our community a better place.”

Programs managed by a variety of organizations were supported, including Carrollton Public Schools – Cavalier Teen Center Boys and Girls Club, Saginaw Area Foundation for Eye Care and Saginaw Charter Township. Grants came from the Dow Corning Donor Advised Fund, the Nexteer Steering the Future Fund, the SCF Unrestricted Fund, as well as various Field of Interest funds, including the YWCA Fund for Women and Girls.

Carrollton Public Schools – Cavalier Teen Center Boys & Girls Club received a grant of $12,500 ($10,000 from the Lulah C. McMullen & Family Endowment Fund; $2,500 from YWCA Fund for Women and Children). The grant will assist with the district’s operation of an after school program five days a week at the elementary and middle schools in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of the Great Lakes Bay Region and the United Way of Saginaw County. The program will serve approximately 225 students, providing a safe, supervised, structured program that will help them with homework and teach essential skills.

With a grant of $7,500 from the Lulah C. McMullen & Family Endowment Fund, the Saginaw Area Foundation for Eye Care (SAFE) will be able to serve an additional 120 patients in the region. SAFE operates a mobile eye care van (a 38-foot long bus) to provide underinsured and uninsured residents with eye care services. Services include eye exams, eye glasses and, if necessary, follow-up treatment in an office and/or surgery.

Saginaw Charter Township received a grant of $5,000 from the SCF Unrestricted Fund to assist with new playground equipment at Sandhill Park, located in the southeast corner of the township. Additional renovations/improvements at the park are either underway or complete and new playground equipment add the finishing touch to a renewed commitment to the park.

The next grant deadline is Nov. 1. Organizations interested in applying for a grant through the Saginaw Community Foundation can learn more at saginawfoundation.org, or contact Kendra Kempf at (989) 755-0545 or kendra@saginawfoundation.org.

The following Saginaw Community Foundation funds provided administrative grants:

Bierlein Family Diabetes Fund – $20,800

Covenant HealthCare Foundation – $18,300 (support for 33 campers to attend Camp Midicha [diabetes camp])

JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) – $2,500 (for program support)
Dow communityGives Fund

Saginaw Spirit Foundation – $1,000 (for 2001 Junior Spirit)

Dow Corning Donor Advised Fund

Saginaw Valley State University – $4,000 (for Great Lakes Bay Regional Youth Leadership Institute)

Nexteer Steering the Future Fund – ($5,000)

City Rescue Mission – $1,500 (for Women’s Emergency Shelter living area furniture)

Christian Youth Fellowship Association of Saginaw (CYFAS) – $1,000 (for umpire training)

First Ward Community Service – $1,800 (for KidsFit)

Friends of Hoyt Park – $700 (Youth & family community skating, sledding, music and extra activities)

Virginia & Don Nash Fund

Child Abuse and Neglect Council Great Lakes Bay Region – $5,000 (for new building construction)

Robert E. Stark & Martin H. Stark Foundation Fund – ($4,000)

Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame – $2,000 (for general support)

Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame – $1,000 (for construction of new facility)

SVSU Foundation – $3,000 (Watrous/Stark Scholarship)

The following organizations received competitive grants for projects from Saginaw Community Foundation:

A & D Charitable Foundation – $5,000 (from the Lulah C. McMullen & Family Endowment Fund) 

The Great Lakes PACE Facilities Fund

Carrollton Public Schools – $12,500 ($10,000 from the Lulah C. McMullen & Family Endowment Fund; $2,500 from YWCA Fund for Women and Children)
Cavalier Teen Center Boys & Girls Club

Covenant Healthcare – $ 4,679.64 from Senior Citizen Enrichment Fund)
Exercise class for oncology population

Mexican American Council, Inc. (MAC) – $6,000 ($5,000 from the Lulah C. McMullen & Family Endowment Fund; $1,000 from YWCA Fund for Women and Children)
MAC tutorial program

Saginaw Area Foundation for Eye Care – $7,500 (from the Lulah C. McMullen & Family Endowment Fund)
Site to Sight

Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra – $3,000 (from SCF Unrestricted Fund)
SBSO Guest Artists 2014-2015

Saginaw Charter Township – $5,000 (from SCF Unrestricted Fund)
Sandhill Park playground equipment

Saginaw Community Concert Association– $5,000 ($3,000 from SCF Unrestricted Fund; $2,000 from Senior Citizen Enrichment Fund)
SVCA Concert Season 2014-2015

Saginaw Community Foundation-Youth First  – $12,679 ($10,000 from the Lulah C. McMullen & Family Endowment Fund; $2,679 from YWCA Fund for Women and Children)
Support for Youth First After School Program

Saginaw County Youth Protection Council – $7,748 (from the Lulah C. McMullen & Family Endowment Fund)
Teen parent services

Saginaw Kiwanis Foundation – $5,000 (from SCF Unrestricted Fund)  
Camp Kiwanis

Temple Theatre Foundation – $20,000 ($15,000 from SCF Unrestricted Fund; $5,000 from Senior Citizens Enrichment Fund)
2014-15 Red Carpet Series

Tittabawassee Township – $5,000 (from Senior Citizens Enrichment Fund)
Freeland-Kochville Trail: Phase I