Between Jan. 9 – Mar.16, 2016, Saginaw Community Foundation (SCF) granted $207,563.36 supporting 49 programs and projects via its designated, donor advised and competitive grant processes.

“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,” said Reneé Johnston, president and CEO of the foundation. “We strive to grant funds to support programs that will make a difference in our communities.”

Programs managed by a variety of organizations were supported, including Major Chords for Minors, Saginaw Intermediate School District, and Underground Railroad, Inc. During this most recent grant cycle, grants awarded were funded by the Dow Corning Donor Advised Fund, the FORCE Youth Advisory Committee, the SCF Unrestricted Fund, the YWCA Fund for Women & Children, as well as various designated and donor advised funds.

Currently, SCF manages 25 unrestricted funds, 66 designated funds and 51 donor advised funds.

A $19,850 grant was awarded to Major Chords for Minors for its “Expand and Serve Initiative.” The initiative targets the expansion of two new programs: Major Chords for Minors Choir (The “Vocal Chords,” serving students grades 3-12) and Major Chords for Mini-Minors (serving children aged 1-5 and their parents). Both programs work to increase musical skills along with additional skills like including math and reading. Major Chords for Minors brings together students of different ethnicities and includes cross-community collaborations, including with Saginaw Valley State University. Funding for this grant was provided from the Arthur H. Webster Fund, FORCE Youth Advisory Committee and the YWCA Fund for Women & Children.

The Saginaw Intermediate School District received a $15,000 grant to be used for dorm expansion and safety and energy efficiency upgrades to the Hartley Outdoor Education Center in St. Charles. The project will expand the boy’s and girl’s dorms from 80 beds to 120 beds total (60 per side) along with complete remodel/upgrade of existing dorms, installation of a new fire suppression system, new bunks and mattresses, and provide needed renovations of the private rooms reserved for teachers staying overnight. The current dorms were constructed in 1975 and are unable to accommodate many schools with large class sizes. Funding for this grant was provided by the FORCE Youth Advisory Committee and the SCF Unrestricted Fund.

A $13,000 grant was awarded to Community Christian Reformed Church for the expansion of the church’s outreach program, The Caring Closet. Since 2013, The Caring Closet has been providing essential daily “living” needs for needy families, children, homeless and financially depressed residents living or residing in Saginaw County. Items such as clothing, shoes, bedding, basic household items and school supplies for children are distributed twice monthly on Saturday’s. Grant funding will support the construction of a new pole barn to be built adjacent to the church and will provide additional operational space necessary to serve the growing needs of the community. Funding for this grant was provided by the Dow Corning Donor Advised Fund and the Lulah C. McMullen & Family Endowment Fund.

Organizations interested in applying for a grant through SCF can learn more at our Grants page, or contact Kendra Kempf, program officer, at (989) 755-0545 or via email. 

The following SCF funds provided designated and donor advised (non-competitive) grants, Jan. 9 – Mar. 10, 2016:

Circle Michigan Fund – $166

Hamtramck School District (Dickinson West Elementary School field trip to Greenfield Village in May, 2016)

Dow communityGives Fund – $1,000

First Ward Community Center (Saginaw Gators Youth Basketball Team)

Dr. Roy A. Hills Endowment Fund – $11,738

Carrollton Public Schools – $1,000 (scholarships at Carrollton High School)

City Rescue Mission – $1,000 (program support)
East Side Soup Kitchen – $1,000 (program support)

Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences – $1,738 (College of Osteopathic Medicine Scholarship)

Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine – $1,000 (scholarships)

MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine – $1,000 (scholarships)

Public Libraries of Saginaw – $1,000 (Zauel Memorial Library)

Saginaw Public Schools – $1,000 (scholarships at Arthur Hill High School)

St. Mary’s of Michigan Foundation – $1,000 (Seton Cancer Institute)

St. Stephen Church – $1,000 (program support)

Salvation Army – $1,000 (program support)

James V. and K. Lucille Martineau Family Fund – $1,500

Downtown Saginaw Association – fiduciary for Project Lifesongs

National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors – $5,500

Michigan Blood – $500

Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum – $1,000

Midland Diaper Alliance – $2,000

Saginaw Children’s Zoo – $1,000

Salvation Army – $1,000

Saginaw Leadership Cares Fund – $2,734

SCF – Saginaw Promise Scholarship

Saginaw Public Schools Foundation Fund – $13,369

Saginaw Public Schools (to provide Teacher Mini-Grants)

Stevens Family Foundation Fund – $3,000

Urban Youth Tennis Foundation – $1,000 (supporting the Rock the Island Festival)

Thomas Township – $2,000 (new park building at the soccer complex)

David G. & Lois B. Wilkins Donor Advised Fund – $12,525

Links Foundation – $2,525 (Tri-City [Mich.] chapter of Links for STEM programming activities)

SCF – Jump Fresh Youth Academy Fund – $10,000

The following organizations received grants to support programs/projects via various competitive grants available through SCF:

American Red Cross – $5,000

(from the Dow Corning Donor Advised Fund)
Regional Home Fire Campaign

Bay Arenac ISD – $2,500

(from the Dow Corning Donor Advised Fund)
STEM Stations for Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Great Lakes Bay Region – $8,250

($7,500 from the At-Risk Youth Fund; $750 from the YWCA Fund for Women & Children)
Street Smart Program at Boys and Girls Clubs of the Great Lakes Bay Region’s Saginaw Unit

Carrollton Public Schools – $5,750

($5,000 from the At-Risk Youth Fund; $750 from the YWCA Fund for Women & Children)
Carrollton Cavalier Center Boys & Girls Club

Chippewa Nature Center – $1,672

(from the Dow Corning Donor Advised Fund)
Outreach Program Expansion

Community Christian Reformed Church – $13,000

($8,000 from the Dow Corning Donor Advised Fund; $5,000 from the Lulah C. McMullen & Family Endowment Fund)
Expansion for The Caring Closet

Girls on the Run Saginaw Bay (URR) – $18,000

($8,000 from the Dow Corning Donor Advised Fund; $5,000 from the Mental Health Fund; $4,000 from the FORCE Youth Advisory Committee; $1,000 from the YWCA Fund for Women & Children)
Program Support & Expansion

Hearts for the Community – $8,000

(from the Dow Corning Donor Advised Fund)
Outdoor Recreational Facility Development

Invent Now – $7,500

($3,175 from the Saginaw County Child Development Fund; $2,825 from the Arthur H. Webster Fund; $1,000 from the FORCE Youth Advisory Committee; $500 from the YWCA Fund for Women & Children)
Camp Invention STEM Programs in partnership with Saginaw Public School District, Saginaw Township Community Schools and Saginaw Area Catholic Schools

Major Chords for Minors – $19,850

($14,350 from the FORCE Youth Adivsory Committee; $4,500 from the Arthur H. Webster Fund; $1,000 from the YWCA Fund for Women & Children)
Expand and Serve Initiative

Michigan Wildlife Conservancy – $5,939

(from the Dow Corning Donor Advised Fund)
Regional Project FISH Program

Midland Center for the Arts – $4,000

($1,500 from the Arthur H. Webster Fund; $1,500 from the FORCE Youth Adivsory Committee; $1,000 from the Dow Corning Donor Advised Fund)
Mid-Michigan Singers and Voice Academy

National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists & Engineers-Midland – $8,000

(from the Dow Corning Donor Advised Fund)
Partnerships for STEM Programming

Pit and Balcony Theatre– $10,000

(from the SCF Unrestricted Fund)
2016-2017 Play Season

Pulse3 Foundation – $500

(from the YWCA Fund for Women & Children)
Women. Wisdom. Wellness – Women’s Health Initiative

Saginaw Choral Society – $4,000

($2,229.26 from the SCF Unrestricted Fund; $1,000 from the FORCE Youth Advisory Committee; $770.74 from the Saginaw Community Arts Fund)
Wizard of OZ

Saginaw Community Foundation – $6,973.36

(from the Healthy Youth Healthy Seniors Fund)
Michigan Health Endowment Fund Grant Match

Saginaw Intermediate School District – $15,000

($12,500 from the SCF Unrestricted Fund; $2,500 from the FORCE Youth Advisory Committee)
Hartley Outdoor Education Center Dorm Expansion

Underground Railroad – $8,000

(from the Dow Corning Donor Advised Fund)
Civil Legal Program

Underground Railroad – $3,500

($2,500 from the Carl Werth, Sr. & Ruth Werth Memorial Fund; $1,000 from the YWCA Fund for Women & Children)
Enhancing Victim Access through Technology