Community Foundation Receives Four Grant Awards

June 29

The Community Foundation for Oceana County is thrilled to announce that we recently received four grants, totally $35,000! Thank you to Fifth Third Bank, Michigan College Access Network, United Way of the Lakeshore-Oceana and Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF). As an organization that both receives and provides grants, the Community Foundation understands a grant’s impact on local projects and programs. These grants awarded to CFOC on behalf of three different funds, will help to bring these distinct projects to life. “We value this recognition of our collective work and appreciate the support of outside funders to advance critical projects and programs. It’s important to make sure Oceana County is on their priority list,” said Foundation CEO Tammy Carey.

Fifth Third Bank awarded the Oceana County Fair Grandstand & Fairgrounds Renovation Fund $8,500. Like other project funds, this Fund is led by a community partner to raise monies for a capital campaign. Fifth Third Bank’s grant award will help support capital improvements to the Oceana County Fair’s Grandstands, such as replacing seating, siding, and repair of the wooden structure. These improvements will preserve the 105-year-old stands, a crucial facet of the Oceana Fair Grounds.

The Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) awarded Oceana College Access Network (OCAN) a $20,000 continuous improvement grant, which was matched by $40,000 in contributions from individuals, organizations and businesses. This is the fifth grant awarded on behalf of Oceana CAN! from the Lansing-based organization since 2012. Additionally, OCAN received a second-year funding commitment from United Way of the Lakeshore-Oceana for $5,000. The Foundation is the fiscal sponsor of OCAN, receiving and managing all financial accounts and providing local leadership.

OCAN, through a number of partners, strives to increase college attainment for area students. The network encourages a more equitable future by helping students of all backgrounds enroll, persist and earn postsecondary degrees and certifications. OCAN hosts collaborative events with local high schools and employers to help students explore career pathways. The network strives to create a college-going culture, student preparedness and success. OCAN works towards increasing students’ awareness of Oceana’s job market and the impact of higher education on their future. To learn more about OCAN, visit oceanacan.org.

The final $1,500 grant is from the Council of Michigan Foundations, directed towards the Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC). YAC is a grantmaking team of local high schools who assess and discuss the needs of area youth. Identified in their regular youth needs assessment, YAC has made mental health awareness and suicide prevention a priority. CMF’s grant will be used to hold a full-day workshop for YAC students about mental health and suicide prevention. The workshop will be led by be nice., a mental health awareness program, offered by the Mental Health Foundation of West MI. The be nice. program will teach teens about how to use resources if they or someone they know are struggling with their mental health. Creating informed student advocates will allow YAC students to continue bringing light to the importance of mental health, as they strive to bring further programming into their school districts.

For more information about making a gift, now or through an estate plan, creating a named fund at the Foundation, or to learn more about our upcoming fall grant round, contact Foundation staff at 231-869-3377.