Pentwater, MI – The Community Foundation for Oceana County is pleased to announce the availability of adult student scholarships aimed at students accepted into the Futures for Frontliners program, enrolled at Muskegon Community College or West Shore Community College.
Did you know the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides increased tax incentives for charitable giving, for both individuals and corporations? Everyone can claim an automatic $300 deduction, without itemizing!
Have you ever considered giving a holiday gift to your community? Oceana County nonprofits have made a list and you can check it twice! As part of its philanthropy leadership, the Community Foundation for Oceana County (CFOC) annually invites area nonprofits to tell us which projects and purchases can only happen with the financial support from the community.
The Community Foundation for Oceana County (CFOC) recently awarded $26,662 to a variety of community organizations and school classrooms to benefit area people.
The Community Foundation for Oceana County’s scholarship program is now open! If you’re a high school or homeschooled senior, current college student, an early college senior, or adult learner/returning student, the Foundation may have a scholarship for you. Applications are available online and are submitted electronically at the Foundation website. Applications are due March 15th, 2021.
The Community Foundation for Oceana County is pleased to announce another competitive grant round is open for application starting August 1. The application deadline is September 30. During the spring grant round, nearly $40,000 in grants were approved. With the partnership of multiple donor advisors to leverage grant dollars, all eligible applications were fully funded. “Understanding Oceana’s greatest needs and how we can be a catalyst for change definitely guides our work. We have become much more active in promoting economic development activities in the last couple of years, including post-secondary education attainment, workforce development, and capital investments in community projects. The support of our donors and their eagerness to partner continue to enable significant impact,” said Foundation CEO Tammy Carey. The Foundation ended 2019 with $14.1 million in assets and began operations as an independent community foundation on January 1, 2020.
“We all came in on different ships, but we’re all in the same boat now.” Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. made that matter-of-fact observation during the Civil Rights Movement of the ’60s. Indeed, the ship that is this nation has a diverse passenger manifest, which is one of the most wonderful attributes of America. With the exception of Native Americans, all of us came from elsewhere, with diverse ideas and beliefs. But all have come together under the words of The Declaration of Independence – that all men are created equal and equally entitled to life, liberty, and happiness. And yet, it took more than 250 years for that belief to apply to all of our citizens, regardless of race.
In the face of an uncertain school year, our Seniors continued to strive and grow as students and young adults. Their graduation this spring is a hallmark of their tenacity and excellence, and their future, with goals in mind, is destined to be bright. They will go forward and make their mark on the world, sharing their visions for a better future. The Community Foundation for Oceana County (CFOC) shares pride in their accomplishments and, along with our donors, are excited to offer financial support to help them along their way.
Read Early, Read Often (RERO), established in 2016, distributes free children’s books to families in Oceana County through partnerships with local agencies including area nonprofits, early childhood centers, food pantries, and more! RERO encourages reading to children starting at birth. Babies and toddlers who are read to early and often will have heard as many as thirty million more words than children who aren’t read to before Preschool. Further, the number of books in a child’s home has shown to be as impactful on a child’s educational attainment as the education level of her parents.
The Foundation established an Urgent Needs Fund in late March to provide support to area nonprofit organizations, schools and governments on the front lines serving those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We fast-tracked $28,825 in grants over the last six weeks, with the greatest concern around food access. Over time, donations have totaled close to $70,000.