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GACF/EFG Award 2012 Spring Grants
For Immediate Release: April 27, 2012
Greenville Area Community Foundation and Education Foundation of Greenville Award 2012 Spring Grants
New programs, new equipment and new opportunities for children in the Greenville Public School (GPS) district were made possible this April because of the combined efforts and resources of the Greenville Area Community Foundation (GACF) and the Education Foundation of Greenville (EFG). Over $220,000 in grant funding from the GACF and EFG will enhance the education of GPS students for the 2012-13 school year. This is the eighth year that the two foundations have worked together to fund programs and projects at GPS.
The GACF awarded grants from the Sagendorf Education Fund, the Sagendorf Opportunities for Success Fund and the Ray J. & Mary G. Tower Family Fund. In total, over $209,000 was awarded to eleven organizations with $116,387 going directly to Greenville Public Schools.
One of the largest grants, $48,446, was awarded to GPS for the Chinese Language/Culture Program that will be offered this fall at Walnut Hills Elementary and Greenville High School. GPS received another large grant, $13,643, for equipment to make-over all elementary school’s motor skills rooms. This new equipment will provide students with hands-on learning activities that focus on common core standards as well as gross and small motor development. A $10,000 grant will pay for new auditorium lighting equipment for the High School Performing Arts Center. Additional grants to GPS included iPads for the H.S. Science Department, a computerized point-of-sale register and additional shelving for the H.S. Jacket Depot, posture chairs for Middle School band students, a classroom music series for all elementary schools, and High School baseball program equipment.
Students from Joyce Zimmer's High School Biology class use a PASCO probe connected to an iPad to do an EKG on themselves during a recents class – just one of the many educational applications that enhance learning in her classroom. Zimmer was awarded a grant from the GACF to purchase an additional 14 iPads and a cart to sync and charge the iPads, for use by the science department.
Ten other organizations received grants from the Sagendorf Education and Ray J. and Mary G. Tower Funds including the Montcalm Community College (MCC) Foundation for the Greenville Campus Expansion project, Grand Rapids Symphony Society for a Greenville Area Music Education Program, and St. Charles Catholic School for twelve laptop computers. The Montcalm Area Intermediate School District was awarded two IPod Touch and two iPads for a pilot program to match at least eight individual students with severe cognitive and/or autistic challenges with appropriate augmentative applications. Additionally, the Greenville Community Church received a grant to purchase school supplies for under-resourced Greenville Public School children, the Greenville Area Community Center a grant for theater and music workshop scholarships funds, and Montcalm Community College to supplement funding for the One Book One County Montcalm Program. A grant to Community Hope Christian Counseling & Mental Health Center will support parent education groups, and safety and educational material will now be available to Montcalm County 4-H Fair Kid’s Day participants because of a large grant to the Fair Committee. Grant monies will also support “Healthy Relationships” presentations administered by Relief After Violent Encounter (RAVE) of Ionia/Montcalm.
Grants from the Sagendorf Opportunities for Success fund went to Greenville Public Schools and St. Charles Catholic School. The Opportunities for Success program provides monies for each school district to help students fulfill a need, that might otherwise go unmet, and to help make the student more successful in his or her educational environment.
The Education Foundation of Greenville awarded six grants totaling $12,110. Grants to Baldwin Heights, Lincoln Heights and Walnut Hills Elementary teachers will fund hands-on materials for the Mild Cognitive Impairment (MiCi) Program, a Promethean Interactive Whiteboard, and a Kindle Touch and Kindle Fire. The author of the American Chillers’ series will make an appearance next fall because of a grant awarded to a Middle School teacher. Additional grants will support students with autism throughout the school district and a project called “Leave Your Mark” will provide students at Greenville High School with the opportunity to collaborate, design, paint and install a large three-dimensional panel next to the classroom of their favorite teacher.
Both Foundations are pleased to be able to support educational programs and projects within the Greenville school system as the Board of Education continues to address budgetary concerns.
The Greenville Area Community Foundation will award grants again this fall and all area non-profit, tax exempt organizations are encouraged to apply. The deadline for grant applications for the Fall General Grant Cycle is August 10, 2012. The August 10 deadline also applies to the Meijer Children’s Health Care Fund that awards grants to organizations that provide health programs for indigent children.
GYAC Award 2012 Grants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 4, 2012
GREENVILLE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL AWARDS $40,000+ IN GRANTS FOR 2012
(Greenville) – The Greenville Youth Advisory Council (GYAC) and the Greenville Area Community Foundation (GACF) Board of Trustees are pleased to announce grants awarded for 2012.
The GYAC, which includes 29 youth grant makers in the 8th through the 12th grades at Greenville, awarded grants totaling $32,572 to eight organizations. Grants are awarded from the W. K. Kellogg Youth Fund, housed within the Greenville Area Community Foundation.
One of the more significant grants was awarded to the First Congregational Church to fund Flat River Workcamp II. The project will bring over 400 high school youth group participants to Greenville and allow local youth groups to participate in a week-long mission in the Greenville area that will provide help to 60-80 elderly and low-income families’ with much needed home improvement projects. “The benefits of this program for the area and its youth are immense,” said Josh Gibbs, Head of the Workcamp committee. I have seen this program in action and believe it provides what I call ‘the multiplier effect of doing good deeds.’ It benefits the youth and adult volunteers. It benefits the local suppliers and businesses. And most importantly, it benefits those that need to receive the help they are being offered,” adds Gibbs.
Another large grant was awarded to the Greenville Community Church to develop ten acres of land into two softball fields, eight AYSO soccer fields, a skateboard park, and two picnic areas.
Greenville High School’s H.O.N.K (Helping Out New Kids) group received funding for equipment and supplies to support their efforts, and High School Media Specialist, Laura Pleune, received a grant to purchase books for the student book club.
Four additional grants went to teachers at Greenville Public Schools. Greenville High School teacher Jeff Ayres received a grant to bring a professional, guest artist for the 13th Annual Jazz Day. Recycle bins, gloves, and storage containers will provide the Lincoln Heights Elementary Recycle Club the tools to collect non-traditional items to recycle through Terra Cycle, a non-profit organization that turns the materials into “credits” to feed the poor. High School Spanish teacher, Erin DeWind, received funding for a set of IPod Touches to provide world language students with technology to assist in their exploration of the world including its culture and language.
Grants were also awarded to the Alpha Family Center of Greenville for their Earn-While-You-Learn Parenting Program, Community Hope Christian Counseling & Mental Health Center for a Middle School substance abuse prevention program, and the Greenville Recreation Department for youth sports coach’s resources. Another grant went to Great Lakes Peace Jam. Former Greenville Middle School educator Douglas Dodd, will form Peace Jam Clubs in the Greenville High School and Middle School.
The next opportunity to apply for a grant from the Greenville Youth Advisory Council will be in November. Any non-profit, tax exempt organization in the Greenville area can apply. Special consideration will be given to applications that address the following needs or issues: substance abuse, poor performance in school, confidence and self-esteem issues in girls, health and wellness issues, teen driver safety, teen pregnancy, hunger or food insecurity, dating violence, access to recreation, and homelessness. Call the GACF office at 616.754.2640 or email Amy O’Brien at grants@gacfmi.org for more information.
