Student Loans Available!

The Foundation is offering low-interest Student Loans through the Helen & Harvey Pell Fund for Education. Applications for the student loans will be accepted from "Eligible Applicants" planning to attend college in the 2009-2010 academic year. The term “Eligible Applicants” refers to legal residents of the Wexford-Missaukee ISD area, who have graduated from high school or obtained a GED, or individuals who have graduated from a high school within the designated area regardless of their current legal residences.

Any "Eligible Applicant" may submit an Application for a student loan from this Fund. The loan will be awarded to the Applicant based on their demonstrated financial need, evidence of academic ability to commence and complete the selected course of study, and evidence of good character. The loan shall apply to one year’s tuition and/or other educational expenses. Students may re-apply each year for additional student loans as long as they have met the conditions of the first student loan, and remain a student in good standing.

To see if you qualify, or to receive the Student Loan Application, please contact our offices at 231-775-9911. The deadline for this student loan program is June 30, 2009.

Free presentation in Cadillac tonight

Tonight there will be a presentation by Glenn Stuszky on violence and bullying. This presentation will take place at 7pm at the Cadillac High School Community Auditorium. Everyone is urged to attend and to invite anyone who has children in and around the CAPS school district, people who work with youth, or anyone in our community that is interested in putting an end to bullying.

Students in grades 6 - 12 are welcome to attend this event.

Presenter Glenn Stutzky, M.S.W., is a Clinical Instructor at Michigan State University.

Busy Friday

Staff attended a webinar on cyber-bullying this week. The workshop was presented by the Maternal & Child Health Bureau, and presented some good information. It is an "eye-opener" to realize the large number of youth who have to suffer through this type of abuse. According to Fight Crime telephone surveys, 17% of 6-11 year-olds, and 36% of 12-17 year-olds had been cyberbullied within the previous year (Williams & Guerra). This problem seems most prevalent in the middle school grades where youth have more access to technology. We are continuing to research this issue, and work with community members, agencies, and organizations to find a solution. If you would like more information about this problem and potential solutions you can visit www.stopbullyingnow.HRSA.gov

We are also spending some time trying to work on the website today. If you have not visited, please do! We are at www.cadillacfoundation.org.

Next week we will be ready to announce grant awards from the Trustee Grant Program. Should be toward the end of the week.

Have a great weekend!

Save the Date!

In celebration of Armed Forces Day, "The Patriots", will be performing in-concert with the Cadillac Area Honor Guard on May 16, 2009 at the Rotary Pavilion on Lake Street in downtown Cadillac. The concert will begin at 5pm.

All donations from this musical program will be directed to the Veterans Endowment Fund of Wexford & Missaukee Counties. This fund was created to help address the emergency financial needs of veterans, active servicemen, and their families.

Help has arrived!

The Foundation is pleased to announce that Kristin Susanka has joined our staff as an Intern. Kristin, a student at Baker College of Cadillac, will assist our Youth Committee.

Kristin will receive her Associates Degree in Human Services from Baker College of Cadillac in June 2009. We are pleased to have her assistance!

March/April Newsletter

Better late than never! So many things happening in Cadillac at such a fast pace that it has been hard to pick and choose what to write about. The newsletter is a very small sampling of what is/has been going on. You will find more news on a weekly basis through the blog postings.

Even though MDOT has our roads torn up a bit, Mitchell Street is still open downtown. If you were thinking that things would slow down because of this construction, you would be wrong! Watch for an upcoming event at the end of May that will encompass all of downtown Cadillac. I can give no details yet, but our Youth Committee will be participating.

Applications become available on April 28th for the Helen and Harvey Pell Student Loans. Check our website at www.cadillacfoundation.org for more information.

While you are at the site you might want to look at the new grant schedule and application for the Trustee Unrestricted Grants. Much more flexibility in the schedule to better serve the needs of the community. The grant application form is accepted not only by the Cadillac Area Community Foundation, but at other Foundations throughout the state. We hope that this cuts down on the amount of paperwork that is necessary for our local partners.