Cadillac Area Community Foundation

Youth Committee Makes Fall a Busy Time

2009-10-15T10:19:00.003-04:00

Things have been hopping at the Foundation! We have our new youth committee members in place, and the Fall Regional Training took place on October 11th at Eagle Village. We will post photos and more information about this training event once the photos are ready.

The Youth Committee also participated in the Cadillac Business Expo on October 8th. Committee members designed booth and a game to draw interest to their booth, and then spent the day meeting community residents and business owners, and sharing information about the youth committee and the work that they do in the community.

We hope to post the youth perspectives on these events in the coming week. Stay tuned!

Mobile Food Pantry a Success

2009-09-01T10:23:00.003-04:00

Cadillac Area Community Foundation Trustees, and Executive Director Linda Kimbel, joined with other community volunteers last Saturday to distribute free food to over 500 local residents. This event, sponsored by "Thanks a Million! West Michigan" brought a truck loaded with 10,000 lbs.food, provided by "Feeding America West Michigan (formerly Gleaners), to Cadillac to be distributed as 50 lb. portions to those who attended the event. The response was overwhelming; many more community members in need attended than could be served by the food that was trucked in.

According to Foundation Executive Director Linda Kimbel, "To wait in line in the pouring rain for hours was testament to the incredible need in our community. People were so patient and understanding when informed that there was not enough food on the truck to serve everyone in line.

As a result of the incredible need in our community, trucks will return September 3rd and 8th to serve those who were unable to receive food last Saturday.

Another Perspective on Youth Leadership Training

2009-08-04T09:30:00.001-04:00

"MCFYP this year was really great! It was filled with fun filled activities for everyone and was led by a bunch of warm hearted people. Personal favorite activities in my opinion included the Extreme YACcer challenge, introduction games, and the time management class. What made it especially great however, was that our YAC received a certificate for being one of the top "Great Grants." In the future (next year perhaps), I invite more YACs to also attend for a great and all expense paid for trip!"

-Miles Kamaloski

A Rain Garden

2009-07-27T10:45:00.000-04:00

The Cadillac Public Library Rain Garden is in the ground and growing well. This garden of native plantings will help to reduce pollution in Lake Cadillac by collecting run-off water from the library parking lot before it runs into the lake. An on-site informational sign explains the concept of this rain garden and how it works, and an informational brochure is available inside of the library building.
This project has stirred a great deal of interest in the community regarding rain gardens as a solution to run-off pollutants that enter our lakes and rivers system. For more information about how you can help protect our local waterways visit the Muskegon River Watershed website at www.mrwa.org, or visit www.raingardens.org.

Newsletter Available

2009-07-10T10:47:00.002-04:00

To find out the latest news, please check out our most recent newsletter.

We will be a bit slow posting over the next week as the staff enjoys some vacation time.

Youth Perspective of Regional Youth Summer Conference

2009-07-02T09:20:00.005-04:00

"Well, I had an amazing time at the leadership Conference, it was a ball. We did this group project that made us work together as a TEAM. It was :"Extreme YACer Challenges". We were split up into 16 different groups and then the group had to try to beat the other groups. It was a lot of fun. Stella and I met like 6 new friends and all of us had a lot of fun together. Saturday night we had a dance, and OMG you should of seen some of the move Miles and Jake were whipping out. It was funny to watch them. I think everybody had a lot of fun. I know that I had a lot of fun besides all the stairs and falling Saturday night during the dance. Ok, I was not being stupid and fell while I was dancing...I went outside with some of my new friends and it was raining and I went to go down the stairs and my flip flop slid and I fell but its all good I am fine. Other than that, it was a lot of fun. If you are going next year make sure to bring a fan because it is Really HOT. I learned a lot and I am glad I went I learned a lot about me as a YACer and YAC alone. And good job Jake and Miles in presenting that grant. I do know one thing - I wanna go back next year. It was AMAZING and it was fun meeting new people and getting to know that we are not the only YAC that is going through problems! FUN is the lowest thing that describes how great the conference was.!!!! =)"
Dalelynn

Youth Attend Conference and win Award

2009-06-29T10:45:00.002-04:00

Cadillac & Kellogg for Youth Committee members attended a regional youth conference that was held on the MSU campus from June 26 – 28. While there they participated in training exercises and met other youth committee members from a 3 state area. Miles Kamaloski and Jake Mitchell made a presentation about the $30,000 grant that was made to the YMCA, and based on their presentation the committee placed in the top 5 in the “Great Grants Competition”. In her own words, youth committee member Stella Doering presented her experiences.

Hey everyone, we just got back from the YAC summer leadership conference at MSU! It was a lot of fun! We met new people from all over MI and some from Ohio and Iowa. We went to classes that would help us make our YAC more successful in helping our community. My favorite part was a performance by Kinetic Affect. They are poets who write "slam poetry" about their life experiences. It was very inspiring! Those are only a few of the great activities we participated in. I hope to see more of you there next year! I promise you'll enjoy it! - -Stella Doering

To learn more about the Cadillac & Kellogg for Youth Committee, please visit our website at www.cadillacfoundation.org/yac.html

To learn more about Youth Grantmakers visit: http://www.youthgrantmakers.org/

Student Loan Deadline Approaching

2009-06-24T09:13:00.002-04:00

"Qualified" students and potential students who are interested in applying for the Helen and Harvey Pell Student Loan Program need to have their applications turned in to the Foundation by June 30th. For program specifics and an application, potential applicants can call the Foundation offices at 231-775-9911 or visit our website at www.cadillacfoundation.org.

Challenge Day Fund Passes $19,0000 Mark

2009-06-22T11:44:00.002-04:00

After community donations of $13,075, and a matching grant of $6,000 from the Foundation, the Challenge Day Pass Through Fund has a new balance of $19,075! Let's keep this momentum going and find ways to raise Funds to keep this program in our schools for the three year target period! This program has the ability to transform lives.

Van Houten Fund Awards Grant

2009-06-19T09:32:00.002-04:00

Great news! The Anna Van Houten Memorial Fund has awarded a grant in the amount of $675 to the Challenge Day Pass Through Fund. You can read more about this at our website at www.cadillacfoundation.org.

Westhauser Scholarships Awarded

2009-06-09T10:14:00.004-04:00

The Foundation was pleased to award the Sue Westhauser Memorial Scholarship to Jessie Liebler and Maddie Masten at the Senior Breakfast last May.

The Westhauser Scholarship, established in October 2001 in memory of Sue Westhauser, is awarded to students who wish to pursue a career in education.

Jessie Liebler, pictured at left with Foundation Executive Director Linda Kimbel, was awarded a scholarship from this Fund to assist him in his studies in Special Education. Maddie Masten was awarded a scholarship to assist her studies in Elementary Education. We wish them both every success.

Challenge Day Fundraising Update

2009-06-02T10:51:00.003-04:00

As promised yesterday, here are the updated totals.

$9,890 has been received by the Foundation for this pass-through Fund.

$4,945 is the 50% match to date from the Foundation. (The Foundation will match 50% of the funds raised with a matching grant of up to a total grant amount of $6,000).

Add the two together and the grand total is $14,835. We are well on our way!

Thank you to a community Angel!

2009-06-01T13:45:00.004-04:00

Can you imagine our surprise when we opened the handwritten envelope this afternoon and found a cashiers check for $7,500 made out to the Challenge Day Fund? Astonished, thrilled, and grateful! We inquired at the bank as to who our benefactor is, but our Angel worked very hard to stay anonymous and we do respect that.

However, the foundation would like to use this Blog to say thank you for caring! People like you make us proud to be from such a caring community, and it is because of people like you that our youth will have this program. Thank you.

We will have to do some math, and add this donation to the Fund. Look for an update tomorrow with our new total. Lets keep this momentum going!

Challenge Day Update

2009-05-29T10:11:00.002-04:00

Support is flowing from the community to bring challenge Day to local youth. A FREE concert and picnic is planned for Sunday, June 7 from 3pm - 5pm at the Cadillac City Park. There will be music, food, games, and a dedication of a bench and a rock honoring Alex Harrison. Donations will be accepted at the event to help fund Challenge Day.

The Challenge Day fund at the Foundation has received additional donations and now has a balance of $2,290. When you add the 2-1 match from the Foundation, this Fund now totals $3,435! Thank you Cadillac.

So readers....if you are interested in bringing Challenge Day to Cadillac, please send your donations to the Cadillac Area Community Foundation, 201 N. Mitchell Street, Suite 101, Cadillac, MI 49601.

Mannion Scholarsip Awarded

2009-05-27T13:11:00.002-04:00

Bryce Welsh is the 2009 recipient of the Frederick T. Mannion Scholarship award. This Scholarship was established in the memory of Dr. Mannion by his family, and it is awarded annually to graduating seniors from the Cadillac High School, based on an outstanding high school grade point average, a demonstration of excellent character, and participation in non-academic activities.

Garcia Scholarship Awarded

2009-05-26T10:43:00.004-04:00

Jessica Gonder is the 2009 recipient of the Kelly Ann Garcia Memorial Scholarship for the Performing Arts. Well known throughout the community for her outstanding vocal abilities, Jessica will be attending classes at Central Michigan University, in Music Education. Inspiration for a career in teaching music comes from her former choir director/teacher, Judy Nichols. Jessica stated that she hopes to be as fine a teacher as Mrs. Nichols.

The Kelly Ann Garcia Memorial Scholarship Fund assists high school seniors planning to major in vocal music in college, as well as undergraduate class members who are attending summer training. Kelly Ann Garcia was a CAPS graduate who was known for her love of singing and performance, and her dedication to the performing arts. This memorial scholarship is awarded annually in her honor.

Thank a Veteran!

2009-05-21T13:31:00.003-04:00

Monday, May 25th, is our chance to remember Veterans for the sacrifices they have made for us...and to remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice. Make certain that if you see a veteran this weekend to thank them for their service. Freedom is not free, and it is through the bravery and sacrifices of our veterans and active service personnel that we have the privilege of living in a free country.

If you are in Cadillac on Memorial Day, there are a few events that you can attend to honor our veterans. There is a service and a 21-gun salute to our sailors scheduled to take place at 9:30am at the Cadillac City Dock. Immediately following is a parade that will make its way down Mitchell Street, turn left at Pine Street, and then end at the Veterans Memorial Stadium at Cadillac High School. There will then be a program at the stadium beginning at 11am.

You can also help our veterans by making a donation to the permanently endowed Wexford-Missaukee Veterans Endowment Fund. (Your donation is also tax deductible!) The Fund was created to help Veterans who have emergency financial needs. Checks can be mailed directly to the Foundation offices with a note in the memo portion of your check that designates the Veterans Fund.

The Foundation offices will be closed Friday May 22, and reopen Tuesday, May 26 at 8:30am.

Challenge Day Fund slowly growing!

2009-05-20T13:53:00.002-04:00

As of this afternoon the CAPS Challenge Day Fund has donations of $1,150. When you add the earned match from the Foundation of $775, this Fund already has a value of $2,325....but we cannot stop here. We need to raise at least $18,000 to make this program a reality for local youth! Any size donation is deeply appreciated. Please mail your donation to CACF, 201 N. Mitchell Street, Suite 101, Cadillac, MI. The check should be made out to CACF, the memo portion of the check should designate "Challenge Day". Any questions about this Fund or program can be answered by calling 231-775-9911.

Cadillac News responds to the Challenge!

2009-05-15T14:19:00.004-04:00

In a show of support for the community and community youth, Cadillac News donated $500 to the CAPS Challenge Day Fund. The response from the community has been very positive! Within the first week of announcing this Fund we have received $1,350 in donations to help bring this program to our schools. When you factor in the match from the Foundation, this Fund already has raised $2,025. Lets keep this momentum going and let the youth in this community know that WE CARE! Fund donations can be mailed to CACF, 201 N. Mitchell Street, Suite 101, Cadillac MI.

New Fund to bring in Challenge Day

2009-05-12T11:31:00.001-04:00

The Cadillac Area Community Foundation and the Cadillac Area Public Schools (CAPS) have announced a collaboration to bring the Challenge Day Team to Cadillac Area Public Schools. The Foundation has established a pass-through fund to allow for tax deductible donations and have pledged to match $1.00 for every $2.00 donated to the newly established CAPS Challenge Day Fund, up to a total match of $6000 for $12,000 raised in the community. This partnership will allow CAPS teachers and staff to focus on working with the students, and the Foundation staff will focus on fundraising for Challenge Day.

So....what does this mean?

It means that the community has a deep concern about the bullying taking place in our local schools, and we are going to do something about it! Challenge Day is a highly successful anti-bullying program that will be presented in our schools, (http://www.challengeday.org/). The Challenge Day program reduces teasing, stereotyping, social oppression, and bullying. The program teaches students peaceful conflict resolution and enhances their skills for healthy emotional expression. The program strives to increase the students’ self-esteem, sense of purpose, integrity, and develop empathy for others. Using the skills they are taught the students will have the ability to turn their schools into a community campus. In studies conducted after Challenge Day, students report that they: are more accepting of fellow students, see students tease each other less, feel less lonely at school, ask others for feedback more readily, and are comfortable being leaders.

The program will cost close to $30,000! The Foundation has already received $500 in donations as of today. When you add the matching $250 you can see that the Fund already has a $750 start. The hope is to raise at least $18,000.

For further information about this Fund, please contact the Foundation at 231-775-991.

Please help us make a positive impact on our local students. To make a donation to this Fund please send your check to the Cadillac Area Community Foundation, 201 N. Mitchell Street, Suite 101, Cadillac, Michigan. The check should be made out to the Cadillac Area Community Foundation, and please write “Challenge Day” in the memo portion of your check.

Giving away money!

2009-05-04T09:57:00.002-04:00

The Foundation has awarded three Trustee Grants from the unrestricted Cornerstone Fund.

United Way, in partnership with the Cadillac Leadership Class of 2009, was awarded a grant of $1,000 in support of the “Wexford County Get Connected” (2-1-1) Program. The grant will assist in funding a part time 2-1-1 co-coordinator. You can learn about the history of this program at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-1-1 Once this program is in place, area residents will be able to call 2-1-1 to find assistance....a clearing house number for all types of human services.

The Friends of the Library were awarded a $1,000 grant in support of the new Adult Literacy Training program to be offered by the Adult Literacy Committee. Grant funds will be used to train tutors and purchase necessary materials for the program. Once the tutors are trained they will provide their services to adults who are reading and writing below the 5th grade level. This service will be offered through the Cadillac-Wexford Library (http://www.cadillaclibrary.org/)

After 26 Project Inc. was awarded a grant of $1,592 to help their start up efforts. The After 26 Project hopes to raise funds to open a non-profit restaurant modeled off of the highly successful “Junction of Hope” restaurant and gift shop in Chesaning, Michigan (http://junctionofhope.org/) which will employ developmentally disabled adults with cognitive impairments who are aged 26 and over. They also hope to incorporate a gift shop into the restaurant to feature items crafted by special needs individuals and students from the Wexford-Missaukee ISD.

The Cadillac Area Community Foundation now has three grant cycles for the Trustee Grant Program. Applications are always available by calling 231-775-9911 or visiting our website at http://www.cadillacfoundation.org/. Application submission deadlines are February 28, June 30, and October 31,

Student Loans Available!

2009-04-29T09:10:00.003-04:00

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

2009-04-27T13:30:00.002-04:00

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

2009-04-24T11:11:00.003-04:00

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!

2009-04-23T09:10:00.002-04:00

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!

2009-04-22T12:42:00.004-04:00

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

2009-04-21T11:01:00.005-04:00

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.