Arts & Culture and Environment & Land Use Grants Announced

We hosted two grant cycles in March, responding to requests from local nonprofit organizations working to address environmental needs as well as needs in arts, music, history, and culture. Thanks to our donors, who participate with us to make a difference close to home, a total of $112,495 in grants have been awarded to nonprofits between the two cycles.

Environment and Land Use grants totaled $63,960 and include projects that will improve water quality in the Lake Charlevoix Watershed, replace invasive species with native species, protect land, create more natural habitats, and build capacity for organizations doing this work.

Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council will use their grant to restore the Stover Creek stream channel profile, create instream habitat, and provide for more natural flow of water, sediment, and wildlife in Lake Charlevoix. Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy will purchase a vehicle for their staff to use in their work around the watershed. On Beaver Island, Tara’s Meadow will conduct workshops on soil regeneration, organic waste management, and local foods production, and will bring a monarch butterfly expert to lead in native plantings and butterfly protection efforts. St. James Township will use their grant to protect, educate, and improve access at the Gull Harbor Natural Area.

Invasive species present an enormous threat to Michigan’s biodiversity. Removing invasives and replacing them with native species, or simply planting more native species, is a highly effective way to address this issue. Three organizations will be using grant funds in related efforts: CAKE CISMA, through the Antrim Conservation District, Camp Daggett, and the Little Traverse Conservancy. Finally, funds granted to the Conservation Resource Alliance will help them to complete a multi-year project to replace aging infrastructure at road crossings on the Jordan River and Deer Creek, in the Jordan River Watershed.

Arts and Culture grants totaled $48,535 and include a variety of programming to enhance the arts, music, culture, and history of our area. Grant funds will help bring art, performances, exhibits, music lessons, and instruments to our community, and will help arts organizations build capacity to bring more programming in the future.

Charlevoix Public Schools students will bring three interactive murals to downtown Charlevoix. Crooked Tree Arts Center will host an exhibit exploring the history, identity, and environment of Michigan.

Bringing professional artists to our rural area is a big benefit for the community. The Beaver Island Performing Arts Alliance will bring a play to the Island community. Traverse City Dance Project will present a live dance performance in East Park in Charlevoix as part of their summer community tour. The City of Boyne City’s Farmers Market will bring more musicians to the market this summer. The City of East Jordan will purchase some new sound equipment, which will help to attract more talent to share with the community this summer.

Access to the arts and programming for all ages is important. Charlevoix Circle of Arts will provide community arts programming for children and adults in Charlevoix. Raven Hill Discovery Center in East Jordan will purchase tents to host a pop-up museum on the corner of Fuller and Pearsall Roads this summer while Fuller Road is under construction. The Dorothy Gerber Strings program, offered through the Great Lakes Center for the Arts, will use grant funds for critical instrument repairs and replacements. Tunes Music Makers on Beaver Island will offer lessons and rentals for a variety of instruments, including guitar, piano, mandolin, ukelele, and electric guitar.

Exploring our history and culture provides a better understanding of who we are. It’s important for everyone to learn about other cultures as well as our own. The Beaver Island District Library will use their grant to offer cultural programming highlighting Indigenous peoples, crafts, art, music, dance, storytelling, and foods. The Beaver Island Historical Society will use their grant to bring several unique cultural programs to the Island. The Charlevoix Historical Society will continue work to archive and digitize a large collection of photos and documents.

The Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Network will use their grant to partner with Charlevoix County arts organizations to help to build capacity for the future. At Wagbo Peace Center in East Jordan, renovations of a building will eventually make it possible to host fiber arts workshops, classes, and equipment, taking the organization’s work full circle.

Thank you to our dedicated Arts & Culture and Environment & Land Use donors who make these grants possible. To make a donation to either of these Funds CLICK HERE.

 

 

remembering John m. frey

 

 

Our good friend, John M. Frey, a 2nd generation trustee emeritus of the Frey Foundation (foundation), passed away peacefully at his beloved farm in Charlevoix, MI on March 28, 2024. He was 84 years old.

 

John was instrumental in launching the Charlevoix County Community Foundation (C3F) and was a proud partner in ensuring their success. He was an active advisor, friend, and benefactor to the Community Foundation for more than 30 years. He was a founding board of trustee member, serving on the board from 1992 - 2000. He and his wife Hilda are also members of the C3F Legacy Society, joining others who have named the Charlevoix County Community Foundation as a beneficiary in their will so that the causes that they care about, and their legacy of philanthropy, can last forever.

 

John’s parents, Edward J. and Frances T. Frey, established the foundation in 1974, and John served as Vice-Chair until 2014 and retired as a trustee in 2015. John’s leadership at the foundation contributed meaningfully to the way we approach our Community Arts and Environmental grantmaking pillars. He also was an ardent advocate for historically underserved populations.

 

John had a keen ability to make everyone in his presence feel like they belonged. If you found yourself in conversation with John, you most certainly were challenged to think about complex issues and you never forgot how special he made you feel. He shared his thoughts transparently, honestly, directly, and always with humor and curiosity generously sprinkled in.

 

John embraced the family philanthropy model – understanding that it creates a space where extended family can come together to create community impact and stay connected. The Trustees, family, and staff of the Frey Foundation are deeply saddened by John’s passing. We will miss his funny quips, his colorful conversation style, the twinkle of mischief in his eye, and his unconditional love for all.

 

If you ever received correspondence from John, his salutation was, “Warm Hugs.” The Frey Foundation sends Warm Hugs to the many people who loved him, learned from him, and will miss him.

 

 

 

 

What will your legacy be?

Our Legacy Society members are people who care about our community and included C3F in their Will, trust, or IRA to leave a legacy that will benefit C3f and area nonprofits forever. Learn how you can join Dan and Martha Mishler today.

 

 

 read dan and martha's story here

WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?

 

 

 

 

 

Community Priorities grants now open

We are accepting Community Priorities grant applications until 11:59pm on May 1, 2024. This cycle responds to a wide variety of needs in Charlevoix County and the organizations that make that work possible. Schedule a grant call with Ashley Cousens to get started.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

grant info session

Want to learn more about how to apply for a 2024 C3F Grant but weren't able to participate in our February 6th Zoom session? Follow the link below to watch the one-hour presentation that includes information about how to apply for grants and presents any changes or updates to the grantmaking program.

CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

join the conversation on instagram

Stay up-to-date with all the latest news and information about C3F and our programs by joining us on our Instagram Page! Just seach for us at CharlevoixC3F or follow this link.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRANTS IN ACTION - Don & Eileen Klein Nature Trail 

We love a good collaboration! And the community of East Jordan is delivering a great one, as the team of partners bring the Don & Eileen Klein Nature Trail to fruition. A group of citizens, plus the City of East Jordan, Little Traverse Conservancy, Friends of the Jordan River Watershed, C3F, local businesses, and community donors are seeing the fruits of their labor! A grant through the C3F Geographic Enrichment cycle last year helped to bring the first trail segment to life. Beginning at Sportsman's Park, the universally accessible trail will continue on, with boardwalks and packed gravel, winding its way through the Jordan River Valley and up to meet the Rogers Homestead Preserve on the corner of Erie and Echo Streets in East Jordan. Way to work together to bring something truly awesome to our community!

 

 

grants in action - Good Neighbors food pantry of Boyne City 

Good Neighbors Food Pantry has been using a trailer (loaned to them each week by a friend of the pantry) to pick up the weekly 1,800 pounds of food from Manna Food Project in Harbor Springs, to stock the pantry in Boyne City. This trailer was old and in need of major repairs to make it safe for volunteer drivers. Grant funds helped Good Neighbors Food Pantry to purchase a new trailer with a braking system, which will provide the pantry with many years of reliable service.

 

grants in action - the honor star

Students from East Jordan and Boyne City designed and created a ten-foot stainless steel star in honor of local veterans through an artist in residence program hosted by the Jordan River Arts Council. With help from a Geographic Enrichment grant, JRAC hired Ann Gildner, an artist from the Industrial Arts Institute, to work with East Jordan High School welding students to design and build a sculpture for the Jordan Art Walk. Students brainstormed the words to be included on the star, which describe what it means to be a person in service to our country. A strong partnership emerged between JRAC, EJPS, Dave Muladore's welding class, and the American Legion through this work. The sculpture is now in a place of honor in the newly redesigned American Legion Veterans/ GAR Park on Main Street and is a permanent addition to the Jordan Art Walk.

 

GRANTS IN ACTION - Raven Hill discovery center - Smithsonian spark! Places of innovation exhibit

A recent Arts & Culture grant helped bring students out to Raven Hill Discovery Center for field trips to see the Smithsonian Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit while it was here, from August to early October 2023, showcasing innovations in rural areas. Cheri Leach also talked to students about some of the innovations at Raven Hill, like the magnet table, the energy bike, and the periodic table of elements. Connecting science, history, and art during a recent field trip, Cheri led 4^th graders from Boyne City (pictured) through a couple of rooms and then everyone spent some time exploring the hands-on features of the Spark! exhibit. Students were connecting what they learned at Raven Hill with what they were learning in their science classes at school and had fun doing it! The Smithsonian exhibit may have moved on, but there's always lots to see and learn at Raven Hill any time of year. 

 

 

 

grants in action - seed to salad program at EJPS

Last year, an East Jordan Geographic Enrichment Grant to EJPS made a huge difference for the school's outdoor garden program "Seed to Salad". 

With the support of a C3F grant, lots of donors and the help of the Shoe Club and the community, the Seed to Salad program installed a new hoop house and revitalized an indoor growing area. They purchased growing racks and lights for the indoor space and renovated the windows to provide light for plants. Students’ lives are being enriched through these additions – they are able to continue their hands on learning by growing plants year-round.

 

Youth Needs Grant success story - Boyne District Library

The C3F Youth Advisory Committee supported the Boyne District Library with funding to host “Family Dinner Book Club Nights” every Tuesday in March 2023. Families could join Ms. Mary for a delicious meal, reading of a children’s book, casual discussion, and activities for kiddos - all free of charge. By listening to the book reader, the children learned about how they can cope with their "worries" and "whatifs". Then they created a friendly looking "worry friend" out of yarn during craft time to help share their feelings when they can't quit find their words. The YAC were excited to see this grant come to fruition and to highlight youth mental health for young people and their families. Worries don't seem so big when you are able to share them with others.
 

 

Legacy society 2023 EVENT PHOTO gallery

 

YAC Meeting PHoto gallery

 

Meet Your C3f event photo gallery