reflections from our president

 

 

I’ve always appreciated the sense of potential I feel at the beginning of a new year. Maybe it’s the talk of resolutions or possibly it has to do with my birthday in early January, but I love reflecting on where I’ve been and planning for what’s next at this time of year.

Here at the Community Foundation, we’ve been making plans, too. The Board of Trustees approved our Strategic Plan in November, so those objectives have been trickling down into individual workplans for each of our team members. We love to learn and seek continuous improvement, so making new plans includes discussions about how we can keep stretching and doing better work for our donors, partners, and community. Those discussions usually include coffee, treats, and laughter with some big ideas and bullet-point plans for good measure.

In 2025, we’re excited about developing a new, more engaging website, launching a scholarship newsletter for our community of scholarship donors, updating the Legacy Guide, supporting intensive learning opportunities for nonprofit partners, and vetting a crowd-funding tool that could connect more friends and neighbors to more community projects and programs.

We hope you’ll be excited when these plans become opportunities to engage with your community and make a difference close to home. Together, we can be a force for good that’s both meaningful and enduring.

Happy New Year!

 

 

 

scholarship applications open

Start your 2025 C3F Scholarship application today! Applications must be received by March 1, 2025 to be considered. Questions about the application process? Talk to your high school guidance counselor or contact Megan DeHoog at mdehoog@c3f.org. 

 

click here to apply

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arts & Culture grant cycle open now

Our 2025 Arts & Culture grant cycle is now open! We are accepting applications from eligible nonprofit partners (501c3 organizations, government entities, and schools) until March 1, 2025 at 11:59pm. All applications begin with a phone call with Ashley Cousens, Community Grantmaking staff member. 

Use this link to schedule time on her calendar to get started! https://calendly.com/acousens/grant-intake-call

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environment & Land use grant cycle open now

Our 2025 Environment & Land Use grant cycle is now open! We are accepting applications from eligible nonprofit partners (501c3 organizations, government entities, and schools) until March 1, 2025 at 11:59pm. All applications begin with a phone call with Ashley Cousens, Community Grantmaking staff member. 

Use this link to schedule time on her calendar to get started! https://calendly.com/acousens/grant-intake-call

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 Chuck and Trudy today.

 

 

 READ chuck and trudy's STORY HERE

WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 - great lakes chamber orchestra's women composers night

A 2023 Arts & Culture grant helped the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra to put on a unique concert. Women Composers Night was dedicated to celebrating female composers, promoting their work and their talents in performing arts. All the pieces performed at the concert were composed by female composers and featured a rising star, Asian-American young violin soloist Karisa Chiu who received a standing ovation for her performance of Amanda Meier's Violin Concerto.  This piece was significant as Meier, herself a violinist and an award-winning composer, was the first female in history to receive a musical degree. Almost 67% of the attendees were women and girls. Additionally, the pre-concert talk led by the GLCO Music Director Dr. Libor Ondras discussing the pieces, composers, and historical evolution of the acceptance of female composers in the male-dominated field of classical music attracted over 100 community members. It was a memorable concert that left a long-lasting impact on attendees and musicians alike. 

 

 

Grants in Action - City of Boyne City's Police Department 

A recent Community Priorities grant to the City of Boyne City's Police Department helped them to purchase drones for use in the line of duty. C3F Community Grantmaking staffer, Ashley Cousens, recently enjoyed attending part of the collaborative drone training held in Boyne City, put on by the BC Police Department and the Michigan Public Safety Drone Association. The training included officers from several departments including the Sheriff's Department, the DNR, and others. Officers shared how the drones have already come in handy for helping to fight a fire - by locating the source of the blaze with the infrared technology, they were able to save more of the structure that was burning. The training simulations included a fire on a boat in Lake Charlevoix as well as a search and rescue operation for a missing teenage paddle boarder. These two scenarios helped officers to learn about the various features and capabilities of the drones while providing them opportunities to practice and learn together in community. Often these various departments have to help each other out and collaborate, and this technology is making it easier for them to help people in our community. It's truly amazing what these drones can see and do! 

 

 

Grants in Action - preservation association of beaver island

At C3F we enjoy hearing about the ripple effects that can sometimes come from our grantmaking. Sometimes the ripples are small, and other times they can be more like big waves! A recent Geographic Enrichment grant to the Preservation Association of Beaver Island certainly felt some big ripples last year. The grant itself was to help the Irish Feile (Festival) bring a couple of Currach rowing teams to the Island to compete in an Irish cultural event. Festival organizers said, "the grant did much more than provide two days of Irish Currach rowing in beautiful Paradise Bay; it supported a festival that is an authentic cultural connection between Arranmore Island, Ireland and Beaver Island. A crowd of over 300 gathered on the Beaver Island Ferry Dock for the arrival of the over 120 people from our sister island and all will forever remember when the ramp of the Emerald Isle Ferry dropped and the Arranmore Pipe Band in their glory and their grief (they had just lost their band leader to a heart attack) marched onto the dock to cement a centuries old connection between Beaver Island and Arranmore Island. From that moment the festival took on a life of its own and all the planning in the world could not have anticipated the warmth and camaraderie that would permeate the island for the next few days.  The grant helped make that happen and the Currach Rowing was a major part of the festival, bringing festival goers together on the beach and in the boats and gave them common experiences to share during the festival." The Irish Feile takes place the second weekend in September each year. You can learn more about it here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067454371257

 

 

 

Grants in Action - crooked tree arts center theater painting

Crooked Tree Arts Center recently had help from a C3F Arts & Culture grant to paint their theater. While the organization had to overcome some delays and obstacles in getting this work done, it is now beautifully completed! Getting into all the lovely nooks and crannies up high was certainly a feat, and you can see how creative the team had to get with the scaffolding to reach everywhere they needed to paint. Thanks to many donors and the community, this theater is now freshly painted and gorgeous! If you haven't found a reason to get in there and check it out, you can stay tuned on CTAC's Facebook page to see what's coming up so you can catch the next show and enjoy this beautiful space. 

 

 

 

Grants in Action - Village of Boyne Falls Dam

The Village of Boyne Falls is stepping up to do something extraordinary – free the Boyne River’s South Branch of its only remaining dam. The Village owns Boyne Falls Dam on the South Branch of the Boyne River, a significant tributary to the Boyne River mainstem and Lake Charlevoix in Charlevoix County. The health of the Boyne River and Lake Charlevoix is essential to the region’s quality of life. The Village of Boyne Falls and community partners want to complete a feasibility study to provide a clear “road map” from which to base future management decisions for the dam and nearby infrastructure. Before they could do that, though, they needed to get the word out and have the community better understand what's at stake. A recent C3F Community Priorities grant helped the Village to create an informational pamphlet, explaining the problems and outlining the proposed solutions. The pamphlet is now available in Boyne Falls for anyone interested in learning more. Removing the dam will help to protect aquatic habitat diversity, protect and improve water resource quality, maintain excellent recreational opportunities, and support sustainable watershed management practices. Those interested in reading the full informational pamphlet or getting their own print copy can reach out to the Village of Boyne Falls at 231-549-2443, village011@centurytel.net, or you can swing by the village office on Mondays between 6:30 and 8pm. 

 

 

 

Grants in Action - Charlevoix-emmet isd

Many local families find themselves struggling to afford the cost of preschool tuition. Two government programs (federal and state) that provide free preschool to children based on financial need and risk factors fill to capacity quickly, leaving about 40 children in our area waiting for a preschool opportunity. A recent Community Priorities grant to Charlevoix-Emmet ISD helped to put 8 Charlevoix County kids through preschool in the '23-24 school year. Both pre and post preschool assessments showed developmental growth in students. Parents who received scholarships reported experiencing reduced stress levels and noted that their children were engaging more with others, communicating more effectively, and acquiring school readiness skills.

 

GRANTS IN ACTION - LITTLE TRAVERSE CONSERVANCY

The Little Traverse Conservancy set themselves a big goal when they worked with the sellers of the largest remaining undeveloped, unprotected shoreline on Lake Michigan in Emmet and Charlevoix Counties last year. With a price point of more than $3 million, every dollar really did count. A C3F Community Priorities grant, combined with more than 150 other donors and contributors, helped LTC to acquire the property and secure its protection forever. Sometimes, on these larger projects, our grants can seem like a drop in the bucket, but we believe in the power of collaboration because we have seen our community come together to do big things that matter, like this. Thanks to so many in our community who care for our natural resources, Enji-minozhiiyaamigak, the Place of Peacefulness, is now protected. Great news - you can go there because it's open to the public! And soon, there will be a universally accessible trail to enjoy as well. We are proud to have partnered with LTC on this work. 

 

 

GRANTS IN ACTION - NORTHERN MICHIGAN EQUINE THERAPY

NMET is dedicated to using the healing nature of horses as a therapeutic tool to enhance independence, self confidence, and quality of life for those living with physical and mental health needs Programs are offered by licensed and certified professionals From autism, depression, at risk youth and high anxiety, to spinal cord injuries and strokes, their promise is simple, horses heal humans. Due to inflation, costs of horse feed, hay, supplements, and vet care have increased exponentially. Grant funds will be used toward therapy horse costs.

 

 

GRANTS IN ACTION - solar boat washing station

Did you know? There is a new law requiring boaters to clean, drain, and dry their boats after exiting a body of water in Michigan, and before entering another body of water. This new law is intended to help stop the spread of invasive species in our beautiful lakes and rivers. Currently, one local organization is leading the pack in providing a practical way to comply with this new law. Thanks to an Environment & Land Use grant from C3F, Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy has installed solar boat washing stations at 4 of the 6 boat launches on Walloon Lake. Their larger goal is to have a boat wash station at all 6 of the launches, so they are well on their way, thanks to support from grants, the community, and collaboration with local townships. Right now, the only invasive present in Walloon Lake is Eurasian milfoil, and according to board chair, Russ Kittleson and former Executive Director, Josephine Roberts, (pictured with C3F Staffer, Ashley Cousens) they did not see an increase in that plant this year, a credit to the over 2,500 uses of the new boat wash stations around the lake. Each boat wash station includes a brush, vacuum, blower, and other tools to help boaters remove plants and water from their boats when they are ready to leave the lake. In this way, one small action from boaters can help to make a big ripple effect in protecting our beautiful natural resources.

 

 

 

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.