Buchanan-based charity gives over $100k to local groups

BUCHANAN, Mich. -- The Michigan Gateway Community Foundation Board of Trustees voted on Monday to award roughly $108,000 to local groups that are working to improve the community.

The largest grant awarded was $30,000 from the Walter Schirmer Jr. Library Fund and the B.R. & Marjorie H. Desenberg Library Fund for buying new signs for the Buchanan District Library.

"Founded in 1978, Michigan Gateway Community Foundation serves southern Berrien County and Cass County Michigan," said the organizations President and CEO Michael Rowland. "The Foundation was established with gifts from many citizens in amounts ranging from a few dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Only the income generated by the investment of these gifts is used in grant making."

The following programs were awarding funds:

• $6,000 from the Buchanan Area Fund to the Buchanan Police Department for the acquisition of body cameras to ensure the safety of the officers and citizens.
• $3,000 from a combination of the Unity Fund, Ann S. Cone Fund for Families & Youth, Niles Area Fund and the Active Community Life fund to the local organization Caring Connection. This will fund a needs assessment for adult daycare services across South Berrien County.
• $10,000 from Niles Area Fund and the Ann S. Cone Fund for Families & Youth for Salvation Army’s Feeding His Sheep backpack program.
• $10,000 from our Youth Advisory Council and the Ann S. Cone Fund for Families & Youth to WeEcho. This will fund their Weys2Shine summer programming for area youth.
• $4,689 from Unity Fund, Buchanan Area Fund and Walter Schirmer Jr Fund to Buchanan Community Schools for the purchase of heart rate monitors for the high school.
• $4,091 from the Unity Fund to Buchanan Community Schools for the purchase of additional equipment for the weight room at the high school.
• $8,320 from our Youth Advisory Council to Buchanan Community Schools for the purchase of an integrated library system tying them to Buchanan District Library’s catalog.
• $4,500 from our Youth Advisory Council to United Way of Southwest Michigan for the Cass School Supply Spectacular.
• $2,425 from the Walter Schirmer Jr Fund to One Buchanan to hold an LGBTQ+ Civil Rights Forum in Buchanan.
• $30,000 from the Walter Schirmer Jr Library Fund and the B.R. & Marjorie H. Desenberg Library Fund for the acquisition of new signage for the library.
• $2,000 from the Buchanan Area Fund to the Buchanan District Library to help fund a backpack program for the community of Buchanan.
• $15,000 from the Walter Schirmer Jr Fund to Chikaming Open Lands to develop parking and signage at Myron Perlman Nature Preserve.
• $3,000 from the Walter Schirmer Jr Fund to the Buchanan Tree Friends for their spring tree planting in Buchanan.
• $700 from the Woodhouse Family Fund to support youth programming at the Cass District Library location in Cassopolis.
• $5,000 from the Niles Area Fund and the Ann S. Cone Fund for Families & Youth to support the YMCA of Greater Michiana’s Summer My Way summer program.

The foundation accepts grant proposals two times a year with submissions due by August 1, and February 1.

"Prompt consideration is given to all grant requests, with decisions usually available within one month," said Rowland. "Each proposal will be evaluated by the Foundation for its potential value to the community and for the availability of funding resources."

For more information on Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, or to make a contribution, visit the office at 111 Days Avenue in Buchanan, go to www.mgcf.org, or call 269-695-3521.