Samaritan House Volunteer Ann Shar and Event Coordinator Kim Dunn display some of the winter gear items purchased with help from a 4CCF fourth quarter grant.
Four County Community Foundation is pleased to announce grant funding awards for the fourth and final quarter of 2024.
In late October, the foundation’s board of trustees gave their approval to dozens of grant applications reviewed earlier that month by a committee of volunteers, totaling more than $80,000.
Some of those dollars have already been put to use. Samaritan House leveraged $3,000 in grant funding to purchase coats and boots for their clients before temperatures plunged. Combined with some of their own funds, the Washington Twp.-based organization was able to provide those cold weather gear items to 75 children in the Romeo school district in November.
Other dollars have been committed to projects in the near future. More than $2,700 in grant funds will be used for Almont Youth Baseball Association’s plans to purchase new equipment and storage sheds—a project slated for the spring of 2025. The sheds will store field maintenance items, first aid kits and pitching machines. New equipment purchases will include bat and helmet holders.
“The Almont Youth Baseball Association is working towards revitalizing the fields to be safe for all players and an enjoyable experience for all,” said Rob McKinney, the association’s president.
Other grant recipients and their grant-funded projects include:
- Armada Methodist Church for the purchase of AED safety equipment
- West Berlin United Methodist Church for their Pop-Up Pantry Food Distribution
- Skyline Camp and Conference Center’s for their pool rehabilitation campaign
- Capac Elementary School for a new STEM-based program subscription
- Imlay City High School’s Robotics Teams for competition fees and supplies
- Dryden Jr/Sr High School’s new tent for their cross country and track teams
Fourth quarter awards also include three recipients of the 2024 Spark Grant. It marks the second year that 4CCF has offered the opportunity for applicants to make an in-person proposal to a panel of reviewers for projects that are truly innovative.
Making presentations and earning $32,500 in total grant dollars were Authentic Headspace, Szanja-Carr for the Paws and Hoofbeats Through History.
Authentic Headspace, a Macomb County-based non-profit, will use $2,500 in funds for their Panic Attack Relief Bags program in local schools. Szanja-Carr for the Paws, also based in Macomb County, was granted $20,000 for their Police K-9 Wish List program which helps law enforcement agencies with K-9 related costs. Currently, they are assisting the Shelby Township Police Department acquire a new dog. Hoofbeats Through History—a children’s book and associated presentation—is the creation of Metamora’s Mary Chris Foxworthy. In 2025, Mary Chris looks to bring her program, which highlights the role of horses in history, to local libraries, schools and summer camps. Her horse, Hark, made a special appearance during Mary Chris’s pitch and he promises to be the star of the show during her presentations to local youth. A $10,000 grant award will help host sites cover the cost of Hoofbeats Through History programming.
January 1, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. is the next deadline for grant applications. To learn more about the granting process or to start a grant application, visit https://www.4ccf.org/grantees/.
Four County Community Foundation is committed to serving the current and emerging needs of our local community. The foundation serves portions of Lapeer, St. Clair, Macomb and Oakland counties. To learn more about Four County Community Foundation, visit www.4ccf.org or call (810) 798-0909.