September 2020 Blog

I wanted to share a story with you today, a story of passion from one person sharing his talent to hospice patients.

Ain’t no Mountain High Enough

Our beloved musician volunteer, Sam Hazlewood, may not be singing Diana Ross and the Supremes, but he is demonstrating the theme, “Nothing can keep me from you.”

Sam’s performances include favorite sing-alongs and anecdotes, and he has shared his gift with HOM since 2012. Before the pandemic restrictions, he was seeing over 25 patients at one time, keeping all on track with a notebook and a “gig” schedule so each patient had 1-2 music sessions per month.

Since August of 2018, Sam had been taking his guitar and beautiful smile to a patient in the north and playing for sometimes over two hours. So when the pandemic hit, it hit Sam pretty hard.

“This is my purpose,” Sam will tell you. And there is no doubt it is. There had to be a way to let the music play.

With the collaboration of the nurse, social worker, VPC, and activities director at the facility, “Video Musician Visits” emerged. Sam had his first performance on April 21 with his patient along with two others he had previously played for and one new patient.

Coordination and help from the facility activity director drive the success of these visits, besides Sam’s charm of course. A time is set that is best for the patient and Sam gets tuned and ready. The facility calls into Sam’s tablet from their tablet and sets it up in the patient’s room. The performance usually lasts 20-40 minutes, then facility staff will “pick Sam up in the tablet” and take him to the next patient.

“One patient was singing right along,” Sam said, “and when she got to the point where she seemed tired I told her it was ok, she could just rest and let me sing.

“Sometimes I’m not sure they are all that awake but then when I’m done, they’ll say ‘thank you,’ so I know they are hearing me.”

On May 19, Sam had his gig scheduled, but the patient he had been seeing since 2018 took a turn and was now in the “active phase” of passing. The VPC called Sam to let him know he may not be playing for her today. But when he connected via video to the facility they said, “Yes, we still want you to play for her.” So Sam was able to share his purpose one more time with his patient in a very special way.

Sam is a special human, as are all of you. There are countless stories such as this, and we thank all of you who have found the way to continue phone or video contact with your patients since the onset of this pandemic.

There is definitely no mountain high enough for our volunteers. You are truly remarkable and so loved!

The Cadillac Area Community Foundation has granted Michigan Hospice funds to purchase 9 tablets, to improve quality during treatments, medications, services, grief support, and spiritual care of patients and families in need.

Happy September, Doreen

August 2020 Blog

A Busy Summer for YAC!

The Cadillac Area Community Foundation Youth Committee has been working all summer on projects to help students stay busy during this time of uncertainty.  Students have been earning hours (10 required) of community service, by volunteering, checking on grandmas and grandpas, and neighbors.

As monthly meetings turn to conference calls and zoom meetings, students are stilling looking for ways they can make a difference during the COVID 19 crisis.

In May during a CAPS food distribution, YAC students gave out over $1500 in items, (basketballs, footballs, color books, word searches, games, puzzles, etc.) bought locally to help kids stay busy and get exercise.  Many of the families had a pleasant surprise, as students gave out FREE items, COVID 19 Capsule flier, and how to stay safe fliers.  Families were very appreciative of the kindness of the students.

From a $3000 grant the Students awarded to the Up North Arts organization, they volunteered to help pack up art supplies of construction paper, watercolors paints set, fine tip markers, and instructions (just another way to keep students busy) and then dispersed over 200 bags full of art supplies to families on a sunny Saturday morning.

In June the students approved a grant to Feeding America West Michigan for $1000 for Mobile Food Pantry Cadillac Area.  Due to COVID 19, the food pantries have seen more than normal activity.  They also approved $2500 to Sleep in Heavenly Peace for kid’s beds (which they hope to join them on a build day) and approved New Hope Center $1000 for new mattresses and protective cases.  Unfortunately, the shelter has been at capacity all summer.

In July, students assisted setting up CAPS Kids Closet at Central Office, a $1000 grant in December 2019 was awarded to help get the closet up and running.  As part of the grant, they wanted to be a part of organizing the closet.  Taking all of the safety precautions, students spent an afternoon arranging items by size, putting up shelving, and consolidating items.

This month (August), students met over Zoom to discuss “Masks”!  They voted to support CAPS with a 1000 masks.  The masks will have the Cadillac Viking and the YAC logo.  Their mission is to give every student a mask on the first day of school.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit young people hard, disrupting education, putting their summer jobs at risk, and making their futures uncertain, but they are always looking for amazing initiatives like art projects, food, shelter, clothing, and even masks to change lives.

If you have a student going into the 8th grade and would like additional information about the YAC program, please feel free to contact me at the Foundation, 231-775-9911.

Happy August!
Doreen

May 2020

Virtual Celebrations

Our seniors were shortchanged from their high school experience.  They were born in the devastation of 9/11 and graduating during the COVID 19 Pandemic.

No prom, no cap &  and gown, no ceremony, no pictures with high school friends, no presentation of diploma in front of family and friends, no celebrating their high school accomplishments, and no graduation parties.

They have worked hard for this moment, and they are resilient, they are strong, they are persistent, they are determined, and they ARE going places!

The 2020 seniors will have lasting memories, just not the ones they planned on.  The new wave of recognition includes: drive-in graduation ceremonies, scholarship awards via Zoom, and honoring seniors on Facebook all because of our response to the social distancing ban, and it is new to every single one of us.

Our schools, teachers, and parents, are going to great lengths to find ways to honor their students. They are being very creative in showing their gestures to the class of 2020.  In the wave of technology, schools are reaching out in many ways to celebrate.  Facebook, websites, signs in yards and even billboards seem like a small gesture but mean everything to a senior during COVID-19.

We will probably never again feel comfortable in public places, shaking hands even with close friends, and standing close to people we don’t know.  It may be a long time to feel comfortable in large groups, sporting events, and even going to the movies.

But, we will continue to celebrate the milestones in our lives and we will continue to face unprecedented challenges, with determination and technology, virtual memories will be made!

Congratulation to the 2020 Senior Class – Stay Safe – Stay Strong!

We are in this together!
Doreen

April 2020

We’re living in uncertain times. We hear about the challenges our healthcare workers, essentials workers like grocery store employees, police officers, and EMS workers deal with every day.  We have seen teachers and school staff members that are touching base with their students, friends and families being apart due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.   It is real and serious for everyone!

The Cadillac Area Community Foundation granted Love Inc. and Community Hope $50,000 to support the emergency needs of food and shelter in the Wexford and Missaukee county areas from our Community Fund. These grants were just the beginning; donations we receive will be pushed out to the community to meet the needs as they occur.  We are keeping contact with our non-profits who are providing so many essential services to individuals and families impacted by the instability and economic consequences associated with COVID-19.

A collaborative effort by the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau, Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce, City of Cadillac, Cadillac Area Community Foundation, Alliance for Economic Success and the Downtown Cadillac Association have put together necessary information for business help and support for companies impacted by COVID-19 Coronavirus.

City of Cadillac updates:  https://www.cadillac-mi.net/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=443

Resources for businesses/food pantries:  https://cadillacmichigan.com/covidupdates/

MI Blood locations:  https://donate.miblood.org/donor/schedules/zip

We are here for the long haul, making sure we support our community of urgent needs.

If you would like to make a charitable donation to support with challenges facing a non-profit organization you have passion for, please write the name of the organization in the check memo and send to CACF, 201 N. Mitchell Street, Ste. 101, Cadillac, MI  49601, or donate on-line at www.cadillacfoundation.org. Please add the name of the organization’s you wish to support in the comments section.

Any support large or small is a positive sign of hope.

Stay Safe and Healthy,

Doreen

March 2020

A Safe & Healthy Community

Safe & Healthy Communities (SHC) is a local community coalition comprised of a variety of health professionals focused on addressing substance abuse in Wexford and Missaukee Counties. Their mission is to build and mobilize a comprehensive, community-wide social movement to substantially reduce substance abuse in our extended communities. .

Unfortunately, the fact is that people have died from causes associated with the use of vaping products, and underage drinking.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that, as of December 10, 2019, there are 2,409 hospitalization cases of vaping-related lung injuries in the U.S., resulting in 52 deaths across 26 states. A recent survey done by the Cadillac Youth Advisory Committee asked students 9-12 grade, which substance is currently being abused, 73.1% said vaping.  When asked if they knew the health risks, 97.4 said they did.  The 7th & 8th graders said 89.2% of the students are abusing vaping.  The numbers are shocking!  99.1% said they understand the health issues associated Read more

February 2020

Focusing on what really matters.

At the end of January the Cadillac Area Community Foundation (CACF), CACF Youth Advisory Committee, the Missaukee Area Community Foundation (MACF), and MACF Youth Advisory Committee partnered to help fund a student program. The program, presented by national speaker Tony Hoffman, covered his battles with anxiety, depression, drug addiction, and mental health. On January 29th over 1000 students from 7 schools heard Tony Hoffman’s inspirational message of overcoming his struggles with homelessness, suicidal thoughts, drug addiction, bad choices, going to prison; and then turning his life around and participating in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as a coach.

Many of the issues raised by Tony Hoffman in his program were also brought to light in a recent survey of area youth undertaken by the CACF Youth Advisory Committee. A total of 617 Cadillac Area Public Schools (CAPS) students participated in the surveying that took place in January 2020.

33% (270) of CAPS students in grades 9-12 participated in the survey. These survey participants feel that the top issues currently affecting them are stress from school (91.1%), mental health (75.3%), and stress from friends (54.4%). The survey also revealed substance abuse that included vaping ( 73.1%), marijuana use (15%), and alcohol abuse (9.6%).

73% (347) CAPS students in the 7& 8 grade responded to the same survey. They revealed that stress from school (80.5%), stress from friends (44.1%), and mental health issues (41.4%) are already a concern to them in the lower grades. Substances most abused by these survey participants included vaping (89.2%), marijuana use (38.5%), and alcohol use (26.2%).

These numbers are alarming! So where do we go from here? Read more

January 2020

Investing in People is investing in the Future.  That is the Key to Success for Non-Profit Organizations! 

An organization’s success lies in the professionalism, compassion, vision, competence, and expertise of the people within the organization.

Nonprofit work is known to be mission-driven.  Often achievement comes with pushing yourself and your team to its limit.

In the non-profit world, the roles and responsibilities of those that work for the non-profit often entail much more than any job description;  rather it becomes a way of life. The folks who dedicate their lives to the mission often become the very symbol of the organizations focus.

Similar to the for-profit world of dollars and cents, working in nonprofits means being able to explain with a  “business-minded” focus exactly what a donor’s return on investment looks like in terms of impact and change. Being transparent, knowledgeable, and passionate about the mission are skills every nonprofit leader needs because donors want to see their investments grow for the purpose of their own personal charitable cause(s). Read more

December 2019

The holidays are my favorite time of year as we all take time to give more to others and reflect on everything for which we are thankful.

As I reflect on 2019, the Cadillac Area Community Foundation is proud to have played a part in a number of activities that have led to positive results in our community.

  • we celebrated our 30th Anniversary this past June, as part of our celebration, the Foundation awarded 3-$10,000 grants (After 26 Café, Oasis FRC, and Healing Private Wounds) for their work in changing lives for the better every day
  • we hosted a breakfast for Agents of Wealth with speaker David Bennett, the President of the Community Foundation Research and Training Institute
  • we supported four local Executive Directors through the Leadership Learning Lab – an advanced training program for leaders in their organizations
  • we received our Silver Seal of Transparency from Guidestar, which means we embrace transparency and publicly share important information about our work and finances
  • we received our National Standards Seal, which certifies we meet, and exceed, federal and state law requirements in practice and by policy, and demonstrate our commitment to accountability and excellence to our donors and the public

Read more

November 2019

Plan Your Year End Giving

November is flying by and 2020 will be here before we know it. As you check off items from your end-of-the-year checklist, don’t forget that Dec. 31 is the last day to make charitable contributions in order to receive a tax receipt for the 2019 fiscal year.

Read more

October 2019

What it means to be a Blue Zones Community

Blue Zones are specific areas, across the world, where the residents enjoy the happiest, healthiest, and longest lives. Their immediate environment supports their lifestyle choices and well-being.

At its most basic, the Blue Zones Project is a community well-being improvement initiative designed to change the way people experience the world around them. Because healthier environments naturally nudge people toward healthier choices, the Blue Zones Project focuses on influencing the area close to home in which people spend 90 percent of their lives. That area and that environment dictates how easy it is to make healthy choices, or how difficult. By improving where we live, work, learn, and play, we make it easier to get up and move, eat healthy, make new friends, find a reason for being — and live longer, better.

The Blue Zones Project brings the entire community together; local residents, worksites, human services & non-profit organizations, your Community Foundation, healthcare professionals, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, and local government; to inspire this community movement that has the power to improve the quality of life for everyone. Blue Zones uses scientifically proven lessons of longevity, health, and happiness to boost the well-being of an entire community. Read more