January 2023
People around the world have been celebrating the start of each New Year for at least four millennia. The most common tradition is making resolutions for the up-coming year.
With so many people committing to goals for the New Year, the hope and optimism that change can happen is in the air. The reality is, however, that over 90% of New Year’s resolutions will be abandoned within just a few months.
Why do we do it, and why do we fail?
Some reasons include the idea that we’re thinking too big, we’re not considering the ‘why’ behind them, and the fact that we may not be ready for change.
The one thing that has not changed with Community Foundations, we look to create more positive change in our Community. From childcare, housing, mental health and wellness for our most vulnerable citizens.
We continue to collaborate with social service groups, youth groups, city government, chamber of commerce, and the health department to address the pressing needs in our community.
We are dedicated to making powerful change in our communities and solving the complex problems facing our community.
December Projects:
Breakfast with Santa Project donated $33,500 for the Imagination Library Fund, 29 stuffed animals found a new home, 177 guests enjoyed a fabulous breakfast, and 75 children visited Santa and Caddy Bear. We are very grateful for our sponsors.
Shop with a Hero Project was a morning of chaos of the best kind, 96 children received $100 gift card to shop for their family with a Hero at Walmart. Volunteers from the Cadillac Area Women’s Giving Circle, Cadillac Area Men’s Giving Circle, Cadillac Leadership, Police Officers from Wexford and Missaukee Counties, EMS, Fire Department, and many others, for 87 volunteers.
2023 Projects:
Human Service Leadership Council is planning a “State of Mental Health in our Community” seminar February 23 at Baker. A panel from Healthcare, Mental Health, Human Resources, Education, Ministry, and Police Department will talk about the greatest issues in our community and resources available. Our hope is to discuss openly about what we can do to make a difference.
“Are we Housing Ready” Breakfast, we are working on having presenters from Frankfort, Grayling, and Mackinaw Island about their housing projects and how the community was involved. In the last AES committee meeting, we discussed contracting a Housing Ready individual for Wexford, Missaukee, and Kalkaska Counties. Planned for April.
Deep Dive Interactive Workshop for Non-profits developing templates to be used in commonly found sections of grant applications. Planned for April.
We will continue to work in our community; this is a big task that we will not abandon.
Happy New Year!
Doreen
June 2020 Blog
Acts of kindness during COVID 19 Crisis
It is evident that during a crisis people and businesses step up. Schools close, jobs lost, working from home becomes the new normal, and shelter in place is in effect. So much for the normal life, we once knew, we are now living through a public-health crisis, an economic one. But there is good in our country, charity is off the charts, that makes us busier than ever. Philanthropy comes in all sizes, billionaires, celebrities, community donors are reaching in their pockets to support our country during this time of uncertainty.
Here the short list of good things being done locally and globally:
The local restaurant donated dinners have been donated to our frontline workers.
Free Meals at McDonald’s for frontline workers.
U-Haul has announced 30 days of free self-storage to all college students who have been impacted by schedule changes at their universities.
Distrilieries are making hand santizer.
Cadillac Casting Donates Medical Supplies to Munson Healthcare
TrainingMask Donates Face Masks to Essential Workers.
Comcast, Charter, Verizon, Google, T-Mobile, and Sprint have signed a pledge to keep Americans internet-connected for the next 60 days, even if people cannot afford to pay.
Amazon hired 100,000 more workers and giving raises to current staff to deal with coronavirus demands.
Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores purchased and had 100,000 PPE masks delivered for use by the City of Detroit. The surgical-grade masks will be provided to Detroit police officers, firefighters, bus drivers, and other city workers serving the public.
Famous musicians like John Legend, Keith Urban, and Pink play free concerts for people isolated at home.
Consumers Energy donated $1.8 million to small businesses.
Restaurants are offering curbside service.
DTE Energy Foundation donations went to Michigan Community Action (MCA), Michigan Foundations, and the Michigan Association of United Ways (MAUW) to help communities through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
MEDC donated to 2,700 small businesses around Michigan, they were awarded a total of $10 million in grants.
$2.65 million funds will enable foodbanks to secure the resources they need to serve the most vulnerable members of the community during this difficult time.
Kellogg Donates Over $10 Million to COVID-19 Hunger Relief.
BASF donated $25,000 to Gleaners Southeastern Michigan Food Bank.
Dow is donating $500,000 from the Dow Company Foundation to support the work of community foundations and economic development corporations in Midland, Bay, Isabella, and Saginaw counties.
DuPont donated a total of 120 gallons of hand sanitizer to MidMichigan Health and Midland County EMS.
Coca-Cola Company in partnership with MakersRespond, a nonprofit created to rally makers, manufacturers, and markets to address pandemic-related domestic shortages of PPE, donated 65,000 plastic face shields to the state of Michigan to help protect front line workers.
Ann Arbor T-shirt Company has partnered with Saline’s Sisu Mouthguards to produce and donate 25,000 plastic face shields for light-duty use. The priority will go to healthcare professionals at under-supplied medical facilities.
Cadillac Area Community Foundation has assisted non-profits, by giving out 2000 face masks, and granting $50,000 for emergency needs in Wexford and Missaukee Counties, $30,000 to Oasis FRC, $500 to Veterans Serving Veterans Food Bank, $1000 YMCA printing project, $5000 in for youth activities, $2000 to homelessness needs, $3000 Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital Patient Needs Fund, and $3000 Community Hope, Good Neighbor Food Pantry.
Missaukee Area Community Foundation has assisted by granting $3000 Community Hope, Good Neighbor Food Pantry, $500 to Missaukee County Cooperative Ministry for a Healthy Home Project, and $1000 Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital Patient Needs Fund.
The good news: There’s no shortage of opportunities for each of us to help in substantial ways.
A few things you can do today: donated blood, purchase dog food for shelters, check in on our neighbors, friends, and family, volunteer at food distribution, shop for senior citizens, read to a child over ZOOM, congratulate a high school senior, support your local restaurants, and/or support with a donation at your foundation, where they are working with our non-profits daily.
We are in this together, and we will rise above this together!
Stay Safe, Doreen
