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The Cadillac Area Community Foundation enhances the quality of life for all members of our community through philanthropy – connecting donor gifts with the needs of our community.
Important News & Application Forms
2022 Updates
The Cadillac Area Community Foundation is
thrilled to announce
this year’s scholarship awards totaled $102,580.
CACF Youth Advisory Committee 2022 Needs Assessment Results- Click Here
Cadillac Area Men’s Giving Circle awarded $16,500 in grants to support men and boys needs in the Cadillac Area.
Cadillac Area Women’s Giving Circle awarded $21,181 in grants to support women and girls in the Cadillac Area.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE:
The Ardis/Lueder Northern Lower Michigan Endowed Scholarship Fund, supports a student in a recognized dental program at the School of Dentistry at the University of Michigan or the University of Detroit. Preference would be granted to a student who is from Wexford, Missaukee, or Osceola Counties.
Qualified students in the post-graduate, fourth, and third-year program. Payment will go directly to the school attending.
The David A. Cook Memorial Scholarship Fund for Civil & Environmental Engineering student at Michigan State University.
Any currently enrolled, second year or higher, civil & environmental engineering student at Michigan State University. Payment will go directly to the school attending.
Deadline for scholarships is July 15, 2022
2022 Youth Advisory Committee Needs Assessment Results: Click here
New Funds in 2021/2022
*Cadillac Area Men’s Giving Circle
*Brian Gaylord Scholarship Fund (Lake City)
*John Budde, Sr. & John “Sean” Budde, Jr. Memorial Scholarship for
Student-Athletes in Manton Area Public Schools (Manton)
**Trust of Clark A. Riddell Healthcare and Patient Assistance in Wexford
County Field of Interest Fund
*Paul McMullen Track & Field Scholarship Fund
Veterans Fund of Wexford and Missaukee Counties accepts applications for Emergency Needs all year long. Click Guidelines and application information or by calling the Foundation offices at 231-775-9911.
Youth Grant Applications are accepted from September through May. Click Guidelines and an application.
CACF Trustee Grant Applications cycle deadlines: February 28, June 30, & October 31. Click Guidelines and application.
You can view all of our Grant Making and Scholarship Deadlines by clicking on the “Deadlines” Tab at the top of this page.
Executive Director’s Blog
The National Standards Seal by our name indicates official confirmation from the Council on Foundations that we have met the most rigorous standards in philanthropy. It affirms our commitment to financial security, transparency and accountability. It says our grantmaking includes an open, competitive process designed to address the changing needs of our community. The National Standards Seal also confirms our history of honoring donors’ wishes.
July Blog
REASONS TO GIVE
Donating to the causes you care about not only benefits the charities themselves, but it can also be deeply rewarding for you too. Millions of people give to charity regularly to support causes they believe in, as well as for the positive effect it has on their own lives.
So, we reached out and ask, why do you donate, and hear is what they had to say:
It makes me feel good
I am happier when I know I helped someone
I enjoy supporting my charities I am passionate about
I felt we had a moral duty
Tax benefits
Teaching my children about generosity
Giving back to our community is the right thing to do
It is rewarding
I care about people
Sense of obligation of giving back
I want to make a positive impact on our community
Personal connection with a cause
To be a part of something good
And the #1 reason why donors stop giving…they don’t know how their gift is being used.
In the news in May, our Youth Advisory Committee granted $5000 to buy basketballs, footballs, coloring books, jump ropes, puzzles, etc. for students to stay busy at home. They passed out these items at the CAPS food distribution and the YMCA dinner pick-up. In June, we put a list of our scholarship recipients in the newspaper, over $100,000 to scholarship went to our 2020 Graduating Class through-out the ISD School District. In July a postcard was sent to our donors letting them know the Foundation has contributed over $100,000 to our community specifically for COVID-19 relief through the support of donor-advised funds, unrestricted funds, and donations.
Keeping our donors in the loop of how their gifts are being used is important to us too.
Thank you for your continued support! 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
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