The Marshall Community Foundation Board of Trustees, and Youth Advisory Council (YAC), is pleased to announce a robust year of grant making. The Foundation granted twenty-one awards totaling $232,728. Each grant awarded supported projects and initiatives in Marshall and surrounding townships. Board Chair, Marguerite Davenport, noted, “Thanks to our generous donors, the Foundation was able to
make a difference in our community with grants to enhance health and human services as well as provide enrichment opportunities throughout the Marshall area.”
The following is a summary of each grant awarded in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, which concluded September 30, 2022.
Eastend Studio and Gallery – Arts Education and New Works Gallery
Amount: $15,000
Community Impact: Eastend Studio and Gallery was able to offer a variety of after school art programs and summer camps to area youth. Eastend also developed additional gallery space to house temporary art exhibits for the community to enjoy at their leisure.
ALURT – Calhoun County Dive Team – Replacement Motor for Dive Boat
Amount: $22,000
Community Impact: Grant dollars were used to purchase an engine for the current dive boat. The ALURT dive team supplements local law enforcement and fire department to help recover stolen property, evidence, and drowning victims.
B.E. Henry Building Association – Improved Security and Aesthetics
Amount: $10,199
Community Impact: The B.E. Henry building offers space for community events and programs. New doors, lighting fixtures, and ceiling tiles were purchased to assist with maintenance of the building and to ensure the security of the facility.
Starr Commonwealth – Pilot Phase of Student Resiliency Center
Amount: $75,000
Community Impact: In an effort to meet the growing demand for social, emotional, and mental health needs of middle school students in Calhoun County, Starr Commonwealth collaborated with area mental health agencies, non-profit organizations, and local public schools to strategically plan a county-wide, school-based behavioral health program. This immersive half-day program integrated public/private mental health care and therapeutic programming into the traditional school day.
City of Marshall – Eaton Park
Amount: $50,000
Community Impact: Grant dollars are designated to assist with the development of a former Eaton parking lot into a park and recreation facility. The area will house 4-6 pickleball courts, ADA walkways, a new stairway to access the Athletic Fields, a 38-stall parking lot, a restroom, and pavilion structure.
Haven of Rest – Software Upgrade
Amount: $8,321
Community Impact: The Haven of Rest is Calhoun County’s emergency homeless shelter, serving over 1,200 individuals each year. The Haven’s operations are dependent upon donor support. Updated software will allow the facility to better manage their donor database which, in turn, will allow The Haven the ability to care for those whom they serve.
Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department – Be the Best You Can Be Program
Amount: $3,500
Community Impact: The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department will present a program, Be the Best You Can Be, to area fourth graders. This program addresses topics such as bullying, drugs, ways to deal with peer pressure, self-respect, and self-discipline. Each student who participates in the program will receive a book which reiterates the concepts taught in each lesson.
Charitable Union – Back to School Clothing Distribution
Amount: $5,000
Community Impact: Charitable Union aims to reduce family budgetary and emotional stress that is often associated with funding Back to School supplies, such as clothing. This program helped children feel more confident as they started a new school year.
Marshall Public Schools Soccer Program – Facility Improvements
Amount: $8,000
Community Impact: Windscreens with Marshall Redhawks decals were installed on the fences surrounding the high school soccer facility. The improvements serve as a focal point for the high school athletic complex.
Marshall Youngish Professionals – Fridays at the Fountain and Wolf Tree Festival
Amount: $3,975
Community Impact: Fridays at the Fountain and Wolf Tree Festival are two events that intend to bring art, entertainment, and social events to the Marshall area in an effort to maintain and develop connections within the community.
Bronson Health Foundation – Sexual Assault Prevention Education
Amount: $2,000
Community Impact: Grant dollars support the child sexual abuse programming. Body safety awareness books accompany this program. The purpose of the books is to empower parents to teach and reinforce concepts such as safe and unsafe touch, safe and unsafe secrets, and how to get help from a trusted adult.
Brass Band of Battle Creek – Youth Brass Band Camps
Amount: $10,000
Community Impact: Brass Band summer camps provide a unique opportunity for young musicians, ages 11-18, to learn alongside world-renowned musicians and interact with their peers through the power of music. Aside from students’ own growth and accomplishments, their home band programs will benefit from the skills gained by these students attending camps.
Mar Lee School – Indoor/Outdoor Wellness Enhancements
Amount: $3,500
Community Impact: Grant dollars supported relining the outdoor track and gym. Due to the increasing popularity of the sport, the project also included the addition of painted pickleball courts on the gym floor and on the paved area adjacent to the track. These areas provide an additional activity for community members who utilize the playground in the evenings and rent the indoor facility for athletic activities.
The Rainbow Connection – Wish Experience
Amount: $5,000
Community Impact: With support from the Marshall Community Foundation, a local child who was born with a life-threatening condition was able to experience a once-in-a-lifetime wish. This wish will not only provided a distraction from the illness, doctors, treatments, physical changes, etc., but also hope for the child and his/her family.
Marshall Civic Players – 2022 Summer Youth Productions
Amount: $1,975
Community Impact: The Marshall Civic Players youth program reaches upwards of 50-100 children in the Marshall area. Students are exposed to the rehearsal and performance process while also learning about stage lighting, set construction, prop creation and costume design.
Franke Center for the Arts – Equipment and Electrical Upgrades
Amount: $5,958
Community Impact: This grant focused on addressing technical equipment needs that will improve the quality of all programming offered at the Franke Center, including concerts and theatrical productions. The Franke Center also installed electrical outlets in the ‘costume room’ on the third floor, completing the upgrade of a room that previously had no heat, air, or electricity.
The Marshall Community Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life in and around the Marshall area. The Foundation’s donors help this commitment become a reality. Donations earmarked for the Fund for Marshall and Marshall Youth Fund are endowed, meaning they will impact the Marshall community forever. Foundation staff also welcomes and encourages the opportunity to speak with individuals regarding prospective grant application. For more information about the Foundation’s endowments or the grant application process, contact the Foundation at (269) 781-2273, [email protected] or visit www.marshallcf.org