Local organizations receive $81,290 in People fund grants

November 18, 2015
 
The Great Lakes Energy People Fund awarded $81,290 in grants in October to 26 non-profit organizations throughout the electric cooperative’s service area.  The grant awards were made possible through the support of Great Lakes Energy members who voluntarily round-up their bill each month.

1. Boyne Area Free Clinic, Boyne City:  $5,000 for laboratory testing.
2. Kalkaska County Library:  $5,800 for two children’s computer learning stations.
3. East Jordan Community Pool:  $2,500 for a record board.
4. Good Neighbors Food Pantry, Boyne City:  $1,800 for improvements to the entryway.
5. Crossroads Ministries/New Life Pregnancy Resource Center, Gaylord:  $7,000 for a heating and cooling system.
6. Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey:  $3,000 for a pugmill for the pottery studio.
7. Beaver Island Historical Society of Michigan:  matching grant of $7,500 for the museum expansion.
8. Friendship Centers of Emmet County, Petoskey:  $1,100 toward a vehicle for the Meals on Wheels program.
9. Lighthouse Community Lunch Program, Charlevoix:  $1,000 for supplies and food.
10. ACT-Artists Creating Together, Traverse City:  $1,000 for the Arts for All Celebration, an interactive arts festival for students with and without disabilities.
11. Challenge Mountain, Boyne City:  $7,500 for renovations to the resale store.
12. Bellaire High School Student Council, Bellaire:  $1,000 for material to make baby blankets for the Antrim County Baby Pantry.
13. Crawford County Community Help Center, Grayling:  $2,500 for a commercial freezer for the food pantry.
14. The City of Ludington:  $3,000 for a storage shed for the new pickleball court.
15. Luther Area Public Library:  $2,585 for new railings on the front porch.
16. COVE, Ludington:  $2,200 for nurse’s training for the SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program.
17. Reed City Area District Library:  $4,000 for lighting improvements for the library renovation.
18. Seventh-day Adventist Community Service Center, Irons:  $2,000 for personal care items for the pantry.
19. West Michigan Fair Association, Scottville:  $1,000 for signage on fair buildings to help facilitate locating people during emergency situations.
20. Oceana County Council on Aging, Hart:  $2,005 for computer equipment for home care staff.
21. Mecosta Township, Big Rapids:  $2,000 for park and playground equipment.
22. Christian Neighbors, Plainwell:  $2,000 for waiting room chairs.
23. Troy Township, Walkerville:  $5,000 for a handicapped accessible restroom in the township hall.
24. Ladders of Hope, Fennville:  $2,800 for a commercial refrigerator for the food pantry.
25. West Michigan TEAM, Grand Rapids:  $5,000 for an Employer Resource Network (ERN) success coach in Oceana County.
26. Mercy Health, Muskegon:  $1,000 for educational kits for the Safe Kids Safe Sleep program in Oceana County.

Since 1999, the People Fund has awarded more than $2.8 million in grants to local non-profit organizations that work to enhance local communities in Great Lakes Energy’s 26-county service area.
“For less than 50 cents per month, our members’ small contributions make a large impact on the lives of others” says President/CEO Steve Boeckman. “By joining together to round-up their bills to the nearest dollar, our members show their true commitment to their local communities.”
Great Lakes Energy members can enroll in the People Fund by calling 888-485-2537 or visiting gtlakes.com. One hundred percent of the funds collected are used for grants.
Non-profit organizations in the Great Lakes Energy service area can request a grant application online at gtlakes.com. The next grant application deadline is Feb. 1, 2016.