APRIL
2021
Because hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation…the Allegan County Food Pantry Collaborative (a program of the Allegan County Community Foundation) kicks off our 7th annual Cereal Drive!

The drive runs from April 1 – April 30, 2021 with a goal of $38,500/25,000 boxes!

The goal of the drive is to provide one box, per child, per week for the summer months for those children whose families visit food pantries in Allegan County. Nearly 6,000 people are served by the sixteen-member pantries of the Collaborative, every month – 2,500 of whom are children. The peanut butter drive conducted earlier this year was extremely successful and we hope to continue stocking the pantry shelves with critical items.

Help us feed children who don’t always know where their next meal is coming from.

Read more on how to help us feed hungry children this summer HERE

BIG impact on Allegan County

The Allegan County Community Foundation's 2021 grants totaled $285,275. These grants were awarded to 42 non-profit organizations who will be using the dollars to impact Allegan County residents.

Legacy grants = $198,866
TAG Team grants = $52,550
Now and For Ever grants = $20,753
(read more about these grant dollars below!)
Saugatuck Douglas Area Fund grants = $1,557
Tobacco Settlement Fund grants = $7,049
Balas-Sellman Donor Advised grants = $2,000
Phillip J. and Paula A. Baker Family Fund grants = $2,500

In addition, the Allegan County Community Foundation's Board approved the funding of $15,000 for the 2*3*4 Scholarship and $18,000 for the Allegan County Food Pantry Collaborative. The 2*3*4 Scholarship is offered by the ACCF for Allegan County students in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of continuing education. The deadline for this scholarship is June 14, 2021 with multiple awards. The Allegan County Food Pantry Collaborative continues to be essential to 16 Allegan County food pantries and their clients.

This BIG impact is possible because of generous donors over the Allegan County Community Foundations' 55 years who knew that $5, $50, $500, $5,000 and more could add together to create a community of caring. Together we are: Impacting Community, Inspiring Philanthropy, and Strengthening Non-Profits with an end goal of improving Allegan County and the lives of those who live here.

Check out www.alleganfoundation.org for details of what organizations received grants.
We Have More Scholarships: Not Just for Traditional High School Seniors!
 
Most scholarships for High School Seniors closed March 15th but there are others -

2*3*4 Scholarship: Recognizing that most scholarships target students heading into their college freshmen year, the 2*3*4 was established by the Allegan County Community Foundation for Allegan County graduates in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of continuing education. Although not automatically renewable, students may reapply each year of their undergraduate studies.
 
Mimi Gabriel Angel Scholarship: This scholarship is for those living in Allegan County who are 24 or older and have had a gap in their education but have returned or desire to return to school; part-time or full-time students are eligible.
 
Roy and Carol McIlwaine Skilled Trades Scholarship: Graduates of any Allegan County public high school up to age 21 who are pursuing a license or certification in a skilled trade are encouraged to apply. This scholarship is renewable for a second year and can also be utilized to pay for required “tools of the trade.”
 
The deadline for these unique educational funding opportunities is June 14, 2021.
Scholarships for Plainwell Students only!  Help us spread the word!!!

One-time scholarships for graduating seniors, students finishing the Early College program, and graduates of Plainwell High School were created to honor the donor’s family members. The application deadline is May 4, 2021.

Plainwell Electrician Scholarship – Plainwell graduate pursuing a program for Electrician Certification. APPLICATION LINK HERE

Plainwell Nursing Scholarship – Plainwell graduate pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. APPLICATION LINK HERE
Jack and Susan Thiel Music Camp Scholarships

Students in grades 8 to 11 attending Allegan Public Schools are eligible to apply for scholarships to assist with the cost of attending summer music camp. The application is to be completed by the student and can be found at www.alleganfoundation.org – scholarships – Applications & Recommendation Forms. The application will also be sent to music teachers at the different schools. The application period is April 1 to May 12, 2021.

For more information on all Allegan County Community Foundation scholarships email us at scholarship@alleganfoundation.org or call 269.673.8344.

Applications for each of these scholarships may be found HERE
 
Please help us spread the word about these scholarships. We also welcome your help in funding these scholarships. Any donations are welcome and would help provide more or larger scholarship awards. CLICK HERE for more information on the scholarship funds and how to donate to them or call the Allegan County Community Foundation 269.673.8344.
Donors Help NOW and For Ever!

When it became obvious that 2021 would continue to cause unique challenges to our non-profit community, Theresa Bray (the ACCF CEO/Executive Director who retired November 2020) and the Allegan County Community Foundation Growth Committee decided a new donation option was needed. The ACCF Board approved their plan in the summer of 2020, to create a fund for donors giving them the opportunity to make a long-term impact and an immediate impact. The Now and For Ever Legacy Fund gifts were divided with half allocated to the Legacy Fund and half directed to grants awarded in the spring of 2021. The response was amazing and made possible an additional $20,753 in 2021 grants. 

In addition, $20,753 was added to the Legacy Endowment Fund with an impact that will continue to increase the amount available for Legacy Grant Awards forever.  

Thank you to all the donors who made a difference on the grants in 2021 and the future. We will continue offering this giving option – CLICK HERE to make a Now and For Ever gift that will impact the 2022 grants and beyond!
Allegan County Community Foundation Fund Focus:

Grants from donor advised funds held by the Allegan County Community Foundation are included with the total grants described above. We are fortunate to have caring Allegan County residents who make those grants possible. The donor advised grants make many impacts but there are three specific results: The organizations receive more dollars that the ACCF could have awarded, the ACCF Board and Distribution Committee members are thankful for the additional dollars to award worthy organizations, and the donor knows that the organization and the purpose for the grant has been carefully vetted and will serve Allegan County residents. Donor Advised Fund holders are also able to make recommendations for grants to be awarded to non-profit organizations at times other than our annual grant distribution. 

We would love to work with you and your family to include your fund with the Philip J. and Paula Baker Family Fund, the Balas-Sellman Donor Advised Fund and all the Allegan County Community Foundation Funds next year. Learn more about the donor advised funds and the Foundation here or call Lee Wittkop at 269.673.8344.  
Watch for the April ACCF
Non-Profit Spotlight...
Coming Soon!
112 Locust Street
Allegan MI 49010

269.673.8344