Community foundation, Youth Advisory Council award grants

The Caswell house at Historic White Pine Village, built in 1847.

LUDINGTON —The Community Foundation for Mason County and its Youth Advisory Council (YAC) recently awarded more than $65,000 in new grants to community organizations in support of projects throughout Mason County.

The Community Foundation for Mason County had $48,129 available during its fall competitive grant cycle to support projects that align with strategic goals of education, community and economic development, and recreation. Co-investments from the Robert R. & Joan Hasenbank Fund, Carol Nunn Nelson Fund, and Good Neighbor Fund made it possible to award $14,025 more than the available funds.

Fall competitive grant awards include:

• Blue Hat Ministries: Thrive House Project, $5,000 (Mason County Funds for the Community).
• Chamber Alliance of Mason County: Mason County Multiuse Trails Project, $28,835 (Funds for Mason County, Tom Coleman Fund, Rick & Mary Ann Randall Fund, Healthy Youth Healthy Seniors Fund, Good Neighbor Fund)
• Circle Rocking S Children’s Farm Inc.: New picnic tables, $800 (Robert R. & Joan Hasenbank Fund).
• COVE: 10 Year Building Campaign, $3,300 (Daisy Marsh-Reek Fund, Five Friends Fund).
• Disability Network West MI: My Choice My Voice, $4,000 (Drs. Ruth & John Carney Education Fund).
• Ludington Area Center for the Arts: Ludington Youth Chorus w/ Elliot Plummer, $2,400 (Mason County Funds for the Community).
• Mason County Historical Society Inc.: Historic White Pine Village Heritage Trail Markers, $1,625 (Carol Nunn Nelson Fund).
• Mason County Reformed Church: Hand 2 Hand Weekend Backpack Food, $4,000 (Mason County Funds for the Community).
• Sandcastles Children’s Museum: Scholarships for STEAM Camps, $3,600 (Carol Nunn Nelson Fund).
• West Shore Education School District Summit Tech Center Agriscience, $8,000 (Drs. Ruth & John Carney Education Fund).

Community Foundation grants are generously provided by individuals, groups, and organizations that have established Funds for the Community and Field of Interest Funds. The names of these strategic funds may be viewed here: https://mason-foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/Strategic-Grantmaking-Funds.pdf.

“We are incredibly grateful for the foresight and support of the individuals, groups, and organizations who have established strategic funds with us. It is because of these funds that we are able to make these grants possible, supporting projects that serve our donors’ shared desire to enhance the quality of life for people in Mason County,” said Andrea Large, executive director of the Community Foundation for Mason County.

The Mason County Youth Advisory Council also recently awarded nearly $4,000 in teacher mini-grants. Fourteen teachers from Ludington Area School District and Mason County Central School District applied for amounts ranging from $77 to $500. The YAC was pleased to fully or partially grant all fourteen applications. Mason County teachers and counselors are eligible to apply, and requests may be awarded up to $500. Requests can include program enhancement that meets curriculum guidelines, expanding an already existing unit, student awards, special events, professional development, artists in residence, or parent involvement programs.

YAC teacher mini-grants include:

• Becky Alway: Flexible Seating and Tools to Enhance Literacy, $145.
• Scott Anderson: Cardboard Construction Project, $150.
• Scott Bentz: Developing a Program for Wheel Thrown Pottery, $262.
• Jacob Boone: Ed Malkowski Community Nature Center Restoration, $500.
• Tim Danielson: MCC Game Knights “Family” Game Knights, $260.
• Chaz Dila: Shadowbox Banks, $500.
• Teresa Eriksen: Michigan Storm Chasers Speaker, $100.
• Kyle Fiebig: Senior Leadership, $500.
• April Keith: World Drumming, $200.
• Jenn Mackey: Boosting Our Social Emotional Learning, $279.
• Caryn Prafke-Morin: Living Life Cycles, $77.
• Ana Quinteros: Expanding Spanish Literacy, $270.
• Marissa Rodriguez: MCC HS eSports Streaming PC, $461.
• Heather Vernier: Reading and Writing with Artifacts, $294.

To view a complete list of 2025 grant awards, visit https://mason-foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025-Grants-Awarded.pdf.

The Community Foundation for Mason County accepts grant applications twice each year, in the spring and the fall. The Youth Advisory Council accepts competitive grant applications in the spring, teacher mini-grant applications in the fall, and recreation grant applications in the winter.

The 2025 YAC recreation grant round opened on November 1 and is accepting applications for new or existing programs and recreation opportunities for youth. The deadline to apply is January 5, 2026. Nonprofit organizations interested in seeking information about the YAC recreation and other grant opportunities are encouraged to visit https://mason-foundation.org/grants/grant-opportunities/.

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