Community Foundation awards more than $200K in spring grants

The Mason County Historical Society is one of the recipients. Photo of the Caswell house at Historic White Pine Village, built in 1847.

LUDINGTON — The Community Foundation for Mason County and its Youth Advisory Council have awarded more than $200,000 in spring grants to support education, economic development and community initiatives across the county.

In total, $200,046 was distributed, including $191,946 through the foundation’s strategic grant cycle and $8,100 through the Youth Advisory Council.

The grants align with the foundation’s strategic priorities of workforce and learning readiness, economic development and community development, focusing on projects that enhance quality of life and expand opportunities for residents.

Among the largest awards were $30,000 to Pere Marquette Charter Township for pickleball courts at Pere Marquette Conservation Park, $25,000 to Home Team Housing for critical home repairs and $25,000 to Lakeshore Food Club to support food access and distribution efforts.

Other notable grants included $20,000 each to the Ludington Area Center for the Arts for youth programming, the Mason County Historical Society for heritage trail markers at White Pine Village and Mason County Meals on Wheels to support senior nutrition services.

Funding was also directed toward smaller community projects, including emergency readiness equipment for the Free Soil/Meade Township Fire Department, financial independence programs through COVE and youth leadership development through the Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore.

Executive Director Andrea Large said the success of the Campaign for Mason County helped expand the scope of this year’s awards.

“The campaign has been truly transformative, significantly increasing the amount of funding we were able to offer this grant cycle,” Large said.

The Youth Advisory Council’s grants targeted programs addressing mental health, academic stress, substance abuse prevention and bullying, reflecting priorities identified in a recent youth needs assessment.

Organizations receiving youth grants included West Shore ESD for an elementary esports program, Oriole Giving Tree for student support initiatives and Camp Miniwanca for leadership development.

The Community Foundation for Mason County, established in 1988, manages charitable funds aimed at improving life in the region, while the Youth Advisory Council provides student-driven recommendations on youth-focused funding decisions.

Spring strategic grant awards:

• Blue Hat Ministries, $10,000.
• Caritas Food Pantry, $1,200.
• City of Ludington, $1,400.
• COVE, $4,000.
• Free Soil Meade Township Fire Department, $4,348.
• Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore, $10,000.
• HELP Ministry, $5,000.
• Home Team Housing, $25,000.
• Lakeshore Food Club, $25,000.
• Lakeshore Keepers, $6,000.
• Ludington Area Center for the Arts, $20,000.
• Ludington Coats and Boots, $5,000.
• Ludington Youth Sailing School, $2,998.
• Mason County Historical Society, $20,000.
• Mason County Meals on Wheels, $20,000.
• Pere Marquette Charter Township, $30,000.
• Western Michigan Fair Association, $2,000.

Youth Advisory Council spring grant awards:

• American Youth Foundation, $500.
• Mason County Roots and Resilience Youth Group, $1,000.
• Emanuel Lutheran Church, $1,000.
• Oriole Giving Tree, $3,000.
• West Shore Educational Service District, $1,000.
• Ludington Youth Sailing School, $1,000.
• Mason County Central High School Post Prom, $300.
• MCC High School Lunch ’n Learn, $300.