The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation has awarded a total of $684,960 to 98 organizations across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties. These grant awards come from the Community Foundation’s designated endowments and support arts and culture, education, environment, health and human services, and youth causes and programs.
Designated endowments at the Community Foundation are created and supported with gifts from donor partners across the region and award grants to support specific nonprofits or programs year-after-year. These unique endowments provide annual grants to help with a local nonprofit’s work, services, and day-to-day needs.
ShareCare of Leelanau was a grant recipient.
“Having an endowment at the Community Foundation provides ShareCare with a sense of stability and partnership. This grant funding allows us to grow our programs like Memory Cafe, which offers connection for those experiencing memory loss and their caregivers” said Dawn Bousamra, executive director of ShareCare said. “With this support, we can continue offering enriching monthly experiences that include engaging activities and shared meals in a no-judgment, welcoming environment.
“It helps us reduce isolation, support caregiver wellbeing, and build a compassionate network for those navigating memory- related challenges,” Bousamra said.
Other organizations receiving designated grants this spring include: 5Loaves2Fish NMI, Antrim County for Antrim Creek Natural Area, Benzie Area Historical Society & Museum, Central Lake District Library, Cherryland Humane Society, Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan, Goodwill Northern Michigan, Elizabeth Oliver Center for the Arts, Glen Lake Association, Grand Traverse Conservation District, Grass River Natural Area, Inland Seas Education Association, Kalkaska Area Interfaith Resources, Mancelona Education Foundation, Railroad Point Natural Area, ShareCare of Leelanau, Torch Lake Protection Alliance, TART Trails, and Traverse City Philharmonic. A full list of designated grant partners is available at www.gtrcf.org/grants/ designated-endowments-grantawards.
