Foundation awards 1st Quarter Grants
Posted on March 30, 2010
The Community Foundation of St. Clair County announced first quarter grants for 2010 totaling $257,812 at their board meeting today. Programs and projects in arts & culture received just over $120,000 and education related programs received just over $75,000.
The Foundation’s Blue Water Arts Council funded several programs, including $16,553 to the International Symphony Orchestra and $4,000 to the Lexington Bach Festival. Other grant highlights included;
- $2,000 to the Marine City Music & Art Festival
- $5,000 to SC4 for an outdoor art project in front of the Fine Arts Building
- $17,375 to Studio 1219
In the priority area of education, the Foundation’s Francis Willson Fund provided $5,600 to St. Clair County RESA to support ACT prep classes. Since 2006 education and “college access” have been priorities of the Foundation. The Willson Fund was created through the donation of a condo in downtown New York City in the late 1990’s which the Foundation sold for almost $1 million and converted into an unrestricted endowment fund to benefit St. Clair County.
Other grants included;
- $3,100 to support Algonac Youth Football from the Youth Advisory Council
- $2,300 to the Boy Scouts, also from the Youth Advisory Council
- $10,000 to the Downtown Port Huron organization to support marketing, advertising and promotions
- $17,5000 to support the tourism efforts of the Blue Water Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
The Community Foundation of St. Clair County is the largest public foundation in Michigan’s Thumb region. In addition to grantmaking the Foundation provides staffing for the Small Business Concierge, the College Access Office, co-owns Studio 1219, a home for homeless teenagers, and the Acheson Community Resource Center.
Earlier this year the Foundation updated and renewed its strategic priorities;
1. Education
2. Downtown & Community Development
3. Arts & Culture
4. Basic Needs & Human Services
