HCCF Fall Grant Cycle 2020

HCCF is now accepting grant for our 2020 Fall Grant Cycle!

We recognize that uncertainty is the only constant in our current environment and that it may seem strange to consider writing grants right now. However, we have seen organizations using this time to rethink their operations, tackle projects that have been on the wish list for years, and find innovative ways to accomplish their goals. We hope to use our Fall Grant Cycle to support these efforts. As always, our grant cycle is open to any organization seeking to improve the quality of life in Huron County.

The application can be found via the button below. All applications must be returned to HCCF via email by August 24, 2020 at 4 p.m. Recipient will be notified and asked to attend the HCCF Annual Celebration on September 17 to be recognized. Please remember that, per HCCF policy, organizations have one year from the date of disbursement to utilize their grant dollars. When considering applying, think of the things that could be accomplished between now and late September 2021! Organizations who received Emergency Assistance Grant dollars are eligible to apply for funding for a project or initiative that did not directly benefit from the Emergency Assistance Grant dollars.

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss an idea or potential project, contact Mackenzie at mackenzie@huroncounty.com or 989-269-2850.

RFP - Regional Publication

The Regional Publication Workgroup is a collaborative effort to reframe the narrative of our communities to promote our assets and amenities through new communication channels to market outside of our own communities. We are seeking proposals for solutions that will advance that mission and begin to create a brand for the Thumb of Michigan. Innovative solutions will allow our Region to reach new audiences and spur economic and population growth in the Thumb.

TIMELINE:
RFP Opens - June 10, 2020
All Questions Due - June 29, 2020
Proposals Due - July 10, 2020

All proposals must be submitted electronically via Dropbox link below by 5 p.m. on July 10, 2020. Please label files with the name of the firm. Late proposals will not be considered. https://www.dropbox.com/request/rSCRG8Ueue0nEf0LJXFd

Contact Melissa Anderson, Sanilac County Community Foundation Executive Director, with questions via email only (director@sanilacfoundation.org) prior to 5 p.m. on June 29th. No phone calls will be accepted. All questions will be answered publicly on this web page.

Questions Submitted  

 Are there brand guidelines for the Thumb of Michigan/Huron County, or would that be something created within these innovative solutions of reframing the narrative?

There are currently no branding guidelines for the Thumb of Michigan and this regional collaboration. This is something we feel should be created within the innovative solutions of reframing the narrative and do not want to place limits on the creative members to visualize.

Regarding the community partners, is this part of the deliverables-  having a solution on how to form community partners? 

It is not a necessary deliverable, but the ability to create long standing relationships will be critical to the sustainability of such a project, so the ability to incorporate the culture of collaboration is imperative.

 What other deliverables are you seeking?

At this time, we are only seeking the deliverables mentioned in the RFP. With that said, we understand that we do not know what we do not know. If you see a deliverable that we have missed or is pertinent to the success of the plan that you are proposing, we encourage you to present it.

 Are there already in-use communication channels to market the Thumb region, if so, what are they?

Currently there are a variety of small print publications that reach outside of the region, all of which focus on just one of the many towns or counties that we are striving to represent as a whole.

 What platforms are currently being used? There are no current platforms being used for the “Thumb” region as a whole. Individual towns, festivals, destinations, and counties, have used print, social media, and web advertising in the past, but not as a collaborative effort.

 What type of visual mock-up are you seeking in the proposal?

If your proposal includes an email newsletter, we would expect to see a mock-up of that newsletter. Any tangible “big ticket item” or “new concept” should be put in a visual format that explains the general essence of your proposal.

Do you anticipate the “visual mock-up of the proposed solution” to fit into a future design project?

We understand that the visual mock-up that is presented during the proposal stage is a launching point to a potential partnership. Although some aspects of the design may be requested to move forward into a future design project, we reserve the right to include and exclude any proposal as deemed necessary.

Is there a start date and a deadline?

There is currently no start date and deadline for this creative solution that your company is proposing. We are a dedicated and motivated group and hope to create an aggressive timeline as emerging partnerships allow.

What is the budget?

There is currently no hard and set budget. The collaborative partners in the Workgroup are dedicated to finding the right solution vs. value/fit for our region.

Questions submitted will be answered here by June 29th.

Emergency Response Fund Awards

Thanks to community partners, HCCF has awarded nearly $18,000 in grants to organizations impacted by our unprecedented circumstances.

In mid-March, the Huron County Community Foundation announced an Emergency Assistance Grant Round for Community Organizations. These dollars are dedicated to providing emergency assistance funding to local organizations that are going above and beyond their typical operations to assist the community during this time. Soon after the initial announcement, community partners began supporting the effort. The Greater Huron United Way supported the fund, via a generous contribution from Meijer. Since the initial partnership with the United Way, the American Electrical Power (AEP) Foundation, DTE Energy Foundation, Consumer Energy Foundation, Northstar Bank, Thumb Bank & Trust, multiple HCCF donor advised funds, and numerous individual donors have generously given to the Emergency Response Fund. We are honored to be a trusted partner for those seeking to help their community during this challenging time.

As of May 8, 2020, the Emergency Response Fund has provided $17,950 in support to the following community organizations:

• Kinde Food Pantry

• Elkton Lions Club - Food Distributions

• Harbor Beach/Port Hope Food Pantry

• Central Huron Ambulance

• Harbor Beach Community Hospital

• McLaren Thumb Region

• Scheurer Health

• Thumb Breadbasket

• Caseville Food Pantry

• Oral Health Solutions NPO

• Thumb Industries

We know that the impact of this pandemic is far from over. Thanks to our partners, we are in this for the long haul and are continually seeking ways to support our community’s response to COVID-19. If there is a nonprofit organization that is seeing an increased need during these times, please encourage them to reach out to Executive Director, Mackenzie Price Sundblad to see how HCCF can support their work.

The Emergency Assistance Grant application can be found here. We are still accepting applications and reviewing each application as it is submitted.

Questions? Contact Mackenzie - 989-269-2850, mackenzie@huroncounty.com.

Scholarship Reception Postponed

A Note from Community Foundation Executive Director, Mackenzie Price Sundblad

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that our Scholarship Reception will be postponed. The health and well-being of our community is important to us, so our Board of Trustees and Staff did not feel comfortable moving forward with our Scholarship Reception at this time. 

It is our intention to reschedule this event for a later date. We want to recognize those that make these awards possible. We want to connect our business community to our outstanding high school students. We want to honor the Class of 2020 and their accomplishments. Most of all, we want to do these things when it is safe to gather, exchange handshakes, and celebrate without fear for our loved ones and ourselves. Once we feel that we can accomplish each of those objectives, we will announce a date to reschedule the Scholarship Reception. 

April 26th will still be an important day in our scholarship cycle. On April 26th, HCCF will be posting a video to our Facebook page and website announcing the recipients of each scholarship. A full press release of recipients will be sent out to media channels the week of the 27th. This allows our students to make plans for first semester invoices and will allow us share some much needed good news with our community.

United Way, Meijer Provide Additional Funding for Emergency Assistance Grants

A generous gift from the Meijer Corporation has sparked a partnership between the Greater Huron County United Way and the Huron County Community Foundation to support organizations providing a community response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early this week, Meijer announced that it would provide financial support to the United Ways in the areas they serve to support organizations stretched thin due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Greater Huron County United Way received a $13,000 contribution from Meijer. To distribute these funds, the Greater Huron County United Way has partnered with the Huron County Community Foundation’s Emergency Assistance for Community Organizations grant round. “We want to make it as easy as possible for these organizations to get the support they need during this time when they are working harder than ever to meet our community’s needs. The best way to do that was to partner with HCCF’s existing efforts,” said Huron County United Way Treasurer, Laura Tyll.

Through this partnership, and Meijer’s generous contribution, there is now over $20,500 available for local organizations through the Emergency Assistance for Community Organizations grants. These grants can support any local organization that is going above and beyond their usual operations to assist the community at this time. “The way our community has rallied to fill gaps in services through this challenge has been inspiring. The goal of these grants is to help the helpers,” said HCCF Executive Director, Mackenzie Price Sundblad. Food pantries, organizations providing transportation of essential goods, and local groups making hospital supplies are a few examples of eligible projects. “Any organization that is doing something that they weren’t doing before the spread of COVID-19 should reach out if they need financial support to continue providing services to our community” added Price Sundblad.

“We are grateful for Meijer’s support of Huron County organizations through this contribution to the United Way. We are eager to put the dollars to use in our community” said Tyll.

Click here for additional information and the short application.

Emergency Grant Assistance for Community Organizations

HCCF Launches Emergency Grant Round to Support Community Organizations

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Huron County Community Foundation (HCCF), in partnership with the Greater Huron County United Way, is providing emergency assistance funding to local organizations that are going above and beyond their typical operations to assist the community during this time. These grants can be used for operations costs, which is typically not a qualified grant per HCCF policies. We know that many food pantries/food banks are feeding more people, food delivery services have been enacted to feed school children who are at home, and numerous other groups have stepped up to fill gaps and support our citizens. Our goal is to “help the helpers”. The funding for these grants is made possible by a generous contribution from Meijer to the United Way and the Health and Medical endowment funds at HCCF.

Please share this application with any organization that is providing a community response to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no grant deadline, as this situation continues to evolve daily. If you have any questions, please contact our Executive Director, Mackenzie, via email mackenzie@huroncounty.com or phone 989-269-2850.

Once you click the button above, the application will download as a word document. Please fill out the information, save the document, and email it back to mackenzie@huroncounty.com.

Placemaking Grants 2020 Recap

The Huron County Community Foundation (HCCF) awarded $4,000 in grants last night from the Community Impact Fund to projects that re-imagine and re-invent public spaces through Placemaking. The projects were submitted by community members and voted on by the community, which was an important aspect according to HCCF Executive Director Mackenzie Price Sundblad. The four winning projects will bring new ideas to life in Sebewaing, Port Austin, Bad Axe, and Harbor Beach.

The public was able to vote on Facebook from February 10 through February 17, with over 21,000 Facebook users seeing the projects in the album. On February 19, HCCF hosted their Placemaking Pitch Event 2020 at the Harbor Beach Community Theater, where representatives from each of the submitted projects had one minute to sell the audience and the panel of judges on why they deserved the $1,000 grant. Over 60 people from communities across the county heard pitches from the following groups and voted for their favorite in each region.

Projects presented included:

• Benches for the Sebewaing Dog Park

• LED Lights for Pigeon Little Fields

• Updated landscaping at Veteran’s Park in Pigeon

• Benches for the Ubly Walking Path

• New Bingo equipment for the Bad Axe Senior Retirees Club

• A Gazebo on the McLaren Thumb Region walking trail

• Community CPR Courses by Laura Schenk

• Walking path project in the Village of Ubly

• Signage for the Bad Axe Public School buildings and fields

• Expanding on the Log Cabin exhibit at the Port Austin History Center

• Wayfaring signage in Port Austin

• Directional signage for public art projects

• Harbor Beach Rotary tree planting on the Backus Nature Trail

• Establishing an exercise room at the Harbor Beach Community House

• Structural maintenance on the Murphy House

• New Concert Series to be held at the Harbor Beach Community House

There were four winners, one from each region, that received $1,000. Representing the Western Region, the Village of Sebewaing was awarded a grant to bring benches to the first dog park in Huron County. In the North Central region, the Port Austin Area History Center is expanding their Log Cabin display to include an outdoor education area. The Eastern region, the Harbor Beach Rotary Club won the grant to continue their project of planting trees on the Backus Nature Trail. Finally, in the South Central Region, Laura Schenk was awarded a grant for her Communities Compress The Chest project to increase public access to CPR training. “We would love to see each of these projects become a reality to continue to create vibrant and dynamic communities across the Thumb”, added Price Sundblad. “We have already heard of some groups that have donors interested from seeing their projects throughout the Placemaking Grant process.” If you are interested in supporting any of the additional projects that did not receive an HCCF grant, call the Community Foundation at 989.269.2850.

Placemaking Grants 2020

Placemaking Grants 2020

After the success of last year’s Placemaking Grant Round and Pitch Event, we have decided to bring it back for another round in 2020!

Placemaking: re-imagining and reinventing public spaces to bring people together; capitalizing on a community’s assets and potential with the intention of creating public spaces that promote health, happiness, and well-being

The Huron County Community Foundation Strategic Priorities allow us to focus our time and resources where the community sees the greatest need. One priority area is creating dynamic and vibrant communities. After last year’s success, we are again hosting a Placemaking Grant Competition specifically designed to spark community conversations, invest in public spaces, and bring ideas to life in Huron County. .

The County is divided into four regions for the Placemaking Grant Competition (click here to see the map). Each regional winner is guaranteed at least $1,000 to bring their idea to life! Awards will be made based on three different criteria –

1)    Community Voice (aka Facebook voting)
2)    Panel of Judges at the Pitch Event
3)    Public Vote at the Pitch Event

 Here's how it works:

1. Have an idea that will improve a public space in Huron County (ex. Community signage to make your area more walker friendly, public art installations, bike racks, public events hosted in community spaces, murals, public gardens, little free libraries, disk/foot golf)

   2. Submit the idea by emailing a one paragraph description of the project, your name and contact information, the region in which your project will be implemented, and an image that represents the idea to hccf@huroncounty.com by 4 pm February 5th. An example submission can be found here.

   3. If your idea meets the qualifications, your idea will be unveiled on the HCCF Facebook page for the first wave of voting, Community Voice, on Monday, February 10. Get everyone you know to vote for your idea on the HCCF Facebook Page between February 10th and February 17th.

   4. Gather your friends, family, neighbors, and community leaders and attend the Pitch Event at the Harbor Beach Community Theater on February 19th for an evening of collaboration, granting, and fun! Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with Pitches starting at 6:15 p.m. At the Pitch Event, a panel of judges and attendees will hear brief (1 minute or less!) presentations on each proposal. At the end of the presentations, everyone votes by secret ballot.

   5. If your idea has the highest total score for your region, based on Community Voice (25%), the Panel of Judges (50%), and the Public Vote (25%), you will receive $1,000 to implement your Placemaking idea in the community!

View the grant guidelines below for additional information!

2019 Health and Wellness Grant Recipients

Health and Wellness Grant Round

HCCF recently hosted a grant round specifically benefiting projects impacting the Health and Wellness of Huron County residents. This grant round was funded by the Health and Medical Endowment Fund. Four projects received a total of $3,574 in this grant round.

• Harbor Beach Community Schools — Healthy Cooking — Received $474 to purchase food to teach students how to cook healthy recipients in the Life Management Class at HBCS

• Bad Axe Middle School — Stop the Bleed — Received $700 to provide trauma kits for all classrooms in BAMS to be prepared for a wide variety of injuries

• CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region - Huron County — Second Step — Received $900 to present the Second Step Protection Unit for Early Learning, a multi-layers approach to child safety, to Huron County children

• Huron County Recovery and Prevention Coalition — Rides for Recovery — Received $1,500 to cover transportation costs to and from recovery meetings for those seeking help but with transportation barriers.

The programs impact the overall health and wellbeing of our community, while assisting some of our most vulnerable populations. Congratulations to the grant recipients. We are grateful for the services that your organizations provide to our county.

#GivingTuesday Supporting #CommunityImpact

What is Giving Tuesday?
GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past seven years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. One of the best ways to get involved is in your own community.

So on December 3, 2019, join the movement and give - whether it’s some of your time, a donation, or the power of your voice in your local community.

Support #CommunityImpact
The Huron County Community Foundation is celebrating this worldwide day of giving by encouraging our donors to support the #CommunityImpact Fund. The Community Impact Fund allows us to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. These dollars are designated to address changing needs and fund great ideas that make our community an even better place to live, work, and play.
In the past, this fund was used to support expanded recreation opportunities, health initiatives in schools, and hands-on educational experiences for our youth. Today, the Community Impact Fund is dedicated to supporting our Strategic Priorities, which came directly from You, the folks who love Huron County. We interviewed and surveyed hundreds of Huron County residents, community leaders in all fields, educators, and elected officials. Most recently, you saw the Community Impact Fund support Placemaking projects across our county.

How to give?
Our #GivingTuesday Campaign will be launched on Facebook the afternoon of Monday, December 2. If you don’t already follow us on Facebook, you can join us here. Facebook will be matching the first $7 Million in donations made on GivingTuesday through the platform and they charge no fees to the nonprofits.

We’re excited to host our first #GivingTuesday campaign and hope that you will join our efforts by supporting #CommunityImpact.

Giving Through Your IRA

For many of us, being generous with our money is one of the great joys in life. And it turns out that being generous with your IRA can be both personally satisfying and provide tax benefits.

If you are fortunate enough that you do not need all of the funds from your IRA, it is good to have a plan that benefits you and your community.

Making “Qualified Charitable Distribution” from Your IRA

When you reach the age where annual withdrawals are mandatory - referring to your required minimum distribution (RMD) - you can reduce your taxes and make an impact through HCCF with a qualified charitable distribution (QCD).

A QCD can be made that meets your required minimum distribution. Further, given the recent tax law changes, if you no longer itemize, your checkbook donations to charity will not reduce your tax bill. Using a QCD for your charitable giving may allow you to take the higher standard deduction while also reducing your taxable income.

Although Donor Advised Funds are not eligible to receive QCDs per the IRS, HCCF has many alternatives that donors can consider.

The following types of funds are eligible to receive QCDs from IRAs:

HCCF Operating Support  suppor the work of HCCF by supporting our operations. By providing financial support for our work, you help us continue to bring people together to make Huron County an even better place to live, work, and play.

Community Impact Fund is our unrestricted fund to today’s needs and tomoro'w’s opportunities. Today’s priorities may not be tomorrow’s, but this fund will always address our county’s most pressing needs and promising opportunities as guided by our strategic priorities.

Designated Funds support the good work of specific nonprofit organizations. Check out our designated funds page for a full list of nonprofits that currently have endowments. Don’t see your favorite on the list? Contact us about establishing an endowment to provide permanent support for the organizations you care about.

Field of Interest Funds support broad areas of need and award grants to the community organizations and programs addressing this such as:

• Arts and Culture

• Education

• Recreation Resources

• Natural Areas Preservation

• Health and Wellness

• And more!

Scholarships help students continue their education and obtain valuable credentials after high school. HCCF has numerous scholarship funds, including our Huron’s Future Scholarship Fund, which prioritizes educating local students to meet local talent needs.

Your generosity over the last twenty years allows HCCF to continue to serve our community and we are honored to be your trusted philanthropic partner. Your IRA gift can help us continue to improve the quality of life in Huron County.

This information is not a substitute for expert legal, tax, or other professional advice, and we strongly encourage donors to work with your professional advisor to determine the impact of making a QCD on your particular situations.

For more information or a confidential appointment, contact Mackenzie Price Sundblad, Executive Director, 989-269-2850.

Donor Advised Funds at HCCF

Donor Advised Funds have become one of the fastest growing fund types at the Huron County Community Foundation.

As a charitable donor, you wish to create a vehicle that allows you to maintain long-term involvement with your charitable assets. A Donor Advised Fund at HCCF enables philanthropic minded people to secure maximum tax deductions, involve family members, focus grant making, and obtain visibility for their giving. While some donors may find a private foundation suited to their needs, the alternative of establishing a fund with HCCF often proves more attractive.

Working with HCCF allows you to have the charitable impact and involvement that you’re seeking, without the headache and cost of administration, monitoring, investing, and reporting.

Donor Advised Funds at HCCF in 2019 have granted to a variety of causes across our county and state including:

·         The American Cancer Society

·         Bay Port Historical Society

·         Central Huron Ambulance

·         Career Exploration Events

·         Huron County SafePlace

·         Loads of Love Laundry Project

·         Ubly FFA Barn

·         Port Austin Reef Lighthouse

·         Huron County Imagination Library

Our Donor Advised Funds are a unique tool to help donors do what they love – support organizations doing good things in our community – without having to worry about the things they don’t love – paperwork, reporting, due diligence, and dealing with the IRS.

If you’re interested in learning more about how a Donor Advised Fund may fit your family’s needs, call Mackenzie at 989-269-2850.

HCCF Accredited with National Standards Distinction

Higher Standards

The Huron County Community Foundation has recently been accredited with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations®—the highest standards for philanthropic excellence.

We work to support the causes our community cares about, from recreation, to education and everything in between. National Standards says that we meet the most rigorous standards in philanthropy and is a promise to our community that we’ll continue to do this good work together, right here in Huron County.

National Standards is not mandatory. We chose to go above and beyond by affirming our commitment to excellence and accountability. Our accreditation provides assurance that we have sound policies and practices in place. In short, it means we meet the highest standards for local giving.

To receive accreditation with National Standards, HCCF submitted our policies and procedures to a rigorous review of 26 National Standards in six key areas of community foundation operations, including donor services, investment management, grantmaking and administration.

The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® program was established in 2000 in cooperation with the Council on Foundations. .

For more information about National Standards, visit www.cfstandards.org.

2019 Fall Grants Awarded

Over $15,500 in grants were awarded to local organizations and causes at the September 12 HCCF Annual Celebration, hosted at the Pigeon Event Center. Below are the Fall 2019 Grant Recipients:

- Bad Axe Middle School – $600 - Comfort Closet Project to provide toiletry and hygiene supplies in Bad Axe Middle School for students and families in need

- Huron County Nature Center – $750 - To build and install an avian display in the visitor’s center

- Greater Port Austin Art and Placemaking Fund – $750 - To create an all-inclusive public art guides that provides locations and descriptions of art installations in the greater Port Austin area

- SVSU and the Saginaw Bay Writing Project – $1,00 - To host a three-day writers workshop for K-12 teachers to write in public locations around Port Austin

- Harbor Beach Community Chest – $1,600 - to support the Harbor Beach Artist in Residence Program

- Central Huron Ambulance Service – $1,800 - To purchase iPads to support data collection and improved patient care records

- Harbor Beach Community Hospital – $2,000 - To support the purchase of a carbon dioxide insufflator to provide endoscopy procedures with fewer side effects

- Owendale – Gagetown Area Schools – $2,000 - To purchases supplies to raise Salmon in their classroom

- WAI-IAM, Inc. StraightTalk Program – $2,500 - To support the Straight Talk presentation at USA Schools, the program is designed to help combat and bring awareness to pressing issues in our community

- Bad Axe High School – $2,500 - To purchases a 3D printer for use in the STEAM and Robotics classes

For additional information on HCCF Grantmaking of HCCF Funds, call the office (989-269-2850) or email Mackenzie (mackenzie@huroncounty.com).

Placemaking Grants Impact Community

HCCF awarded $4,000 in grants from the Community Impact Fund in May to projects that re-imagine and re-invent public spaces through Placemaking. The projects were submitted by community members and voted on by the community, which was an important aspect according to HCCF Executive Director Mackenzie Price Sundblad. The four winning projects will bring new ideas to life in Caseville, Port Austin, Bad Axe, and Harbor Beach.

The public was able to vote on Facebook from May 6 through May 13, with some projects receiving over 300 votes. On May 16th, HCCF hosted their Placemaking Grant: Pitch Event at the Port Austin Gym, where representatives from each of the submitted projects had one minute to sell the audience and the panel of judges on why they deserved the $1,000 grant. Over 80 people from communities across the county heard pitches from the following groups and voted for their favorite in each region.

Projects presented included:
-        Improvements to the Pigeon Events Center grounds
-     Events at Memorial City Park in Caseville
- Games for use on the Port Austin Village Green
- A What’s Happening Port Austin Sign, outlining upcoming events
- Movies at the Beach in Harbor Beach
- Addition of Cemetery Markers at Rock Falls Cemetery
- Tree Planting on the Backus Trail in Harbor Beach
- Addition of Pickleball Courts in Bad Axe
- Project Positivity in Bad Axe High School
- StoryWalk Encouraging Literacy and Movement in Bad Axe City Park
- Miracle of Life Display at the Huron Community Fair
- Walking Loops of Historic Homes and Businesses in Ubly and Bad Axe

Western Region Winner: Market on Main in Caseville has had great success so far! Bringing vendors, performers, and entertainment for kids to downtown Caseville

There were four winners, one from each region, that received $1,000. Representing the Western Region, Memorial City Park in Caseville was awarded a grant to bring music, kids’ events, and have people gather in downtown Caseville throughout the summer. In the North Central region, Good Times on the Green received $1,000 to purchased outdoor games for public use at the Village Green in Port Austin. The Eastern region, Movies at the Beach won the grant to bring an outdoor movie theater to Harbor Beach. Finally, in the South Central Region, Bad Axe Public Schools Positive School Climate Committee was awarded $1,000 to adorn the hall of Bad Axe with “Project Positivity”.

Eastern Region Winner: Movies on the Beach had nearly 90 attend their first lakeside movie last month.

In addition to the 4 grants from the HCCF Community Impact Fund, an additional four other Placemaking Projects that were pitched at the event have come to life. “This was our goal with the event, to raise awareness of great projects and get the community involved in supporting these ideas” said Price Sundblad. A private donor contributed $1,000 to create a Middle School Library at Harbor Beach Community Schools. The Pickleball Association rallied their troops to privately fund and paint their courts in Bad Axe. The Harbor Beach Rotary Club is moving forward with their Tree Planting Project on the Backus Trail. The Huron Community Fair received funding for their Miracle of Life Display. Multiple other projects have community support and conversations are happening to get the funding they need to make those dreams a reality.

If you’d like to support projects like this in our community, consider a gift to the Community Impact Fund at HCCF.

After Hours Golf Mixer - June 27, 2019

A new twist on an old favorite! Join us for our After Hours Golf Mixer at Scenic Golf and Country Club, a fundraiser to support HCCF Operations. Register a full team or individual golfers through our sheet below. Not a golfer? No problem! Get in on the fun with a Dinner and Music ticket which will give you access to a delicious dinner, LIVE music, and great company on June 27th.

Registration - 5 pm
Shot Gun Start - 5:30 pm
LIVE Music - 6 pm - 9 pm
Dinner Begins - 6:30 pm

$200 per team of 4, $50 per individual golfers. $25 per Dinner and Music Ticket.
Details can be found in the flyer below. The flyer and registration form are both available to download and print through the buttons below. Questions? Call HCCF - 989-269-2850.

HCCF Scholarship Reception

Over 175 people gathered to celebrate the Huron County Community Foundation’s Scholarship Recipients at the first ever HCCF Scholarship Reception on Sunday, April 28th. The event, hosted at Verona Hills Golf Club, was attended by local philanthropists, the business community, school representatives, and scholarship recipients with their families.

Jessi Severance addressing the recipients at the HCCF Scholarship Reception on April 28th.

“We wanted to host an event celebrating the collective impact of our generous scholarship donors and sponsors when it comes to supporting education and celebrate our 45 outstanding recipients” said HCCF Executive Director, Mackenzie Price Sundblad. Prior to the award announcements, the recipients heard from previous HCCF Scholarship recipient and local business owner, Jessi Lynn Severance. Severance, who, with her husband Brad, owns and operates Emma’s Coffeehouse and Bad Axe Club Fitness, spoke to the recipients about finding opportunities to pursue their passion and have a fulfilling career right here in Huron County. Severance’s message was echoed by Price Sundblad, who discussed the HCCF’s priority of assisting graduates with educational costs through scholarships, but also providing a network and resources to retain our homegrown talent.

During the awards ceremony portion of the event, 45 Huron County students received over $95,000 in scholarships. The 2019 awards propel HCCF’s total scholarship impact over $750,000 since their inception in the late 90’s. “Our community is incredibly generous, especially when it comes to our young people and we are humbled to be the steward of those community assets,” noted Price Sundblad.

The 2019 HCCF Scholarship Recipients

Apple Blossom Wind Supports Vibrant Communities

Sempra Renewables recently made a $15,000 gift to the Pigeon Community Fund of the Huron County Community Foundation (HCCF). Sempra Renewables, operator of Apple Blossom Wind LLC, through its partnership with HCCF has given back to the Pigeon community annually. Sempra Renewables is in the process of being acquired by AEP, a company based out of Ohio. While the name will change, the interest in the community will remain strong. “We’re excited to make a positive impact on the community and we appreciate all of the local support we’ve had”, said Andrew Johnson, Wind Facility Manager for Apple Blossom Wind.

The gift was given to the HCCF Pigeon Community Fund, a fund dedicated to supporting projects in and around the Village of Pigeon.  The Fund is advised by a committee of individuals who live or work in Pigeon, including Dwight Gascho, Susan Meyerseick, Chris Wurst, Don Faupel, Jeff Leipprandt, and HCCF Board of Trustee Member Michael LePage.

The $15,000 gift supported two community projects, as well as the Pigeon Community Fund endowment. $10,000 was awarded to the Pigeon Events Center, formerly the VFW Hall, for continued improvements to the grounds, including landscaping. In the past two years, the Pigeon Community Fund and Sempra Renewables have provided $15,000 of support to this project for the Village of Pigeon. The facility is currently used for weekly exercise classes, civic club meetings, fundraisers for community causes, and private events

An additional $3,500 contribution was awarded to completion of the Scheurer Path to Fitness, located in the Village Park. The final $1,500 was invested for the future of Pigeon and was added to the Pigeon Community Fund Endowment at HCCF, to be a source of grants for community projects for generations to come.

HCCF Executive Director, Mackenzie Price Sundblad, noted the great partnership that HCCF has established with Apple Blossom Wind. “It’s great to have partners that support the community and see the bigger vision. These two projects both enhance public spaces, which is right in line with HCCF’s Strategic Priority of creating dynamic and vibrant communities.”

EMS Training -- Tuition Reimbursement Program

To further our Strategic Priority of “Retaining and Attracting a Talented, Trained Workforce”, HCCF is excited to our announce our partnership with Scheurer and Sanilac Medical Services to offer tuition reimbursement for four aspiring EMTs.

The current EMT shortage is a nationwide issue that directly impacts our local service providers. Scheurer and Sanilac Medical Services are offering an EMS Training this April. We are proud to provide a $4,500 grant to support tuition assistance for local individuals seeking to become an EMT.

Return the below application to Louise Hunt, EMS Manager (huntl@scheurer.org ) by March 29th, 2019 to be eligible.

Placemaking Grants

Placemaking: re-imagining and reinventing public spaces to bring people together; capitalizing on a community’s assets and potential with the intention of creating public spaces that promote health, happiness, and well-being

The Huron County Community Foundation recently conducted interviews and surveys to determine our new Strategic Priorities. These Priorities allow us to focus our time and resources where the community sees the greatest need. One priority area is creating dynamic and vibrant communities. To that end, we are hosting a Placemaking Grant Competition specifically designed to spark community conversations, invest in public spaces, and bring ideas to life in Huron County.

The County is divided into four regions for the Placemaking Grant Competition (click here to see the map). Each regional winner is guaranteed at least $1,000 to bring their idea to life! Awards will be made based on three different criteria –

1)    Community Voice (aka Facebook voting)
2)    Panel of Judges at the Pitch Event
3)    Public Vote at the Pitch Event

 Here's how it works:

1. Have an idea that will improve a public space in Huron County (ex. Community signage to make your area more walker friendly, public art installations, bike racks, public events hosted in community spaces, murals, public gardens, little free libraries, disk/foot golf)

2. Submit the idea by emailing a one paragraph description of the project, your name and contact information, the region in which your project will be implemented (see attached map), and an image that represents the idea to hccf@huroncounty.com by 4 p.m May 1. Click here to see a sample submission.

3. If your idea meets the qualifications, your idea will be unveiled on the HCCF Facebook page for the first wave of voting, Community Voice, on Monday, May 6. Get everyone you know to vote for your idea on the HCCF Facebook Page between May 6th and May 13th.

4. Gather your friends, family, neighbors, and community leaders and attend the Pitch Event at the Port Austin Gym on May 16th for an evening of collaboration, granting, and fun! Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with Pitches starting at 7 p.m. At the Pitch Event, a panel of judges and attendees will hear brief (1 minute or less!) presentations on each proposal. At the end of the presentations, everyone votes by secret ballot.

5. If your idea has the highest total score, based on Community Voice (25%), the Panel of Judges (50%), and the Public Vote (25%), you will receive $1,000 to implement your Placemaking idea in the community!

View the grant guidelines below for additional information!