2010 Grants

Support for the capital campaign to restore/renovate Grand Rapids' historic former Federal Building for re-use by Kendall College of Art and Design.

Support for the food pantry and warehouse addition to accommodate increased demand for service to low-income families.

Support for the Grand Valley State University capital campaign to build the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons.

Support for development of a concert hall and department of music facility that is designed to accommodate academic as well as civic programs and events.

Support to reconfigure/upgrade an aging downtown building providing transitional housing and support services.

Support for the 'Campaign for the Secchia Center' to complete Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine facility in downtown Grand Rapids.

Support for the renovation of the Oden community town hall.

Support for the ethnographic drama, "Lines: The Lived Experience of Race," bringing the words of west Michigan citizens to life as they discuss the dimensions of diversity.

Support for an independent comprehensive study of public education in Michigan.

Support for a centralized intake and assessment system as a part of a community collaborative focused on accelerating the path to permanent housing for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness.

Support for the pre-development stage of efforts to establish a public market in downtown Grand Rapids.

Support for the Nonprofit Technical Assistance Fund, a pooled resource for technical assistance to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector in Kent County.

Support to encourage the development of small, high-achieving secondary schools throughout the Grand Rapids Public School District.

Support for the expansion of the Migrant Mentoring program designed to improve educational and social outcomes for migrant children.

Support for a green master plan for the I-196 corridor from Ottawa Avenue to Fuller Avenue as a gateway to the city.

Support to build Local First's capacity to serve as a regional hub — strengthening, organizing, and growing similar campaigns in surrounding communities and business districts.

Support for the development of architectural designs in the phased implementation of a planned renovation of the Fulton Street farmers market.

Support to conduct an analysis of the talent system in the west Michigan region as a part of the Talent 2025 initiative.

Support for increased access and lower cost distribution of the developmental screener, "Ages and Stages Questionnaire," to Kent County families with young children.

Support for specialized training for health-care providers who perform medical evaluations on suspected victims of child sexual abuse.

Support for the First Steps initiative, a community collaborative leading the development of a comprehensive early childhood system built around a coordinated, accessible, and culturally competent network of support services - one designed to ensure that more children begin Kindergarten ready to succeed.

Support for community planning related to improving accessibility, availability, and effectiveness of early childhood mental health services in northern Michigan.

Support for the Pellston school-based Health Center.

Support for the 'Make Room in Your Heart Campaign' to renovate 17 family guest rooms at the Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan.

Support for capital improvements of a local school that serves students with learning disabilities.

Support for strategic planning for improved marketability and funding stabilization of the Child Development Center.

Support for the launch of the Michigan Cultural Data Project — an online data system to help arts and cultural organizations manage their organization, funders plan and evaluate grants, and researchers and policy makers understand the sector's assets, contributions, and needs.

Support for phase II of WhatsYourArtGR.com, including planning for long-term funding and a component focused on individual artists.

Support for the renovation of John M. Hall Auditorium on Bay View's campus in Petoskey including sound system, lighting, restrooms, and safety improvements.

Support for the Blissfest Arts and Recreation Center project, a capital improvement effort directed at facilities improvements to the Blissfest Farm for the purpose of increasing programming in service to its constituency.

Support for the expansion of a music therapy program to a satellite location in downtown Grand Rapids.

Support for the Meijer Gardens' participation as an exhibition center for ArtPrize 2010.

Support for a two-year arts education pilot program using music instruction to aid students, including English as a Second Language students, in improving their math and reading skills.

Support for the Michigan Arts Education Census, an assessment of the status and condition of arts education in Michigan schools.

Support for an effort by Opera Grand Rapids to broaden the base of their contributors during the year of transition to their new facility.

Support for the 'Campaign for the Second Century,' a series of capital projects and endowments which will restore and update the facilities of this regional artists’ community.

Support for the 'Reach & Revitalize' capital campaign to expand and renovate portions of Raven Hill's facility in order to provide sufficient space for multiple classroom use and opportunities to grow its programs.

Support for Phase 1 of the Berry Junction Trail connector (12.3 total miles), between Whitehall and Muskegon, which includes surface improvements and the development of 6.4 miles of non-motorized, multi-use recreational rail-trail.

Support for the development of a membership program for Blandford Nature Center with an incentive of matching dollars for members joining in 2010.

Support for an inventory of the City of Grand Rapids' street trees in an effort to establish an Urban Forestry Asset Management system.

Support for Kent County's Purchase of Development Rights program which aims to preserve 18 farms, totaling 2,000 acres in Kent County, over the next three years.

Support for an effort to convene a broad cross-section of stakeholders in a study of the Chicago Waterway System examining the feasibility and costs associated with ecological separation of Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River to prevent the spread of invasive species, including Asian carp.

Support for a comprehensive effort to develop a state-wide Conservation Vision for Michigan.

Support for the demolition and clean-up of the former Camp Pellston Corrections facility, in order to return it to wildlife habitat and public use.

Support for a multi-year signage and enhancement program for the Little Traverse Wheelway bike path in Emmet and Charlevoix counties.

Support for "The Great Lakes Legacy Project," involving a team of Michigan-based filmmakers who are partnering with PBS affiliate WTTW in Chicago to produce a television series based on the book, "The Living Great Lakes."

Support for the Johnson Center's National Summit on Family Philanthropy, a national conference bringing together family donors and others to explore innovative ways that families can help rebuild local communities.

Support for the 2009-10 Annual Fund Campaign and efforts of the Heart of West Michigan United Way to implement a new approach to on-going support.