Initial Challenge Match Realized
Thanks to community support from hundreds of donors and fund holders, more than $675,000 was raised and matched by the GHACF, which has allowed us to continue aiding community relief and recovery in response to COVID-19. The outpouring of support over the last several months has been incredible and has helped provide critically needed care for some of our most vulnerable community members.
“We are extremely grateful to all those who generously contributed to the Community Relief and Recovery Fund. The continued care and compassion exemplified by community members, fund holders, and area businesses has been inspiring. We are also equally grateful to our partner organizations who continue to do all that they can to provide critically important services to individuals within our community during this time of increased need.” –Hadley Streng, President at the GHACF
Responding to Community Needs
The fund was established to respond to the short- and long-term impact that COVID-19 will have on individuals, families, and for-impact partners within Northern Ottawa County.
“Initially, we set a fundraising goal of $150,000, which the foundation matched. Based on the needs of our for-impact partners and the generous outpouring of support, we extended and doubled the campaign to $300,000 and at the end of the challenge, we had raised over $675,000.” –Chris Riker, Vice President of Advancement and Donor Services
Funds Granted to Date
“During the last three months, we have learned the intimate details of the incredible demand placed on all of our partners—but especially those working within education, health and human services, and economic and community betterment. We are humbled by the generous philanthropy of our community and remain committed to supporting our for-impact partners in the process of recovery in the months ahead.” –Holly Cole, Vice President of Grants and Program
The foundation announced the grantmaking program from the relief fund on June 4. After five very competitive grant rounds, the Community Relief and Recovery Fund has awarded over $625,000 to 29 area for-impact organizations serving individuals, families, and communities most impacted by COVID-19. These grants went toward core operations to allow the organization to fully support Northern Ottawa County communities.
Areas of focus include:
- accessible nutrition
- access to arts & culture
- education
- frontline fatigue
- physical and mental health
- safe housing
- vulnerable communities such as seniors and youth
The following grants were awarded from the Community Relief and Recovery Fund to support Northern Ottawa County:
- Arbor Circle – $20,000 to support stabilization programming for families and caregivers, specifically The Great Start to Quality Western Resource Center and Arbor Circle foster families.
- Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired – $5,000 to support organizational operations and programming.
- Bethany Christian Services – $20,000 to support mental health counseling efforts.
- Children’s Advocacy Center – $18,000 to create new and accessible resources for teachers, parents, and children to continue body safety programming and education within the limitations created by COVID-19.
- City of Grand Haven – Neighborhood Housing Services – $20,000 to support education and housing counseling services as a Department of Housing and Urban Development Local Housing Counseling Agency.
- Community Access Line of the Lakeshore (Call 211) – $11,500 to support community outreach efforts and promote the MI Hope Portal, a database of mental health resources in Ottawa County.
- Every Woman’s Place – $4,000 to continue their vital services for the community, especially during the increase of domestic violence cases during quarantine and COVID-19.
- Four Pointes Center for Successful Aging – $25,000 to support the Home Care team that has been providing care to the vulnerable senior population.
- Grand Haven Area Public Schools – $87,983 to support the purchase of educational materials and platforms to allow greater, more flexible access to learning.
- Good Samaritan Ministries (Housing Assessment and Resource Agency of Ottawa County) – $25,000 to support the Community Housing Partnership program, which provides short-term financial assistance to families experiencing homelessness.
- Hand2Hand – $5,000 to support the creation of nearly 10,000 weekend snack and breakfast-packs for youth.
- Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes – Up to $10,000 toward virtual engagement of corporate and community volunteers and the development of digital learning opportunities.
- Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates – $15,000 to support their Legal Services Program, which provides high-quality, affordable legal services.
- Love In Action – $25,534.87 to purchase equipment to operate the Health and Dental Clinic safely and efficiently in response to the demands created by COVID-19, as well as updated food shelving and storage equipment for the Love In Action food distribution space due to increased food and nutrition needs within the community.
- Little Red House – $17,052 to help staff develop, manufacture, and install unique table dividers to provide adult day care clients a healthy and safe environment for re-engagement.
- Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital – $15,000 toward the expansion of their telehealth services.
- Momentum Center – $22,500 for mental health programming, which includes the Momentum Center, the Momentum Center Teen program, and community conversations.
- Mosaic Counseling – $25,000 to support access to affordable mental health services and programming.
- North Ottawa Community Health Systems – $30,000 toward the purchase and installation of ultraviolet lights and air ionization units throughout the patient areas of North Ottawa Community Hospital and Heartwood Lodge.
- Northwest Chamber of Commerce Foundation – $15,000 to support the business and education programming partnership within area schools.
- Opportunity Thrive – $16,000 to provide educators access to “Wellness Coaching for Educators.”
- Ottagan Addictions Recovery (OAR) – $25,000 toward the continued treatment, education, and support for those affected by addictions and co-occurring mental health concerns.
- Ottawa Community Schools Network – Coopersville – $7,200 to help support students’ mental health, as well as their educational, nutritional, and immediate needs.
- Outdoor Discovery Network – $50,000 towards the support of a partnership with the Ottawa Area Intermediate School Districtto help students, staff, and administration safely return to school this fall by utilizing outdoor spaces and educational techniques to provide safe, relevant, and engaging learning experiences.
- R.E.A.D. Ottawa – $6,000 to sustain free, one-on-one tutoring to adults striving to strengthen their reading and language fluency.
- Spring Lake Public Schools – $67,492 to secure one full-time social worker at Jeffers Elementary School and further support the district’s strategic development of Social Emotional Learning.
- Talent 2025 – $5,000 to support continued operations of its programming, as well as collaborative, timely conversations among stakeholders across the 13-county region of West Michigan toward the ultimate goal of becoming a Top 20 employment market by the year 2025.
- Tri-Cities Family YMCA – $25,000 to ensure summer programming operations continue—including children’s day camps, which provide a safe and meaningful space for local youth.
- Walden Green Montessori – $9,550 towards social, emotional, and mental health efforts, including providing staff and administration access to training in Trauma Informed School and incorporating mindfulness and Social Express programming for students.
Additional Support Needed
“The for-impact sector continues to experience significant needs, which are anticipated to only increase. Given the ongoing demand our partner organizations are experiencing, we will keep the Community Relief and Recovery Fund open and continue to fundraise for the foreseeable future.” –Chris Riker
“Every gift matters. Every gift will help make an impact,” added Riker. “Broad support from the community will continue to allow the foundation to support our partner organizations that are so critically important to our community.”
If you would like to help, you can still make an online donation to the Community Relief and Recovery Fund on our Donation Page. You may also mail a check (please include CR&R Fund in the memo line) to the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation at One South Harbor Drive, Grand Haven, MI 49417.