We are pleased to announce fifteen second-round grant awards, totaling $225,923, in support of Northwest Ottawa County and our surrounding communities. This includes $40,000 to the Tri-Cities Historical Museum for their three-part capital improvement project at the Community Archive and Research Center (CARC), located at 14100 172nd Avenue in Grand Haven.
“The Tri-Cities Historical Museum is thrilled to be receiving this Community Impact Grant from the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. This grant will enable us to digitize the museum collection and migrate all data to a searchable, cloud-based, collections management database; construct an artifact processing room to meet museum best practices set forth by the American Alliance of Museums; and relocate and properly house our textile collection at the Community Archives and Research Center.” —Julie Bunke, Director of the Tri-Cities Historical Museum
The Tri-Cities Historical Museum is responsible for collecting, preserving, and sharing the artifacts and stories of the Tri-Cities’ past.
“Our collection holds over 200 years of local history,” said Bunke. “With over 65,000 artifacts, each individual artifact has its own unique story that helps community members, students, researchers, and visitors understand our past and our place in national and global stories. We seek to empower our community to explore their own local history, and we believe this project will greatly support that important work.”
Transitioning to a cloud-based data management system will not only create greater efficiencies for the Museum staff, it will also allow the Museum to provide the community, and all school systems, remote access to the Museum’s entire collection.
Other grants awarded:
Arbor Circle
$25,000 for the second phase of the Thriving Families Campaign. The campaign provides capacity building support to the Ottawa Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Northwest Quadrant Subcommittee and associated staff for the upcoming year; promotes the web-based campaign including the video “Be Their Influence” and the Thriving Families page; and the “My Life My Quit” program targeting both parents and teens regarding the signs and dangers of vaping in partnership with cessation information.
Love in Action
$31,500 to renovate Love in Action’s health and dental clinic to increase space for staff, medical volunteers, and patients while improving patient and client privacy and confidentiality. Renovations include the separation and ultimate creation of two reception areas for general programming clients and health clinic clients while also creating new office and clinic space, a new filing room and updated flooring.
John Ball Zoo
$50,000 over two years for “Time to Soar Capital Campaign” which aims to make the park modern, accessible, and sustainable in order to educate on the importance of conservation and environmental protections. This grant will support the modernization of the stormwater system which involves the creation of a net-zero water habitat for a new pygmy hippo habitat. This new system will filter and clean stormwater and deposit it in the park’s pond with the goal of retaining, recharging, or reusing at least 85% of the stormwater on-site.
Tri-Cities Broadcasting Foundation
$30,000 to purchase television production equipment to create local programming of Public Education and Government cable television. The channels will feature timely, relevant, and interesting programming—such as local government meetings and updates, youth sporting events, and current events—and will be co-created and produced with student interns pursuing a career in public broadcasting.
Grants from the Youth Advisory Council
Children’s Advocacy Center
$6,000 to build a Youth Advisory Council to address community issues concerning sexual assault. Youth will help to develop the council as well as provide direction to the Children’s Advocacy Center and their programming as well as complete service projects and raise awareness for the center.
GHACF
$5,000 to support the Emergency Human Needs Fund to help organizations during COVID-19, specifically those serving youth.
Grand Haven Area Public Schools
$1,660 to support the Community CHILL program. Community CHILL provides a safe place for 5th though 8th grade students to get homework help after school. This grant will provide transportation for those that do not live within walking distance as well as snacks and other supplies.
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
$5,000 to provide a STEAM for Success program for youth at the Ottawa County Juvenile Detention Center. This grant will provide funding for programming that combines social-emotional skill-building with practical science skill-building, making immersion in scientific experimentation and exploration educational and therapeutic.
Lakeshore Middle School
$1,763 to support the Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative and install a new drinking fountain in the cafeteria reducing the need for students to purchase water at school. The 900+ students at Lakeshore Middle School will now be able to refill water bottles as needed.
Mary Free Bed Hospital Foundation
$5,000 to sponsor the Jr. Pacer’s Wheelchair Basketball Tournament. The Junior Pacers give youth athletes with disabilities the chance to be part of a team, to work towards a goal with their teammates, and to refine their athletic skills.
ODC Network
$5,000 to support a youth Waterfront Clean Up project in Grand Haven; empowering youth to build community and social connection by cleaning up trash on beaches, in the Grand River, and along the waterfront.
Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence
$10,000 to support Ginny’s Place, which provides shelter for families experiencing homelessness and those facing domestic violence. Funding will provide children with a warm bed, clothing, toys, books, and meals & snacks. Staff and volunteers also provide activities, crafts, and field trips.
Tri-Cities Family YMCA
$10,000 to provide funding to support the Tri-Cities Family YMCA year-round youth Safety Around Water program. Funding from this grant would assist the Y in keeping its promise to the community of providing vital free and discounted programming to those in need. The Safety Around Water program teaches valuable water skills that reduce the rate of drowning and injury.
For more information about our grantmaking program, visit our Grants Page or email Holly Cole, VP of Grants & Program, at hcole@ghacf.org.