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Nicole Horn, Donor Relations and Communications Officer, Bay Area Community Foundation
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Bay Area Community Foundation Receives $20,000 Grant to Support Community Foundation Access and Opportunity Grant Program
Bay City, MI – Bay Area Community Foundation has received a $20,000 grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation supporting United Way of Bay County’s Little Voices, Big Challenges: Lifting the Experiences of our Youth. This is a simulation activity created to engage education professionals with an opportunity to see through the lens of a student experiencing hardship.
Inspired by the “ALICE (Asset, Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) in Focus: Children” report, the grant will support understanding the students in households living below the ALICE threshold who are faced with challenges outside of the classroom that affect their academic performance. This activity will leave educators feeling a sense of empathy for their students and empowerment to help them find a path to success.
“We are excited to partner with the United Way of Bay County to bring this program to the people of Bay County. The education sector will be the primary focus for the participants to be trained with the program. Following the pilot phase, there is the ability to expand to any professions that work with youth in the community.” Shawna Walraven, President & CEO, Bay Area Community Foundation.
In addition to quantitative outcome tracking, narrative stories will also be collected as a key qualitative measure.
“The human interest stories tell why this program is needed. We hope to create an understanding of what their lives were prior to and after the implementation of the program. It is critical that educators know the challenges children in the ALICE population face.” Shawna Walraven, President & CEO Bay Area Community Foundation.
United Way of Bay County works to create opportunities that ensure everyone has the resources, support, and opportunities needed to thrive. Seeing a need in our community, they developed the Little Voices, Big Challenges: Lifting the Experiences of our Youth program. This program will assist in the goal to create a more compassionate and responsive educational environment where every student has a fair opportunity to thrive.
“While there are already activities designed to step into the shoes of an adult facing financial challenges, it was important for us to shine a light on the experiences our youth encounter who live in those same households. The funding provided by Consumers Energy Foundation is an investment that will have a lasting impact, creating an understanding and empathy for those working with our most vulnerable youth population.” Nicole Luczak President & CEO, United Way of Bay County.
Established in 1982, the Bay Area Community Foundation (BACF) was created by and for the people of the Bay Area. Every action we take is rooted in a desire to create a community that is united, thriving, and resilient, and our mission is to build community through generosity, leadership, and strategic grantmaking. We annually award an average of nearly $2 million throughout Bay and Arenac Counties in the form of grants and scholarships.
The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider. The Consumers Energy Foundation enables communities to thrive and grow by investing in what’s most important to Michigan – its people, our planet and Michigan’s prosperity. In 2020, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy and its employees and retirees contributed over $20 million to Michigan nonprofits. For more information about the Consumers Energy Foundation, visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/foundation.
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The Bay Area Community Foundation is a philanthropic organization working to improve the quality of life in Bay and Arenac counties. The Foundation’s mission is to build community through generosity, leadership and strategic grantmaking. The Bay Area Community Foundation is in the Pere Marquette Depot at 1000 Adams Street, Suite 200, Bay City, Michigan 48708. For more information, visit www.bayfoundation.org.
I am proud to serve my community through my role at BACF. As a Program Officer, I collaborate with nonprofit, government, church, and school partners in Bay and Arenac counties to navigate our grant opportunities and find the right funding alignment. From project conception to post-award, I am your main contact for all things grants. Connecting organizations and donors who share the same vision and passion is at the heart of my work.
