The Hillsdale County Community Foundation (HCCF) has announced the recipients of its most recent YOUTH and general grant cycles.

The Kellogg Youth Advisory Fund was established in 1991 with a $1 million challenge grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The Kellogg endowment fund is a “Field of Interest” fund designed to support and promote the youth of Hillsdale County. The following organizations were recipients of grants from the Kellogg Youth Advisory Fund for a total of $19,430:

• The Hillsdale County 4-H Dog Leaders Club received $2,983 to purchase agility training equipment that will meet National Standards, allowing the club to host dog shows in Hillsdale County.
• Pittsford Area Schools/Pittsford High School Library received $2,630 to
purchase updated books for the geography section of the library.
• Camden Township Library was granted $3,000 to purchase supplies and books
to be used with their children’s reading program.
• Camden Frontier Schools received $10,317 to finish the construction of the
new elementary playground, which has been dubbed “Fort Britton”. The school
was forced to tear down the old playground due to unsafe equipment.
• Hillsdale High School Future Problem Solvers received a $500 YOUTH
mini-grant to be applied to the cost of their trip to Connecticut for the
Future Problem Solvers International Competition.
The following organizations received grants in HCCF’s general grant cycle
totaling $78,174:
• The Hillsdale Rotary Club received $10,000 for further expansion of the bike path. The City of Hillsdale will act as fiduciary agent on their behalf.
• The Hillsdale County Sheriffs Department received $11,526 toward the purchase of 10 Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) and personnel training for use of the units. The AEDs will be stored in the police vehicles, where they will be readily available should a deputy be the first to arrive on the scene of a medical emergency.
• The Food Bank of South Central Michigan was awarded $3,000 toward the purchase of a refrigerated semi trailer with which to transport food resources into Hillsdale County through Second Harvest and the Food Bank Council network.
• Camden Fire Department received $15,648 for the purchase of four air packs that are worn by firefighters when inside burning buildings.
• Hillsdale College was granted $2,500 toward the Rotunda on the new Howard Music Hall on the college campus.
• Hillsdale County Intermediate School District received $10,000 to be used at Greenfield School for the creation of a multi-sensory room. The room will contain various objects and equipment that appeal to the five senses while promoting leisure, relaxation, imagination and independence, as well as improving motor skills and learning.
• Community Action Agency received $5,500 for a pilot program of a Youth Independent Living Services life skills class in Hillsdale County. The program will provide life skills education to youth ages 15-18 that are at risk due to homelessness, school expulsion and/or transitioning out of the foster care system.
• Reading Community Schools was awarded $3,000 in support of their Positive Behavior Support program.
• North Adams-Jerome Public Schools and the Fine Arts Committee were granted $1,000 as seed money for the implementation of a drama program in the North Adams-Jerome School system.
• The Branch/Hillsdale/St. Joseph Community Health Agency received $1,000 to purchase a laptop computer and printer to enhance the existing Hearing and Vision School Screening Program in Hillsdale County.
• The Hillsdale County Senior Services Center was granted $15,000 for the purchase of kitchen equipment for the new facility.
Information regarding the steps in applying for a grant can be obtained by calling the foundation office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., or by stopping at the offices located at 52 E. Bacon Street, Hillsdale.
The Hillsdale County Community Foundation was established in 1991 “For good. For ever.” As a community grant-making foundation, it provides seed money to organizations and institutions that have identified problems and have designed constructive action programs aimed at solutions. A majority of the Foundation’s grant making is focused on the areas of youth, leadership, philanthropy and volunteerism.
Anyone wishing further information regarding the Hillsdale County Community Foundation should call 517-439-5101.