The Berrien Community Foundation has awarded more than $145,000 to Berrien County non-profits in its latest round of For Good Grants.
The grants focus on programs that support children and families across the county. BCF Program Director Susan Matheny says the grants give kids opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive, while also giving parents and caregivers the resources they need.
Highlights include funding for youth arts programs, mobile food pantries, summer camps for children with special needs, and early learning programs in Benton Harbor. Other grants support mentoring for women entrepreneurs, driver’s license programs for young adults, and concerts by the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra.
In total, dozens of nonprofits received support. The BCF is now accepting applications for its final 2025 grant round.
You can learn more right here.
Below is the full list of grant recipients.
Highlights of the family- and kid-focused grants include:
Acorn Center for the Performing Arts – bringing the “JazzReach” residency into River Valley schools.
American Diabetes Association – providing summer camp experiences for children to learn healthy lifestyle and diabetes management skills.
Benton Harbor Arts Association – supporting the Benton Harbor Children’s Art Fair, helping young artists showcase creativity.
Cornerstone Alliance/Women’s Business Center – equipping women entrepreneurs – many of them parents – with mentorship and resources to build family-sustaining businesses.
Feeding America West Michigan – supporting families through mobile food pantries with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Logan Community Resources – offering summer programming for children with intellectual and developmental challenges.
Present Pillars – providing young adults with the resources needed to obtain a driver’s license.
Readiness Center – strengthening early learning programs for children and families in Benton Harbor.
Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra – supporting the annual Education Concert for third- and fourth-grade students from across Berrien County.
In addition to the grants listed above, the following grants were also awarded:
Buchanan Area Senior Center – replacing and repairing deteriorating equipment in the fitness room.
City of Watervliet – purchasing and constructing additional features at Hays Park.
Community Healing Centers – supporting critical recovery services for those struggling with substance use and co-occurring disorders in Berrien County.
Eau Claire District Library – supporting the Learn the Basics programming.
Lake Charter Township – supporting the creation of the John W. Gast Memorial Trail.
North Berrien Historical Society – assisting with covering the cost of the historical society’s annual Holiday Open House.
Performing Arts Workshops (PAW), Inc. – providing scholarships for student performers.
Protect All Children from Trafficking (PACT) – providing the Youth Against Child Trafficking program to youth at the Berrien County Juvenile Center.
Ready for School – supporting the Reach Out and Read program at the InterCare Clinics in Benton Harbor and Eau Claire.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana – providing support for the Complete Meal Care project for families of sick and injured children.
The Avenue Family Network – funding the purchase of new computers and enhanced software to ensure effective and secure services.
Therapeutic Equestrian Center – replacing worn hardware and lumber to improve the condition of two sliding barn doors.
Weesaw Township Fire Department – funding the purchase of fire protection hoods for firefighters.
Photo: Feeding America West Michigan mobile food pantry volunteers gather around boxes of food that they will soon put into the trunks of vehicles of those attending the event in Benton Harbor. Berrien Community Foundation recently awarded a For Good Grant to Feeding America West Michigan to support their mobile food pantry program.