$230,000 in grants were announced by the Berrien Community Foundation as it held its 70th Annual Meeting and Celebration this week. The BCF announced five major grants and awards at the event. The newest grant is the Carolyn’s Kids Grant, which awarded $50,000 each to Well of GRACE Ministries for its Raising Kids with Character program and the Readiness Center for its literacy and social-emotional support programs. Also announced this week was the $75,000 Alamar Nonprofit Sustainability Grant, which went to the OutCenter to invest in development planning and community education, and the $50,000 Stephen E. Upton Love Your Community Grant for Present Pillars to help build strong fathers. The BCF’s Golden Acorn Volunteer Award went to Diane Young, a volunteer in the community, and the Golden Acorn Excellence Award went to HOPE Resources in Coloma for its work with low-income families. Reflecting on 2022, BCF Program Director Susan Matheny said 2022 was a busy year for the organization as it gave out more than $10 million in grants, including $348,000 in scholarships.
