The Sturgis Area Community Foundation, along with its affiliates, the Constantine Area Community Foundation and the White Pigeon Area Community Foundation, are proud to announce the recipients of their Spring grant cycle. A total of $25,558 in grants have been awarded to local organizations to support their work and advance their missions in local communities.

Meet the Recipients

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Southwest Michigan

$10,000 – Advocacy for Children in St. Joseph County

The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Southwest Michigan’s mission is to expand and support the volunteer network in St. Joseph County, dedicated to helping the most vulnerable children in foster care. Grant support from SACF enables CASA to provide essential resources to its volunteers and covers the costs of their comprehensive 30-hour training, ensuring they are well-prepared to support the children who depend on them.

Each year, over one hundred children in St. Joseph County enter the foster care system due to abuse and neglect. CASA of Southwest Michigan takes on the responsibility of supporting these children through trauma-informed advocacy and care. Research highlights the effectiveness of the CASA program, showing that children with a CASA volunteer experience numerous benefits, including better access to essential services, enhanced resilience, improved academic performance, and a reduced likelihood of re-entering foster care.

A key element of CASA’s success is the dedication of its staff members, who mentor and support volunteers, provide ongoing guidance, attend all court hearings alongside volunteers, and invest significant time in training. Proper training is crucial to the well-being of children in foster care, as it empowers volunteers to effectively support the physical and mental health of the children they serve. CASA’s top priority is to ensure the safety and care of these children, and well-trained volunteers are essential to achieving this goal.

White Pigeon Township Library

$10,000 – White Pigeon Township Library Bookmobile Project

The White Pigeon Township Library seeks to create a “traveling library” that will reach those in the community who struggle to access materials, resources, and services from the library due to mobility, transportation, or socio-economic limitations. By removing barriers and providing equity of access for all citizens in the community, quality of life will improve for those who struggle with literacy and especially focus on those interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). With the grant award from the Sturgis Area Community Foundation and White Pigeon Area Community Foundation, the White Pigeon Township Library will now be closer to its dream of bringing its services directly to those in need.

Outside of Sunday Ministries

$2,500 – Food Distribution

Outside of Sunday Ministries, a faith-based organization based in Three Rivers, MI, has received a grant from the Sturgis Area Community Foundation to support its Food Distribution program, which serves families in St. Joseph County. Each month, the organization purchases food from the South Michigan Food Bank and distributes it to those in need within the community. The grant funds will be entirely dedicated to purchasing food, while other expenses, such as transportation and food preservation, are covered by the efforts of dedicated volunteers. Outside of Sunday Ministries hosts monthly distribution days where families can take what they need and provide delivery services to those unable to attend. Nearly 200 individuals are served on-site each month, with 20 families receiving food through delivery. Thanks to Outside of Sunday Ministries, families in need can rely on the support of their community to help put food on the table.

St. Joseph County Grange Fair Association

$3,058 – First Aid Station AEDs

The St. Joseph County Grange Fair Association has received a grant from the Sturgis Area Community Foundation to purchase two new AEDs (automated external defibrillators) to replace outdated units as a precautionary measure in case of cardiac emergencies. The fairgrounds host various events year-round, including community walks, weddings, church gatherings, Project Connect, Veteran Stand Down, relays, garage sales, tractor pulls, horse shows, and numerous 4-H activities leading up to the annual County Fair. With over 90,000 visitors each year, equipping the grounds with lifesaving equipment is essential given the diverse range of attendees. A grant of $3,058 has been provided to purchase two AEDs, which will be strategically placed on the grounds—one in the livestock fair office and another at the First Aid station during Fair Week—to ensure easy access in any situation.

About SACF Grant Programs

The Community Foundation offers two primary grant programs, each designed to support projects that enrich our County’s social, economic, and cultural landscape.

Community Impact Grants are intended to support larger projects and programs. By backing nonprofit-led initiatives, these grants create lasting benefits in areas critical to our community’s health and vitality. The Community Foundation focuses on funding projects and programs that align with SACF Impact Grant Priorities:

• Housing: Ensuring that all community members have access to safe, quality housing.
• Educational Progression & Workforce Development: Equipping our workforce with the necessary skills and education to thrive in a changing economy.
• Care of Children: Supporting the well-being and development of our youngest citizens.
• Community Development & Placemaking: Enhancing our communities’ physical and social landscapes to make them more vibrant and welcoming places.

SACF’s Micro-Grants programs supports small-scale initiatives and is tailored to support smaller projects that have the potential to make significant impacts. These grants help grassroots initiatives and emerging organizations to pilot new ideas, extend their reach, or simply add that extra bit of support where it’s needed most.

Eligible organizations can access applications to both the Impact Grant and Micro-Grant online at www.sturgisfoundation.org/grants.

The Sturgis Area Community Foundation is a $30M foundation committed to serving the charitable needs of our community and enriching the quality of life for all people in the Sturgis area. Through philanthropic services, strategic investments, and community leadership, the Sturgis Area Community Foundation helps people support the causes they care about now and for generations.

For more information on grants or donor services, email sacf@sturgisfoundation.org.