Monday, September 25, 2017

No wonder she looks so happy! This past spring the Village of Lincoln hosted its annual Easter Egg Hunt for kids, and with assistance from a Community Impact grant, was able to purchase new bicycles as giveaways at the event. Organizers tell us that for some of the children at the event, the bike they won was their first bike ever. What an exciting day for them! Do you remember the day you got your first bike? Please share your “first bike” memory in the comments! In our office, Dee Marie says she got her first bike when she was seven years old; it was purple with a banana seat and a “sissy bar”, which she was so excited about because she loved to do wheelies! Christine Bruske Hitch's first bike was a birthday gift – girly and pink with cupcakes on the seat. It was the bike she used to learn how to ride without training wheels. Patrick says his was a surprise from his Dad on his 9th birthday – a yellow Peugeot bicycle given to him while living in Germany with is Army Dad. Fun stuff! More →

Monday, September 25, 2017

Congratulations Malinda M Amlotte, and thank you for participating in our "Best Quote" Contest! Your name was chosen at random out of those who participated, and you've won a ticket to Leadercast Women on October 5th in Alpena. We are so excited to have you join us there! More →

Thursday, September 21, 2017

QUICK CONTEST! Tell us in the comments your favorite quote about the power of women (or post a photo with the quote), and you'll be entered to win a free ticket to Leadercast Women on October 5th in Alpena. (This is a $75 to $105 value!) You'll be our honored guest at this event hosted by the Alpena Area Chamber, and being sponsored in part by the Northeast Michigan Women's Giving Circle. Let the quotes roll! The winner will be picked on Monday morning. More →

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Are you attending Inspiration Alcona's Farm to Fork 2017? The Community Foundation recently awarded a $2,000 grant to help with their upcoming workshop and meal events. YUM! More →

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Do you know of a nonprofit with a great program benefiting youth in northeast Michigan? Tag them in the comments or share this post with them! The Community Foundation is accepting grant applications for the fall 2017 cycle of the Northeast Michigan Youth Advisory Council (NEMYAC). Grant applications can be found at www.cfnem.org and are due on October 16, 2017. 501(c)(3) organizations serving Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Presque Isle Counties are welcome to apply. More →

Monday, September 11, 2017

Have you read “The Giver” by Lois Lowry? What did you think? A grant from the North Central Michigan Community Foundation to Oscoda County Library provided funds to bring the “Young Audiences New York - Literature to Life” program to middle school students at Mio-AuSable Schools. The program features professionally-trained actors and teaching artists who incorporate theater into literature, and encourage discussion and interpretation of the book. Programming Clerk Beth Barron said one of the most exciting parts of the program was seeing 7th grade boys actively engaged in discussions and giving their own impressions of “The Giver”. Barron says typically it is girls who participate most in discussions, but this program inspired the boys as well. More →

Thursday, September 7, 2017

This topic won’t give you the warm fuzzies, but it’s too important to ignore. The statistics on children affected by child abuse and neglect are startling. Children are so precious, yet many find themselves victims, and need a safe place to be treated, counseled, examined and advocated for. The Northern Michigan Children’s Assessment Center (NMCAC) received a grant from our affiliate, the North Central Michigan Community Foundation, to support its forensic interviewing room which is decorated and set up to make sure a child will feel safe, cared for and comfortable throughout the process. The NMCAC also received a grant through our Iosco County Community Foundation affiliate for start-up funds for an Iosco County Child Advocacy Center, which will be a satellite operation of NMCAC. Local leaders in Iosco County have been working diligently to secure funding to make sure its children are able to be served by one of these important agencies. Want to learn more about how NMCAC is helping children in our communities? Visit https://www.nmcac4kids.org/. More →

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Are you, or is someone you love a Boy Scout or Girl Scout? We would love to hear what you feel the best thing is about scouting! Learning leadership skills, the importance of service and teamwork, and creating bonds that can last a lifetime are just a piece of what the Boy Scouts of America Michigan Crossroads Council is helping young men in northeast Michigan to do. A portion of funding for the organization’s “Comprehensive Youth Development” program and “Blast into Scouting” project has come from grants from the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, and its Iosco County and North Central Michigan affiliates to support scouting activities across our region. More →

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Social Media for Nonprofits hit the road this morning headed for Tawas City! More →

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Experienced social media users are diving deep into digital marketing for nonprofits this afternoon at our second training event of the day! Welcome to Alpena and northeast Michigan! Tomorrow, this show goes on the road to Tawas City. #CFNEM #socialmediafornonprofits More →

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Social Media Training for Nonprofits for Beginners is underway. Over 50 nonprofit representatives are here this morning! #CFNEM More →

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

The purchase of a new portable sound system, made possible through a CFNEM Community Impact mini-grant, is helping the Alcona County Library to provide quality presentations and events for itself, and other nonprofits in the area. It’s a great example of how even small grants can have far-reaching impact. Already the system has helped make improvements to the library’s Summer Children’s Reading Program, has been used at the site dedication of the Alcona County Review, and for the Alcona County Historical Society. The library plans to allow other nonprofits to use the system as well. More →

Monday, August 28, 2017

Today is the last day to register for "Social Media for Nonprofits"! Do you know the ins and outs of sharing your organization's story on Facebook and other social media outlets? Could you learn more? Of course! Don't miss out on this great opportunity, whether you're a staff or volunteer at a nonprofit. Register at http://www.cfnem.org/resources/social-media-training.html. More →

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Who doesn’t love a good summer concert in the park? A $1,250 Community Impact Grant through our affiliate, the North Central Michigan Community Foundation, provided funding for the City of West Branch’s Summer Music series. Project organizers say the summer concerts bring people in to enjoy their parks, and give extra opportunities for cultural events. Northern Michigan summers really are the best! More →

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

“I feel like a real scientist!” That’s what one of the participants of the Northeast Michigan Science Olympiad Division A team said while learning about competing in a forensics event for a competition. Megan Milostan, a member of Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore Troop 1218, submitted a grant application to the Northeast Michigan Youth Advisory Council (NEMYAC) to purchase start-up supplies for a Science Olympiad team, bringing additional STEM education opportunities into the learning curriculum. Her efforts helped the Girl Scouts to secure an $800 grant for the project. We’ve got some incredible youth in our communities! More →

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

A photo of a freezer might not be super exciting, BUT – what it represents is truly heart-warming. This new energy-efficient freezer was purchased with support of a CFNEM Community Impact Grant of $2,100 to Alcona County’s St. Vincent de Paul will help this organization serve hundreds of families and individuals in need in Alcona and its surrounding communities. And the fact that it will help to cut costs means they will be able to help even more people. Very cool! (Pun intended) More →

Monday, August 21, 2017

This. Our communities have a deep and rich history to be celebrated! This is Hazel Phetteplace, the author of a recently published book, “History of Mitchell Township”. Hazel passed away earlier this year at the age of 93, and writing this book was a lifelong goal of hers. Hazel was an amateur historian in Alcona County’s Mitchell Township, and her book features stories and photos of friends and neighbors. She also used her grandfather’s diary as a reference; he settled in the township during the logging days, selling tool handles to loggers and running a farm. A $1,500 grant to the Alcona Historical Society provided funding to print Hazel’s book, as well as several other booklets for self-guided driving tours and historical publications. More →

Thursday, August 17, 2017

With 18 high schools in the Community Foundation's nine-county service area having a Youth Advisory Council (YAC), our adult YAC advisors are so important! These folks lead, engage and gather our youth grantmakers throughout the year, and then take a huge step back as the kids determine where grants will go each year. This week, many of our advisors came to Alpena to get ready for the new YAC year, bounce ideas of each other, and talk all things YAC. Please give these awesome people a "like" for all they do for the youth of our communities! http://www.wbkb11.com/yac-advisorys-travel-to-the-community-foundation-of-northeast-michigan-for-annual-meeting More →

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Two recent grants from our affiliate, the Straits Area Community Foundation, will help make health care more accessible for Cheboygan County and Mackinaw City residents. http://www.cheboygannews.com/news/20170816/straits-area-community-foundation-awards-3530-in-health-care-grants More →

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Like it or not, social media has become an indispensable part of our lives. One of the obvious benefits of social media is that it has engendered new forms of communication and stakeholder engagement. In today's digital world, if a nonprofit doesn't have an active presence on social media, then they're missing out on new relationships, potential volunteers and donors, and an entire audience who wants to get involved and support their mission. More →

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Like it or not, social media has become an indispensable part of our lives. One of the obvious benefits of social media is that it has engendered new forms of communication and stakeholder engagement. In today's digital world, if a nonprofit doesn't have an active presence on social media, then they're missing out on new relationships, potential volunteers and donors, and an entire audience who wants to get involved and support their mission. More →

Monday, August 14, 2017

Three sessions - you pick one. Two locations. One huge opportunity to learn the ins and outs of social media marketing for nonprofits! http://www.cfnem.org/resources/news/community-foundation-to-host-social-media-training-for-nonprofits.html More →