9/18/2026

ALPENA—The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM) recently awarded its 2026 Northeast Michigan Women’s Giving Circle (WGC) grants totaling $70,350 and covering a four-county area that includes Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Presque Isle Counties. These grants are awarded for issues important to women of our region and are reviewed and recommended annually by a committee of ten WGC members. 2026 WGC grants include:

1. Boys and Girls Club of Alpena - $5,000 for the S.M.A.R.T. Girls of the Future program.
2. Friends Together - $5,000 for the Move Through Your Cancer Journey project.
3. Harrisville Arts Council - $5,000 for the Rural Women Artists Micro-Grant — Northeast Michigan project.
4. Lincoln Pop-Up Pantry - $5,000 for food and trucking costs.
5. PoWeR! Book Bags - $5,000 for the Little Learners of Montmorency and Presque Isle project.
6. St. Vincent de Paul - Alpena - $5,000 for the St. Vincent DePaul Building Expansion.
7. Thunder Bay Transportation Authority - $5,000 for the Moving Women Forward project.
8. New Beginnings Ministries - $4,500 to support food distribution in Montmorency County.
9. Alpena Childcare & Development Center - $4,200 for the Rest & Recharge Naptime project.
10. Hubbard Lake Baptist/Bible Church - $3,000 for the Feeding the Hungry project.
11. Bearded Ladies Foundation - $2,500 for the Mighty Girls of Northeast Michigan project.
12. Captain of My Own Ship - $2,500 for the Shipshape Shuffle 5K.
13. Delta Kappa Gamma Society Alpha XI Chapter Michigan Foundation - $2,500 for the Historic Green School Restoration at Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan.
14. The Sunset Project - $2,500 for the Thunder Bay Surf Club: Expanding Access to Great Lakes Surf Culture project.
15. Thunder Bay Band Boosters - $2,500 for AHS Band uniform replacements.
16. Alpena Gymnastics, Inc - $2,000 for a collaborative project with the Boys and Girls Club for youth development.
17. Alpena-Montmorency Conservation District - $2,000 for the “Harvesting for the Environment” project.
18. Besser Male Chorus - $2,000 for the 2026-2027 Concert Series.
19. Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative - $1,950 for the EcoCareers Expo.
20. United Way of Northeast Michigan - $1,200 for Project Connect in Presque Isle County.
21. Alpena First United Methodist Church- $1,000 for the “Hearts to Home” project.
22. Rayola Inc. - $1,000 for foster care packages for Alcona, Alpena and Montmorency County children.

These grants come from the Northeast Michigan Women’s Giving Circle Fund – a permanent endowment held at the Community Foundation and supported with additional funds from the Marion E. Lamy Fund, Nethercut Fund, and the Lucas and Janet Pfeiffenberger Fund.

The next opportunity for submitting grant applications is through the Northeast Michigan Youth Advisory Council for youth programs in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and/or Presque Isle County. Apply online through the Community Foundation Grant Portal at cfnem.org. Applications are due by October 15, 2026.

PHOTO: 2026 Northeast Michigan WGC Committee members, left to right: Kathleen Carignan, Dr. Lisa Hilberg, Angela Addington, Mary Linton, Nancy Szejbach, Ann Burton, Stacie Anderson, Melissa LaCombe, and Erin Kieliszewski. Not pictured is Ann Boyk.

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