KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – In its first round of grants for 2023, Great Lakes Energy’s People Fund has awarded 60 grants totaling more than $140,000 to local nonprofit organizations across the cooperative’s 26-county service area, which stretches from Kalamazoo to the Mackinac Straits.
Funding for the program comes from members of the electric cooperative who agree to have their monthly bills rounded up to the next whole dollar. Members are encouraged to enroll in the People Fund online at gtlakes.com or by contacting Great Lakes Energy’s office.
Grants are awarded twice each year by volunteer board members representing the cooperative’s north, central, and south regions.
Organizations receiving grants throughout West/Southwest Michigan include:
- Allegan United Methodist Church, Allegan: $1,000 for the AUMC Hands of Grace Food Pantry.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lakeshore, Norton Shores: $3,000 for one-to-one youth mentoring orientation costs.
- Mediation & Restorative Services, Muskegon: $1,000 for marketing to increase awareness of services.
- Project Hope of NE Allegan County, Dorr: $1,000 for the Project Hope food pantry.
- The Fountain Hill Center, Grand Rapids: $5,000 to upgrade an electronic billing server.
- Wings Home, Allegan: $2,500 for Wings Home caregiving.
Since its inception in 1999, the People Fund has awarded more than $4.3 million in grants.
The Great Lakes Energy People Fund is accepting applications from local non-profit organizations for the final 2023 grant cycle. The deadline for letters of intent is October 1 with grant applications due by October 15. Visit gtlakes.com/people-fund/ to learn more.
