2007 Golden Acorn Grantee Awards

The Berrien Community Foundation announced the four 2007 Golden Acorn Grantee Award recipients during its 55^th annual celebration held on September 12^th at the Heritage Center. Donors, volunteers, fall 2006/spring 2007 grantees, and community partners were recognized during this event as well.

The Foundation’s Golden Acorn Awards have evolved over time from honoring teachers to nonprofit organizations. Berrien County teachers are still recognized via the annual Golden Acorn Classroom minigrant program.

"With the increasing pressures facing nonprofits, we believe that it is very appropriate for the Foundation to honor their efforts through the Golden Acorn Grantee Awards," shared Dr. Nanette Keiser, Foundation President, "We consider this our special way to recognize these organizations and their programs that have so much impact in our County."

            The Foundation's four primary grant committees each identified a program funded during the fall 2006 cycle that best exemplified the committees' criteria based on the originally submitted grant applications and updates provided by the programs. The four Golden Acorn Grantee Award recipients were then recognized at the 55^th annual celebration where they were given the opportunity to describe their programs. They also each received an additional $1,000 grant for their previously funded programs.

Representing the Golden Acorn Grantee Awards Recipients:  Willa Butler, Cornelia Breja, Michael Kim (Catholic Family Services), Grandmaster Al Smith (R.E.A.D.Y.), Doug McCoy, Janet Trumbley (Calling All Colors of SW MI),

Jenny Miner, Linda Stibal (YWCA of Berrien County) (l to r)

Calling All Colors of Southwest Michigan's Middle School Pilot Program received the Building a Spirit of Community/Arts & Culture Golden Acorn Grantee Award. This program promotes cultural diversity in elementary and now middle school students of Benton Harbor, Lakeshore, and St. Joseph. It provides hundreds of Berrien County students with opportunities to share and interact.

Catholic Family Services of Southwest Michigan received the Nurturing Our Children Golden Acorn Grantee Award for the A Great Start for Berrien County Families program. This program provides services to more than 2,000 young families and engages more than 250 community volunteers and 15 AmeriCorps members. Activities and goals include reducing abuse and neglect, teaching parenting skills, and helping families develop strong support networks.

This year's Lifelong Learning Golden Acorn Grantee Award recipient was the YWCA of Berrien County. The YW is providing national accredited training for all Child Development employees through its Educational Excellence for Child Development Caregivers program. The program's goal includes increasing the quality and expertise of staff involved with the implementation of the child-centered, early childhood brain researched curriculum.

TEAM (Teens Exhibiting Able Minds) awarded the Youth Leadership and Development Golden Acorn Grantee Award to R.E.A.D.Y. (Recipient: Reclaiming, Equipping, And Directing Youth, Inc.)'s Martial Arts Program. This program promotes healthy youth, improved school grades, discipline, and leadership for youth in Benton Harbor. Over 300 students benefit from this program.

2006 Golden Acorn Grantee Awards

            The Berrien County Intermediate School District was the recipient of the Building Spirit of Community/Arts & Culture Golden Acorn Grantee Award for the Creative Collaborations: Teachers and Artists in the Classroom. This is a partnership project among four Berrien County schools (Benton Harbor, Brandywine, Buchanan, Watervliet), six classroom teachers, seven local arts organizations and eight local artists. It provides hundreds of Berrien County students with opportunities in arts education.

            The Capstone Family Center received the Nurturing Our Children Golden Acorn Grantee Award for its Zero to Three Secondary Prevention. This program assists participants to gain parenting knowledge, life skills information, and an increased ability to access community services and support.  It is also expected that families will engage in better preventative health care, especially in the way of prenatal care, early immunizations, and well-child visits. 

                The Lifelong Learning Golden Acorn Grantee Award was given to the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra Association for “Around Town” A Taste of the Symphony. Five elementary and middle schools in Benton Harbor received visits from the Symphony's Brass Quintet. This was a tutorial developed in conjunction with the BCISD about brass instruments, including a demonstration, open Q & A, and a musical presentation. A concert was also held at the State Theater that featured the Quintet and Michigan State University's and Benton Harbor High School's Drum Lines.

            TEAM (Teens Exhibiting Able Minds) awarded the Youth Leadership and Development Golden Acorn Grantee Award to Right Direction Outreach Ministries, Inc., for its the Sky is the Limit Tutoring Service program. A computer lab with academic software and recreational equipment were provided for this youth-run program. These are integral to this tutoring service and leadership program for students in the Benton Harbor community.

2005 Golden Acorn Grantee Awards

            Fort Miami Heritage Society was the recipient of the Building Spirit of Community/ Arts & Culture Golden Acorn Grantee Award for the World's Largest:  The Benton Harbor Fruit Market and Southwest Michigan's Fruit Belt program. This award and previous Foundation funding will assist with providing curriculum guides and educational lending kits to area schools for the new exhibit about this leading industry in Berrien County.

The Public Safety Education Program received the Nurturing Our Children Golden Acorn Grantee Award for its Little Squirt, The Live Talking Fire Truck program. This program focuses on fire safety education and burn prevention to help prevent childhood fire injuries and deaths.

The Lifelong Learning Golden Acorn Grantee Award was given to the St. Joseph Art Association/Krasl for its Art Connections, Regional Partnership Outreach program. This program focuses on the use of visual arts as an aid in healing and positive after school activities.

TEAM (Teens Exhibiting Able Minds) awarded the Youth Leadership and Development Golden Acorn Grantee Award to the Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor's Teen Center. The Center assists teen members in developing four senses—belonging, competence, influence/power, and usefulness—that will help them to develop into mature and productive adults.

 Representing the Golden Acorn Grantee Awards Recipients:  Liji Haney (Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor), Dale Stover (Public Safety Education Program), Kenneth Pott (Fort Miami Heritage Society), Donna Metz, Christina Worthington, and Dar Davis (St. Joseph Art Association/Krasl) (l to r)

                            Questions may be directed to Nanette Keiser, Ed.D., President

 983-3486 or NanetteKeiser@BerrienCommunity.org