A Slice of BCF - Podcast | Berrien Community Foundation

We join our friends over at 98.3 The Coast weekly to discuss what's happening in and through the Berrien Community Foundation. Check back each week for BCF interviews listed here.

Latest Episodes:

December 7, 2022

Senior Care Kits

We talk about the importance of the Senior Care Kits with Area Agency on Aging's Christine Vanlandingham.

November 30, 2022

Job Training Institute

How is a For Good Grant helping Mosaic's Job Training Institute? Listen now!

November 23, 2022

Good Things at Lory's Place

Lory's Place received a For Good Grant to support the Community Grief Alliance, which fosters a safe space for people who are grieving to come together to share a meal and their story.

November 16, 2022

Volunteering for Senior Care Kits

Many people come together to make Senior Care Kits a success.

November 9, 2022

Senior Care Kits

We're doing over 900 Senior Care Kits this year!

November 2, 2022

Grantmaking Processes

Ever wondered how the grantmaking process works at BCF? We expand on the "who's" and the "what's" of it!

October 26, 2022

What Volunteerism Means

The winner of the 2022 Golden Acorn Volunteer Award winner tells us what volunteerism means to her.

October 19, 2022

Love Your Community Winner

The winning nonprofit of the Stephen E. Upton Love Your Community Grant is investing in fathers and children.

October 12, 2022

Carolyn's Kids Winners

Two local nonprofits have each won a $50,000 grant to support their youth programming.

October 5, 2022

Alamar Grant Winner

We chat with the winner of the Alamar Nonprofit Sustainability Grant winner and how they'll use the $75,000 award to grow their nonprofit!

September 28, 2022

A Groovy Night

BCF held its Annual Meeting & Celebration last week -- and it was a groovy time to celebrate all that has happened in and through BCF this past year! We also awarded five coveted grants.

September 21, 2022

For Good For The Community

Susan talks abou For Good Grants and how they help the community, like the Summer My Way Program at the WMCA of Greater Michiana.

September 14, 2022

What's Ahead

Lisa looks ahead to the calendar of events at BCF.

September 7, 2022

A Sweet Lesson

Countryside Academy FARE instructor Kathy Hollacher was able to teach her students the sweet lesson of maple tree tapping, how to turn sap to syrup and nutrition thanks to a Golden Acorn Classroom Mini Grant.

August 31, 2022

A Lookback On Summer

It's been a busy summer at BCF! We look back on a busy summer and look forward to the great things in store this fall -- including our 70th celebration!

August 24, 2022

Doing Great Things on T.E.A.M.

Teens Exhibiting Able Minds is Berrien Community Foundation's program for students in Berrien County who want to give back. They make grants and do service projects throughout the year.

August 17, 2022

Backpacks For Good

Backpacks For Good helps students have many of the school supplies they need to start the school year off on the right foot.

August 3, 2022

Volunteer with BCF!

Berrien Community Foundation couldn't do everything we do without the help of volunteers! Lisa chats with Zack about how volunteers play a key role in the organiztion as well as opportunities for people to join!

July 27, 2022

Serving Kids Through Big Idea Grant

Harbor Impact Foundation is the recipient of the $50,000 Frederick S. Upton Foundation Big Idea Grant. The nonprofit will use the funds to help build a sports complex to bring young people together.

July 20, 2022

Backpacks For Good

Summer can be an expensive time for families. That's one of the reasons we offer Backpacks For Good - a school readiness event that gives away free backpacks and school supplies to students who attend Niles, Brandywine, Coloma, Watervliet or Hagar #6 students (regardless of the zip code in which they live) and students who live in the 49022 zip code (regardless of the school they attend).

July 15, 2022

Big Idea Grows Relationships

The winner of the Frederick S. Upton Big Idea Grant is growing relationships between Benton Harbor residents through a community garden. The Big Idea Grant is awarding $25,000 to the Benton Harbor Community Development Corporation for their Flourish Community Garden project.

July 6, 2022

The Ins and Outs

Ever wondered was BCF is, in a nutshell? BCF President Lisa Cripps-Downey discusses the many aspects of what the community foundation is and does for the community.

June 29, 2022

Deputy Grant Funds Refreshing Project

Berrien Community Foundation announces New Buffalo Recreational Authority as the 2022 winner of the William J. Deputy Grant. The winning project takes aim at quenching the thirst of the thousands of people who enjoy New Buffalo’s many recreational outlets.

June 15, 2022

The Heart of Cook

Every year, the Heart of Cook Foundation awards thousands of dollars in grants to local nonprofits. Cook Nuclear Plant Communication Manager Bill Downey joins us to chat about the recent awards recognition event and how people can apply for next year's cycle.

June 8, 2022

T.E.A.M. Players

What makes T.E.A.M. so great? Senior Jack Jollay talks about his experience on T.E.A.M. (Teens Exhibiting Able Minds) these past four years.

June 1, 2022

Garden Party

A garden party as a fundraiser? Yes, please! Former BCF Executive Director Margaret Poole joins us to talk about the self-guided garden tour the Pooles will host this weekend.

May 25, 2022

What Goes Around Comes Around

The Silver Beach Carousel Society celebrates 25 years of bringing back the magic that was once at Silver Beach Amusement Park. Carousel society president Suz Shalon talks about the history of the carousel at Silver Beach ahead of a showing of the WNIT documentary.

May 18, 2022

Jobs For Life

Mosaic CCDA Executive Director Andrew Robinson said, "They (BCF) are key partners in the transformation that takes place in this city." Mosaic has received a number of our For Good Grants for their programs. Today, BCF President Lisa Cripps-Downey talks with Andrew about them, including Jobs For Life.

May 11, 2022

Deadlines Springing Up At BCF

BCF Program Director Susan Matheny talks about the spring deadlines coming up at the Foundation - Golden Acorn Classroom Mini Grants, Stephen E. Upton Love Your Community Grant, William J. Deputy Grant, Frederick S. Upton grants and Carolyn's Kids.

May 4, 2022

Sisters from Another Mother

We are partnering with local nonprofits to address vaccine hesitancy in the Black and Latinx communities. We talk with Diane from Sisters from Another Mother about how they're addressing questions and helping residents make informed decisions about numerous different vaccines.

April 27, 2022

Alamar Grant Apps Due Soon!

One of the biggest things BCF does is help nonprofits across Berrien County. The Alamar Grant (deadline is April 29) is awarded to nonprofits to help them with sustainability. Apply at www.berriencommunity.org/alamar.

April 13, 2022

Spring Has Sprung at BCF

Spring is a very welcomed time of year. And with spring comes many grant deadlines (and activities) here at BCF: Alamar, Deputy, Big Idea, Carolyn's Kids, etc!

April 6, 2022

Bonnie Benson Day!

Bonnie Benson Day - a day of distributing monetary gifts Bonnie Benson left behind - caught some nonprofits by surprise. One being the Cora Lamping Center, who is featured on this podcast.

March 30, 2022

For The Kids

Carolyn Hanson is passionate about helping kids and she does what it takes to help kids make it. Carolyn's Kids is a reflection of her love of kids and belief that strengthening kids is crucial to our community and future of our world.

March 23, 2022

What's Your Big Idea?

We chat with a previous Big Idea grant winner about how they were able to open a satellite location to serve more kids in the Benton Harbor area.

March 16, 2022

A "Herstory" of Giving

In honor of Women's History Month, Lisa Cripps-Downey shares stories of women from Berrien County who established scholarships with the Berrien Community Foundation.

March 9, 2022

Helping the Environment Through Grants

Heart of Cook Earth Day Grants are awarded to projects that are environmentally-minded. BCF Program Director Susan Matheny talks with last year's winner about the project.

March 2, 2022

Love Your Shelter

The Berrien Community Foundation, Hanson Family Foundation, Frederick S. Upton Foundation and Felland Fund are pooling their resources to create a $4 to $1 matching grant to help Emergency Shelter Services raise much-needed money for shelter repairs.

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