Latest News
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Local Original Video Selected From 750 Entries
A Census rap and video created by local Benton Harbor students is recognized as a Top Finalist in a national “Get Out the Count Video Prize Competition” sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The competition challenged its 750 submitters to explain why the census matters and to motivate people to respond. The Benton Harbor team performed an original rap song written by Serenity Burton, a 2020 high school graduate. The rap highlights the importance of being counted for better schools, Medicare,...
Thursday, May 14, 2020
As the COVID-19 crisis was first developing earlier this year, local funders and businesses came together to create the Southwest Michigan Cares Fund to aid nonprofits in their work meeting the basic needs of residents during this time as well as to address the ongoing financial impact of the crisis on nonprofits. The initial round of $250,000 raised was announced on March 25. As of May 1, the amount raised reached nearly $900,000. The most recent gift, of $100,000, came from the Schalon Foundation.
“Families in our community are struggling,”...
Monday, May 11, 2020
ST. JOSEPH, MI – With nonprofit organizations struggling during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Berrien Community Foundation will focus funding on sustainability providing $200,000 in general operations grants to Berrien County nonprofits.
“We know that many nonprofit organizations are struggling for survival right now,” said Berrien Community Foundation President Lisa Cripps-Downey. “They have canceled fundraisers and stopped or altered services. Some have continued services without adequate funding.”
With “For Good. For Ever.” as its tagline, the...
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Berrien Community Foundation, Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council and Cornerstone Alliance Announce Rent and Mortgage Payment Program (RAMPP)
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – Cornerstone Alliance, Berrien County’s lead economic development agency, has partnered with the Berrien Community Foundation and the Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council to create a zero-interest loan program for Berrien County businesses and nonprofit organizations that have a rent or mortgage payment due in April and May of 2020. Resources provided through the Rent and...
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
The Berrien Community Foundation’s Scholarship program is growing thanks to the generosity of our donors!
For a full list of scholarships, visit the Berrien Community Foundation website at www.berriencommunity.org/scholar. Applications are due March 6, 2020.
For the 2020 scholarship year, ten additional scholarship opportunities have been added to support Berrien County students as they move on to a college or trade school. The Berrien Community Foundation now oversees 43 scholarship programs.
“As the cost of higher education continues to rise...
Friday, September 27, 2019
First $75,000 Alamar Nonprofit Sustainability Grant Announced
Berrien Community Foundation Annual Meeting Highlights Awards
It was a night full of giving while re-capping a successful year for the Berrien Community Foundation. St. Joseph Today received the first annual Alamar Nonprofit Sustainability Grant at the Foundation’s 67th Annual Meeting held Wednesday, September 18 at the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, St. Joseph.
“The Alamar Nonprofit Sustainability Grant is $75,000 given over three years - $25,000 each year,” said Lisa...
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Help4Her.org is a new web resource to help Berrien County women and families find the programs and services they need. Help4Her.org is a product of the Berrien Community Foundation’s Women’s Giving Circle to address the needs of women and girls in Berrien County.
“As the Women’s Giving Circle worked to identify how we could impact women in our community, we recognized that one of the things we relied on most in our own lives was the ability to network throughout a system,” said Women’s Giving Circle member Sarah Jollay. “Help4Her creates...
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Because Nurses Make The Difference
A New Scholarship to Support Nursing Students
The F.A. Mason Penwell Scholarship will help future nurses reach their career goals thanks to the generosity of Mark and Jean Penwell. The first two scholarships will be awarded this year to Lake Michigan College nursing students.
“We have all been impacted by nurses,” Mark said. “They touch people’s lives at such a vulnerable time. They are the people we see every day. They play such an important role - hospitals, home care, traveling nurses - and we want to...
Friday, September 21, 2018
The Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor is the recipient of the $50,000 Stephen E. Upton Love Your Community Grant through the Berrien Community Foundation. The award was announced Wednesday evening at the 66th Annual Meeting and Celebration of the Berrien Community Foundation.
The grant will fund the “Be There” program to help kids learn to cope with loss, trauma and develop skills to cope with trials and adversity in life.
“This is quite a surprise,” said Brian Saxton, CEO and Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor...
Friday, September 21, 2018
The Berrien Community Foundation celebrated 66 years of service by walking a mile – literally – in the shoes of those who struggle with reliable transportation and honoring an amazing volunteer.
The Berrien Community Foundation Transportation Challenge
There has been an ongoing discussion about the need for more extensive public transportation in Berrien County. In August staff members from the Berrien Community decided to see just how difficult it is to get to and from work and appointments in Berrien County.
“We walked in a torrential...