FOR RELEASE CONTACT:
Corey Van Fleet
United Way of Manistee County
(231) 723-2331
or
Laura Heintzelman
Manistee County Community Foundation
(231) 723-7269

2008 enVision Youth Solutions Grants Announced

Manistee, Michigan – A three year tradition continued in Manistee County today when United Way of Manistee County and the Manistee County Community Foundation announced the recipients of the 2008 enVision Youth Solutions Grants. Nine Manistee County project initiatives were awarded grants totaling $27,000.

In 2006 the Manistee County Community Foundation and United Way of Manistee County established a joint collaboration to fund projects that bring solutions to community needs identified in the enVision Manistee County needs assessment study. Since 2006 $80,700 has been awarded to program recipients for projects which enhance the quality of life for youth in Manistee County.

“This year the emphasis was again on youth development,” said Corey Van Fleet, Executive Director of United Way of Manistee County.“ Each project involves youth in the planning and implementation of a solution to a community need as defined in the enVision Manistee County final report.”

The projects chosen for funding were:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters: To establish a Youth as Partners in Mentoring, and to provide cultural opportunities for youth in Manistee County.
• Casman Academy: To continue construction of a community fitness trail with exercise stations.
• Conservation Resource Alliance: To conduct the 4th Annual Fly Fishing Seminar for youth.
• KND Schools: To conduct a Creative Thinkers Summer Camp.
• LRBOI: To conduct a Summer Youth Nutrition/Fitness Camp.
• Manistee ISD: To fund an equine activities program leading toward academic success.
• Manistee Jaycees: To operate a mentoring program for at-risk youth in the world of work.
• Manistee Recreation Association: To fund a Reaching Youth Through Recreation program
• Staircase Youth: To conduct a Manistee Community Summer Enrichment Program for teens.
• West Shore Medical Center: To partially fund Phase 2, F.I.T. Kids fitness program in Manistee County schools.
• West Shore Medical Center: To fund a Healthy Community Program food tagging initiative.

These successful projects were selected for funding by a panel of 10 following a three-month review process. The panel consisted of reviewers from the boards of directors of United Way of Manistee County and the Manistee County Community Foundation and youth from the Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee. “We want to thank our reviewers who worked diligently to evaluate the grant applications, and finally, to make tough decisions and recommend the allocation of our limited resources,” said Laura Heintzelman, Executive Director of the Manistee County Community Foundation.

Funding sources for these grants were provided by United Way of Manistee County ($10,000), Manistee County Community Foundation ($15,000); The Youth Advisory Committee provided $2,000 funding for the Big Brothers Big Sisters, Conservation Resource Alliance and the Manistee ISD Cowpokes to Careers projects.

“This collaboration between United Way and Community Foundations has been identified as a national best practice,” said Heintzelman. “It is with inspired leadership that this best practice has happened here in Manistee County.”

2008 enVision Solution Grant Projects

Big Brothers Big Sisters
Project: Youth as Partners in Mentoring and the Greater Community $500

This project allows youth to advocate for life long volunteerism while giving the opportunity to experience art, culture, and education within our community.

CASMAN Academy
Project: Community Fitness Trail $6,600 in 2007; $6,000 in 2008; $6,000 in 2009

CASMAN is developing a community fitness trail complete with exercise stations at the 9th Street location. This three-year project will be completed in phases with a total budget of $50,000. Included in this project are exercise opportunities for youngsters, adults and those in wheelchairs. The CASMAN Academy is provideing the use of the land and will maintain the community fitness trail once it is completed. Funding is provided during each of the three years it is expected to take to complete the project.

Conservation Resource Alliance
Project: 4th Annual Fly Fishing Seminar $500

Introduce youth to a lifelong, outdoor sport while simultaneously educating kids about our precious natural resources, becoming good stewards of the environment, and career exploration.

KND Schools
Project: Creative Thinkers Summer Camp $4,000

Kaleva-Norman-Dickson Schools will operate a 8-week student summer service, arts, and health camp which includes a significant academic component and is designed and run by high school student counselors/mentors.

Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
Project: Summer Youth Nutrition/Fitness Camp $3,000

To teach benefits of exercise, what is healthy eating and nutrition for tribal youth and tribal descendant youth at summer camp.

Manistee ISD
Project: From Cowpokes to Careers $1,000

This project is a partnership with the Manistee Intermediate School District and Northern Pathways Equine Center, to incorporate experiential equine activities with academic success.

Manistee Recreation Association
Project; Reaching Youth Through Recreation $1,500

This project will enable youth of our community to have access to different recreation and sporting opportunities which will be identified through the collaboration between MRA and Love INC.

Manistee Jaycees
Project: BRASS $2,000 in 2007, $1,000 in 2008

The BRASS (Building Relationships Around Success) program provides mentors who will bridge the gap between school and work throughout Manistee County. The program focuses on at-risk students who are also working part or full time while attending high school. Mentors are recruited and trained throughout Manistee County, and students area identified by teachers administrators, counselors or employers or may self enroll. This program is being funded over a 2-year period

Staircase Youth Services
Project: Manistee Community Summer Enrichment Program $3,000

A 8-week summer program allowing 30 to 35 at risk youth the opportunity to give back to their community as well as enjoy the many resources that Manistee has to offer.

West Shore Medical Center
Project: F.I.T. Kids Phase 2 $4,000

Implementation of Phase 2 of the Fitness Initiative Targeting Kids project, which identifies 8th grade students at risk for cardiovascular disease and provides interventions designed to change behaviors and reduce cardiac risk factors.

West Shore Medical Center
Project: Healthy Community Food Tagging Initiative $2,500

A goal of the Healthy Community Project, a collaborative of Manistee County organizations working with District Health Department 10, is to improve the cardiovascular health of the Manistee community by increasing opportunities to easily identify heart healthy food choices for consumers of all ages and income levels by implementing a health foods shelf-tagging system in a local grocery store.