Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Awards Nearly $7.4 Million in Grants to Area Nonprofit Organizations

Detroit, MI, January 14, 2011 --(PR.com)-- At the December Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan nearly $7.4 million through more than 486 grants was approved to support nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of life in the region.

The following nonprofit organizations are among those receiving grants from the Community Foundation:

Detroit Historical Society, Detroit, $80,000 to support online interactive learning resources and support at the Detroit Historical Society for elementary school students and teachers. The project will include planning guides and outreach to approximately 2,500 teachers in the seven-county region of southeast Michigan. This investment builds upon previous grants made by the Community Foundation to redesign the Detroit Historical Society’s education programs, incorporate new online learning tools for K-12 students and engage diverse audiences.

Music Hall for the Performing Arts, Detroit, $75,000 to support performing arts education programs for young people. In addition to providing a distinctive mix of jazz, contemporary dance and other live performances to more than 240,000 visitors annually, the Music Hall for the Performing Arts offers outstanding pre-professional music and performance training to aspiring young performers. Education programs supported by the Community Foundation will take place at the Music Hall as well as various Detroit public schools and recreation centers throughout Detroit.

Huron River Watershed Council, Ann Arbor, $25,000 to support the development of a greenways and conservation plan for the Huron River. The Huron River Watershed Council is the oldest river protection group in Michigan serving Wayne, Washtenaw, Livingson, Monroe, Oakland, Jackson, and Ingham counties. The goal of the project is to protect and revitalize the 100-mile Huron River and create plans for the many vibrant communities along the river to make it a destination for residents and tourists.

Michigan Health Council, $75,000 to support the development of a leadership curriculum for nurse managers working in acute and long-term care settings in southeast Michigan. The Michigan Health Council, which has a record of developing effective nursing education programs, also received matching funds from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for this work. The project is aimed at addressing the issues underlying Michigan’s nursing shortage and to develop programs that will cultivate and retain a high-quality nursing work force in the state.

The Community Foundation also approved nearly $5.9 million in donor advised grants. These grants are recommended by donor advisors who establish funds with the Community Foundation to fulfill their philanthropic goals while taking advantage of the Foundation’s knowledge of the region and financial expertise.

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations committed to the future of southeast Michigan. The Foundation works to improve the region’s quality of life by connecting those who care with causes that matter. The Foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development and civic affairs. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $444 million through more than 37,000 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair and Livingston counties. For more information, please visit www.cfsem.org.

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