Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Awards More Than $7.5 Million in Grants to Improve Region’s Quality of Life

Detroit, MI, December 21, 2007 --(PR.com)-- The board of trustees of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan recently approved $7.5 million in grants to nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of life in the seven-county region and beyond. The board approved the grants at its quarterly meeting in December. The following are just some of the organizations receiving grants:

• Ann Arbor Council for Community Excellence, Ann Arbor, $75,000 (over two years) for support to develop a community cultural plan for Washtenaw County, the goal of which is to grow and strengthen the cultural sector in the county

• Detroit Science Center, Detroit, $100,000 for support to expand the number of volunteer docents in response to a steady growth in attendance over the last four years

• Sphinx Organization Inc., Detroit, $100,000 (over two years) for support to expand a string instrument music training program to elementary school-age children in Detroit

• Michigan Future Inc., Ann Arbor, $60,000 (over three years) for support for the University High School Enhancement Project

• Tomorrow’s Child/Michigan SIDS Inc., Lansing, $45,000 for support to develop culturally and linguistically appropriate Infant Safe Sleep training DVDs/videos

• Child Abuse and Neglect Council of Oakland County, Pontiac, $60,000 (over two years) for support to expand prevention services

• Friendship Circle, West Bloomfield, $55,000 for support for the expansion of a life skills program for children with special needs

• Michigan Avenue Business Association, Detroit, $10,000 for support to establish a historic district for the Michigan Avenue commercial district

• Jewish Apartments and Services Inc., Oak Park, $6,700 for support for a comprehensive art enrichment program

• Presbyterian Villages of Michigan, Southfield, $70,000 for support for Bloom!, a wellness program for senior citizens

• Think Detroit PAL, Detroit, $70,000 for support for a training program for volunteer coaches.

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, founded in 1984, 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. The Foundation has assets of more than $609 million and, since its inception, has distributed more than $260 million through more than 27,000 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair and Livingston counties.

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