Roscommon County Community Foundation

Following is a letter from Ms. Theresa McMunigal from the Houghton Lake Community Education:

“We cannot thank Roscommon County Community Foundation (RCCF) enough for all of your kind support of our program.  Our students have really had some wonderful experiences this year that would not have been possible without your assistance. 

The students loved the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), even those who aren’t into museums and art were very impressed and appreciative of their surroundings.  Our kids were equally wowed by Comerica Park. They loved the game, the stadium and all the fun the day provided!” Continue reading →

Did you ever wonder what types of things your donations help with in Roscommon County?  During the past year, E.G. Ministries received a grant to help fund the Weekend Blessings Program located at the Houghton Lake Community School District and Our Lady of the Lake Parochial School.  Each Friday, students who are on the Federal free lunch program receive a backpack filled with enough nutritious food to last through the weekend. On Monday, the student returns the backpack and it will be refilled to pick up on the following Friday.  The grant for $1200.00 was awarded from The Wade Family General Fund ($450.00), the Marilyn Brown Memorial Fund ($450.00) and the Roscommon County Kellogg Youth Fund ($300.00).

The Roscommon County Sheriff Department has a new Evidence Collection Camera with help from a grant from the Roscommon County General Fund, an Endowment Fund of the Roscommon County Community Foundation. With the new digital camera, photos can be immediately reviewed, settings changed and new photos taken, all while at the scene of an accident. A higher resolution camera is required to produce the detail needed to later make comparisons and potential positive matches of physical evidence such as fingerprints or footwear impressions. A special tripod is included to allow exact placement of the camera to obtain the clearest and closest photos possible to retain a record of evidence.

The AuSable Free Clinic was able to help five uninsured Roscommon County Residents with their eye exams and new glasses with the help of a $405.00 grant from the Roscommon County Community Foundation Tobacco Settlement Fund.  

The Roscommon County Kellogg Youth Fund provided a grant to the Houghton Lake Wesleyan Church to assist with the purchase of diapers for the church’s Baby Pantry.  Last year, more than 200 babies beneifited from this project with the distribution of over 2400 diapers. 

The Roscommon County Community Foundation recently provided a grant from the Wade Family General Fund in the amount of $300.00 to R.O.O.C., Inc.   The grant was awarded to assist with the planning, building and planting of raised gardens, which can be accessed by persons with disabilities.  This will give the participants an opportunity to explore activities which they have never tried, to learn to be effective self-advocates, and to pursue the same choices and options that people without disabilities have.

The young students in the Child Learning Center at Kirtland Community College have found new excitement with the addition of some much needed playground equipment.  A grant provided by the Roscommon County Community Foundation’s – Roscommon County Kellogg Youth Fund, which is administered by the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), was used to purchase this equipment. Included in the equipment were a pop up soccer goal, soccer balls, basketballs, footballs, a set of flying discs and a set of hula hoops.The outdoor equipment is designed to help develop the children’s gross motor skills in areas like strength, endurance, balance, and coordination in addition to providing engaging activities to encourage students to exercise daily and learn about healthy lifestyle choices.   T

As you can see, the variety of funds at the Roscommon County Community Foundation allow for many different non-profit groups, schools, churches and governmental agencies to get the help they need to “fill in the gaps” on their projects.  Please take a moment to look over our list of funds to see which fund most fits with your own giving preference.  The end of 2012 is coming quickly so now is the time to get your donations in if you want them to count for your 2012 Federal taxes.  Please consult your tax adviser to see how your gift to the Roscommon County  Community Foundation can help with your taxes, as well as helping the good people of Roscommon County.

Members of the “Ambassador Club” are local businesses, organizations and individuals that donate a minimum of $500.00 annually to The Ambassador Club Fund.  This fund supports RCCF’s community outreach programs, both Scholarship Expos- one at each high school, underwrites the Annual Report and the annual Donor Appreciation Celebration.

Please take at the Ambassador Club Logos below and recognize these businesses, organizations and individuals for their support of your Community Foundation.

RCCF extends a heartfelt “Thank You!”  to the 2012 Ambassador Club members for their generous support!

The Roscommon County Community Foundation’s (RCCF) Youth Advisory Council (YAC) had it first meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012 at the Markey Community Baptist Church.  All four high schools were represented.  We are fortunate to have returning this year, Mrs. Kelly Baker as the Houghton Lake High School Adviser and Mrs. Jodi Blanchard as the Second Chance Academy Adviser.  Mr. Bill Henry from Houghton Lake Community Education will be joined this year by Mrs. Jennifer Anderson who will co-advise with him.  Mrs. Joyce Prczewski is the new adviser for Roscommon High School.

We had a good turn-out for our first meeting, and our newest YAC members will be attending an Orientation on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012.  This is where they will learn more about the history of YAC, the meaning of endowments and the grant process.

This year, the YAC will be conducting a Needs Assessment for all 8-12th graders in our county.  The information gleaned from this assessment will be kept in mind when they are determining which organizations will receive grants during the next 3 years.

We will have our first Grant Screening Meeting on Wed. November 14, 2012. That same week we have been asked to work at a Free Food Truck Giveaway on November 16 and 17.

Needless to say, we are off to a very busy start of the new year!  We have many new members this year and we hope they choose to continue in the years to come.  As the YAC Coordinator, I would like to thank all of the YAC Advisers for their commitment to our program.  And of course, thank you to the students who continue to make my job such a pleasure!

Roberta Friday

The Roscommon County Community Foundation is sponsoring the 3rd Annual Scholarship and College Expos at both local high schools.  There will be many local scholarships and several colleges represented in person.  There will also be military information available.  Countless others will be available on our Misc. College or Misc. Scholarship tables.

The first of these will be held at Houghton Lake High School on Tuesday,  Oct. 30 at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria.

The second Expo will be at Roscommon High School on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria and library.

All Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors and their parents/guardian are invited.  It is never too soon to look for information about scholarships and colleges!

We hope to see many students and their families at both of these events!

The Students in Ms. Mires room at the Roscommon Elementary School have found a new learning tool with the addition of a Motorola XOOM to the classroom.  The funds were provided from the Roscommon County Community Foundation’s – Roscommon County Kellogg Youth Fund, which is administered by the Youth Advisory Council (YAC).

The Motorola XOOM with Touchscreen allows students to access many educational websites which are “pre-authorized” by Ms. Mires.  Using the touch technology, students of different skill levels can more easily access the computer information when the use of a keyboard or mouse would be difficult or challenging for them.  There are many “apps” available for all aspect of learning and you can check it out yourself at Ms. Mires “protopage.”   www.protopage.com/mires-first-grade

If you would like to support our community by contributing to this, or any other RCCF Fund, please contact us at 989-275-3112, by e-mail at rococofo@yahoo.com or visit our website at www.roscommoncountycommunityfoundation.org

The young students in the Child Learning Center at Kirtland Community College have found new excitement with the addition of some much needed playground equipment.  A grant provided by the Roscommon County Community Foundation’s – Roscommon County Kellogg Youth Fund, which is administered by the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), was used to purchase this equipment. Included in the equipment were a pop up soccer goal, soccer balls, basketballs, footballs, a set of flying discs and a set of hula hoops.

The outdoor equipment is designed to help develop the children’s gross motor skills in areas like strength, endurance, balance, and coordination in addition to providing engaging activities to encourage students to exercise daily and learn about healthy lifestyle choices.   These basic skills have been determined as necessary building blocks for later development of the advanced problem solving skills needed to be successful as they move through their learning years.

If you would like to support our community by contributing to this, or any other RCCF Fund, please contact us at 989-275-3112, by e-mail at rococofo@yahoo.com or visit our website at www.roscommoncountycommunityfoundation.org

Pictured:  Several students at the KCC Early Childhood Development Center show off their best moves with the new hula hoops that were part of the playground equipment that was purchased with the grant from RCCF.

The Roscommon County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of our 2012 Spring Cycle Grants.

Higgins Lake Foundation was awarded a grant of $1,250.00 from the Endowment for Higgins Lake which will assist with the cost of Weed Removal Equipment Operations.  They were also awarded a second grant for $1,250.00 from the Robert R. Thalner Endowment Fund to assist with the same project.

Kirtland Community College Foundation was awarded two grants to assist with food for the student food pantry at the college.  The Marilyn Brown Memorial Fund awarded $350.00 and the Roscommon County Tobacco Settlement Fund added another $150.00 to bring the total to $500.00.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association was awarded $848.00 from the Roscommon County Kellogg Youth Fund to provide a camp scholarship with preference toward a new camper who is a resident of Roscommon County.

Markey Township Parks and Recreation received three grants totaling $1,100.00 for Phase One of the Park development.  These included $300.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for BBQ, Benches and Tables, a second grant for $300.00 from the same Fund for the new drinking fountains and $500.00 from the Roscommon County General Fund for the pavilion.

Richfield Township was the recipient of four grants totaling $2,500.00 for the Lake St. Helen Pier and Kayak Launch.  $1,659.00 from the Roscommon County General Fund, $195.00 from the St. Helen General Fund, $482.00 from the Roscommon County Lakes and Rivers Fund and finally, $164.00 from the Roscommon County Recreation Fund.

Roscommon County Commission on Aging was awarded a grant for $300.00 from the Roscommon County Tobacco Settlement Fund to help cover the cost of a new Chore Program Trailer.

Roscommon County Sheriff Department will receive a grant of $1,200.00 from the Roscommon County General Fund to help purchase an Evidence Collection Camera.

Roscommon High School was awarded a grant of $289.00 for the purchase of an official buzzer for the Quiz Bowl program.

Society of St. Vincent DePaul (Prudenville) was awarded several grants. The Diaper Bank received three grants totaling $2,500.00, $1,000.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund, $1,168.00 from the Roscommon County General Fund and $332.00 from the Zonta Club Women’s and Children’s Fund.  The St. Vincent’s Food Pantry received a grant for $1,000.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund and $1,500.00 from the Roscommon County General Fund.