By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Three of eight February Pokagon Fund projects announced Wednesday benefit Dowagiac, including $39,595 to Patrick Hamilton Elementary School PTO to support May's community playground build.
"We couldn't be more excited or grateful," a "thrilled" Principal Heather Nash said. "It's nice to have some good news."
Patrick Hamilton reverted last fall from a fifth and sixth grade middle school to the elementary school it had been previously because another building, McKinley, closed.
Aging playground equipment was neither safe or usable by elementary school children.
The Parent Teachers Organization is coordinating a community playground build to give the students and community children a place for safe and fun outdoor play.
Nash said her father, former school board president Dave Hoger, and Dave Daniels, Dowagiac Union Schools maintenance supervisor, are coordinating the May 8-9 community build with a paid supervisor hired for the installation.
Nash said a footing will be poured on Friday, May 8, with donated assistance from MTL Landscaping of Dowagiac.
Then, on Saturday, May 9, volunteers will be needed to assemble the many pieces of play equipment.
"We'll start at sun-up and go until finished," with the PTO feeding volunteers, Nash said.
She hopes to have a blessing service conducted by the Pokagon Band before the playground is put into use.
Also, Pokagon Fund Executive Director Mary Dunbar announced $20,244 to Dowagiac Union Schools for the middle school library enhancement project.
In an effort to enhance the media center's book collection and provide a broad range of educational materials to support the curriculum, this grant will fund the purchase of 2,000 new fiction and non-fiction titles.
Third, $3,000 was awarded to Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce to support the Feb. 7 Ice Time Festival.
The festival showcases ice sculptures and timber and wood artisans and brings more than 3,000 day-visitors to Dowagiac.
February's eight projects totaled $611,531.
The Pokagon Fund began funding grant proposals in November 2007 and since that time has provided more than $4 million in project funding.
Grant funding supports initiatives in health, human services, art, education, recreation and environment.
$375,000 to New Buffalo Township to fund improvements to Memorial Park, Phase II. The Pokagon Fund provided funding for Phase I of Memorial Park in 2008. Improvements included walking trails, basketball court and ice rink, sand volleyball court, horseshoe pit, landscaping and more. Phase II improvements will include a shelter and restrooms, a new playground and splash pad.
$7,740 to New Buffalo Township to enhance its current recycling program. Grant funding will allow for augmentation of the township's existing recycling program, providing additional pick-up of recyclable materials during high season, May to January.
$7,100 to Chikaming Township to provide meeting room equipment.
New audio visual equipment which will accommodate the hearing impaired, along with new tables, will enhance the meeting room used for township businesses and well as for hosting regional training seminars.
$150,000 to the Hartford Council for Recreation for the recreation improvement project. Improvements include upgrading restrooms to be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant, building a concession stand, adding new and improved fencing and lighting. The project's goal is to make the baseball park a safe and inclusive environment for the Hartford community.
$8,852 to Hartford Public Schools to fund the Read Naturally program.
Read Naturally helps students who have difficulty reading at grade level improve their reading skills. The program has been successfully implemented in the elementary school. This grant will expand services to sixth graders in the middle school.
The mission of The Pokagon Fund is to enhance the lives of the people in the New Buffalo region.
Requests for funding can be submitted at any time. The Board of Directors meets monthly to review grant applications.
The Pokagon Fund is a private foundation supported by 2 percent of the electronic gaming revenue from the Four Winds Casino.
Ten percent of all funding from The Pokagon Fund supports the communities in and around Pokagon Band land trusts in Dowagiac and Hartford.
The remaining 90 percent of all funds support municipalities and non-profit organizations providing programs in the townships of New Buffalo, Chikaming and Three Oaks and cities and villages within those townships.
Please refer to The Pokagon Fund Web site, www.pokagonfund.org to learn more about the projects funded or to review grant application guidelines.