BUCHANAN — The Board of Trustees for Michigan Gateway Community Foundation have approved the granting of funds from the Foundation to the following programs:

• $10,000 from Unity Hospital Education Fund to the Red Cross of SW Michigan for purchase of cutting-edge equipment (blood scales and software) to improve efficiency, reduce waste and save costs.

• $15,000 from Health Youth Healthy Seniors fund and Walter Schirmer Jr. Fund to Buchanan Senior Center for assistance with a purchase of a second vehicle for Medical Transportation needs for seniors.

• $12,000 to Buchanan District Library: $4,000 from Walt Schirmer Sr. Fund for the purchase of children’s books and other media, and $8,000 from Desenberg Fund to purchase materials for the new “Library of Things.”

• $2,160 to city of Buchanan is Buchanan Tree Friends from Buchanan Area Fund to plant new trees at the Field of Dreams Dog Park in Buchanan.

• $4,676 to Buchanan District Library is local history room to digitize back issues of the Berrien County Record from 1939 to 1994, from the Walter Schirmer Jr. Fund and Buchanan Area Fund and the Buchanan Area Fund.

• $20,000 payable over two years, with the first installment of $15,000 ($10,000 from Ann Cone Fund for Niles and $5,000 from the Mahlon J. and Thelma C. Smith Fund for Niles), to the YMCA of Greater Michiana to cover the rehabilitation of one child care room (of three) for the new Child Care facility being established on East Main Street in Niles.

• $5,000 was granted from the Niles Area Fund to the Performing Arts Workshop program in Niles to pay for 60 low income youth scholarships to allow their participation.

• $2,500 from the Niles Area Fund was approved to send one south county youth with Muscular Dystrophy to Muscular Dystrophy Association Summer Camp this coming summer.

• $1,100 from the Leland and Robert Alexander Memorial Fund to the Cassopolis Future Farmers of America

• $3,000 from Youth Funds to United Way of Southwest Michigan for the Cass County School Supply Backpack Spectacular Program.                                                

Founded in 1978, Michigan Gateway Community Foundation serves southern Berrien County and Cass County. The Foundation was established with gifts from many citizens in amounts ranging from a few dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Only the income generated by the investment of these gifts is used in grant making. A gift to the community funds, such as those from Niles, Buchanan and Cass County, serve these communities in perpetuity.

The Foundation accepts grant proposals four times each year with submission dates of Aug. 1 and Feb. 1. Prompt consideration is given to all grant requests, with decisions usually available within one month. Each proposal will be evaluated by the Foundation for its potential value to the community and for the availability of funding resources.   

For more information on Michigan Gateway Community Foundation or to make a contribution that supports your community, contact Robert N. Habicht at 111 Days Ave., Buchanan, visit mgcf.org, or call (269) 695-3521.