Battle Creek Community Foundation Awards more than $250,000 to 23 local organizations

Editor’s note: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave’s On the Ground Battle Creek series.

Battle Creek, MI — The Battle Creek Community Foundation (BCCF) awarded more than $250,000 through its first of two Competitive Grant Cycles this year, supporting 23 organizations working to expand opportunity, improve well-being, celebrate culture, strengthen families, and foster meaningful connections throughout the greater Battle Creek area, says a press release from BCCF.

Support for these grants was made possible by charitable gifts to the BCCF’s Community Opportunity Funds, which provide flexible resources to address community needs, as well as by the generosity of several Donor-Advised Fund holders who partnered with the Foundation to support selected programs.

Grant funding decisions are made by volunteer committees comprised of community members.  The funded programs reflect the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to investing in local organizations that address community needs and create lasting impact.

“Every one of these organizations is helping make our community stronger in a different way,” says Elizabeth Schultheiss, Executive Vice President of BCCF.  “Whether they are supporting children and families, creating opportunities for learning, improving access to critical services, or bringing people together through culture and community, these programs demonstrate the power of local leadership and community-driven solutions.”

This cycle’s grants support programs across the Foundation’s focus areas of Education, Health, and Livable Communities.

Education and Youth Development:

Arbor Academy – Reestablishing the Arbor Academy Library
Arbor Academy will restore a dedicated school library for its K-8 students, expanding access to books, literacy resources, and opportunities that support academic growth and lifelong learning.

Battle Creek Public Schools – Bearcats Beyond the Bell
Bearcats Beyond the Bell provides afterschool and extended learning opportunities that combine academic support, enrichment activities, youth development programming, and family engagement.

Binder Park Zoo – Conservation Education Programs
Binder Park Zoo will provide hands-on conservation education experiences that connect youth and families with nature while fostering environmental stewardship and lifelong learning.

Burma Center (Burmese American Initiative) – Youth Soccer & Wellness Program
The Burma Center will provide youth-focused programming that promotes wellness, teamwork, leadership development, cultural connection, and community engagement among Burmese youth and families.

Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center – Leadership Development Program
The Leadership Development Program helps young people build confidence, leadership skills, teamwork, resilience, and career readiness through a framework of mentorship, team facilitation, and reflective learning.

SLD Read – Literacy Success Calhoun County
SLD Read will strengthen literacy outcomes through tutoring, literacy instruction, educator support, and family engagement efforts that help children develop foundational reading skills.

The Music Center of South Central Michigan – Community Musician Education Initiative
The Community Musician Education Initiative will expand access to music education opportunities that foster creativity, skill development, and artistic expression for youth.

Voces – From Voces to the Future: College and Career Pathways for Latino Families
Voces will help Latino students and families navigate pathways to higher education and meaningful careers through mentoring, leadership development, educational workshops, and family engagement.

Health and Family Well-Being:

Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation – Battle Creek Community Adopt & Foster Haircare Program
The Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation will provide culturally affirming free hair care, barbering, and caregiver hair care education for youth in foster and adoptive families in the greater Battle Creek area, helping build confidence, self-esteem, and healthy relationships.

Emergent Health Partners – Hope and Health Fund: Removing Financial Barriers to Emergency Care
The Hope and Health Fund helps remove financial barriers to emergency medical care and transportation, supporting vulnerable greater Battle Creek area residents’  access to critical health services.

Family Enrichment Center – Kinship Connection
Kinship Connection provides support, resources, and services for relatives and caregivers who are raising children, helping families remain connected, stable, and supported.

CASA of Calhoun County – CASA of Calhoun County
CASA of Calhoun County recruits and trains volunteers to advocate for children involved in the court system, ensuring vulnerable youth have a dedicated voice and support network as they navigate challenging circumstances.

Family Hope Foundation – Therapy Assistance Program
Family Hope Foundation helps greater Battle Creek area families access critical therapeutic services for children with diagnosed disabilities and developmental challenges by reducing financial barriers to care.

Isaiah 117 House – Safe Sleep and Safe Transportation Initiative
Isaiah 117 House will help ensure children entering foster care have access to safe transportation and appropriate sleeping arrangements during periods of transition.

The Blood Cancer Foundation of Michigan
The Blood Cancer Foundation of Michigan provides Battle Creek-area residents with financial assistance, support services, and community connections for individuals and families affected by blood cancers.

Livable Communities and Community Connections:

Battle Creek Latin American Heritage Initiative – Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
The Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration will bring residents together through cultural events, educational programming, and community activities that celebrate Latino heritage and strengthen cultural understanding.

Charitable Union – Read and Reach Initiative
Led by Charitable Union and supported by local partners and volunteers, the Read and Reach Initiative will expand youth literacy access and educational opportunities by embedding books in underserved neighborhoods and in organizations that support children and families.

Color the Creek – Color the Creek 2026
Color the Creek will transform public spaces through murals, artist-led programming, community art events, and public celebrations that strengthen community pride and cultural expression.

Giving and Sharing Corporation – Giving and Sharing Community Outreach
The Giving and Sharing Community Outreach program provides essential resources and support to individuals and families experiencing hardship while strengthening community connections.

Franke Center for the Arts – Fiction Day
Fiction Day brings nationally recognized authors and literary programming to the greater Battle Creek area, inspiring readers and creating opportunities for learning and engagement through the arts.

Michigan Advocacy Program – Battle Creek Eviction Diversion Program
Michigan Advocacy Program will provide legal assistance and advocacy for residents facing housing instability, helping families avoid eviction and maintain stable housing.

TSAP – Midnight Program
The Midnight Program provides a safe, structured environment for youth through mentoring, educational support, recreation, meals, and positive community engagement.

Washington Heights United Methodist Church and Community – Table of HOPE
Table of HOPE provides nutritious meals and welcoming gathering spaces that address food insecurity while fostering connection, support, and belonging.

“We were inspired by the creativity, commitment, and community-centered vision demonstrated by the grant recipients,” says Jennifer VanValkenburg, Senior Grants and Impact Officer for BCCF. “These programs address important needs across education, health, and livable communities while creating opportunities for people to learn, connect, and thrive.”

Those who are interested in supporting this work may make a gift to one of BCCF’s four community opportunity funds. Click on this link for more information. 

For more information about the Battle Creek Community Foundation and its grantmaking programs, visit www.bccfoundation.org.