Editor's note: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave's On the Ground Battle Creek series.
 
BATTLE CREEK, MI — A listening tour in 2024 that took Mary Muliett throughout Calhoun County made its final stop in downtown Battle Creek at a Block Party on Wednesday to share the Battle Creek Community Foundation’s (BCCF) Annual Impact Report with the community.

Listening to community members share their perceptions of where BCCF was doing well and where and how they’d like to see the organization position itself was and remains a priority for Muliett when she was named President and CEO of BCCF in May 2024.

“The past year was dedicated to listening to you, learning community needs and desires, and taking action,” says a message in the Impact Report from Muliett and Rob Ridgeway, Chairperson for the BCCF Board of Trustees.

John GrapMary Muliett, President and CEO of the Battle Creek Community Foundation addresses those in attendance at the block party. BCCF Board President Rob Ridgeway is seen to the left in the photo.With total assets of $137,743,867, the Foundation in 2024 made $8.1 million in community investments. Of this total, $4.24 million was for grants awarded, followed by $2.6 million for funding community initiatives and $1.02 million for scholarships awarded, according to the Impact Report.

The Block Party as a vehicle for delivering the Foundation’s Annual Impact Report further reinforces this commitment to updating residents on BCCF’s work while also listening to them. This year’s Block Party is the second annual one hosted by BCCF.

Earlier, Muliett said of the event, “This feels like such a great way to build organically and authentically for the community to know how accessible we are to them. This is not just for certain people, it’s for everyone.”

“This year we’ve found new ways to make our impact possible—through partnership, innovation, and collaboration. We’ve awarded grants and scholarships, managed the growth of funds, partnered in new ways, and brought people to a shared table where we can create an alignment of values, goals, and impact,” say Muliett and Ridgeway.

BCCF has several key pillars that guide its work: grantmaking, fund development, community leadership, and scholarships. These pillars are centered around improving the lives of people in and around Battle Creek through various initiatives. The Impact Report includes snapshots of organizations and initiatives funded through BCCF that are making a positive impact on their lives:

Supporting health and well-being in the community

Milk Like Mine is featured as an example of an organization that supports health and well-being in the community.

John GrapVania Word and Franklin Ballard are seen at the BCCF’s block party.The organization offers birthing and breastfeeding support to all families who need assistance at its own center. The services are offered free of charge or billed to Medicaid.

“BCCF supported Milk Like Mine with grant funds to deliver programs, fulfilling one of our priority pillars: health,” says the Impact Report.

Building a lifelong culture of learning in Battle Creek

BCCF offers more than 350 different scholarships, annually processing nearly 14,000 applications from more than 900 applicants.

“We envision a community where every resident has access to post-secondary education and training, and support to finalize their goals,” says the Impact Report.

Creating a more livable community

Approximately 8% of Foundation funding addressed food and housing needs over the last year, according to BCCF leadership.

“At the center of human well-being are Food and Shelter—our most basic needs to create a stable foundation from which communities can thrive. This past year, BCCF granted more than $340,000 to nine local organizations to support Food and Shelter programming ranging from home-delivered meals to infrastructure support for shelters and beyond.”

John GrapRobert Elchert of the SHARE Center and Helen Guzzo of the City of Battle Creek are seen at the BCCF’s block party.This financial support was provided by the Foundation’s donor-advised fund partners, organizational endowments, and legacy funds, as well as through the community grantmaking process.

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) provide opportunities for people who want to create impact in their community. A DAF brings money into the BCCF, where those dollars are invested and grown to make a larger impact on greater Battle Creek.

A place for the Battle Creek area seniors

The Kool Family Community Center was created in 1995 and rebranded in 2015. In 2008, BCCF and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s 25-year fund stepped in to keep the center from closing, and ever since, BCCF has owned and managed the facility.

John GrapMary Muliett, President and CEO of the Battle Creek Community Foundation, is seen with Pete Christ, one of her predecessors, at the foundation’s annual block party.Based on requests for senior programming, the Kool Family Community Center convened For the Seniors, By the Seniors Committee to gather input on the activities and programs seniors would like to see. Using a generous pool of resources thanks to a $65,000Senior Millage Allocation Grant, the committee is able to offer classes including Tai Chi, Keep Moving, and Strong Bones.

Encourage BC!

Encourage BC! supports grassroots work in Battle Creek, fiscally sponsoring more than 60 community projects ranging from the arts to youth development to culture and civic engagement.

One of these is the Johnny Collier Teach a Kid to Fish project, which was started by Carrie Stevens in memory of her father.

John GrapCheryl Roberts, left, and Josita Todd are seen at the BCCF’s block party.So far, the effort has gifted more than 200 fishing poles and tackle. Experienced anglers come out for a day in August to teach kids, and sometimes whole families, how to fish.

“The Johnny Collier Teach a Kid to Fish Project Fund represents everything Encourage BC! stands for,” says Angela Myers, Director of Corporate Compliance & Talent for BCCF.  “Community members coming together to create meaningful experiences for youth while honoring the legacy of someone who had a true passion for fishing and sharing it with others in our community. It’s local love in action.”