UNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST MICHIGAN ANNOUNCES 2022 NORTHWEST REGION COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT RECIPIENTS

UWNWMI awards 8 grants to organizations throughout northwest Michigan who aim to have a significant impact in the year to come.

United Way of Northwest Michigan (UWNWMI) is excited to announce the recipients of our 2022 Northwest Region Community Impact grants. Each year, through of the generosity of our region, UWNWMI is able to grant dollars to organizations’ programs who are having a massive impact in the place that we call home.

“We are extremely grateful to our donors, corporate partners and all the supporters of United Way of Northwest Michigan for entrusting their hard-earned resources with us and believing in our process of community grant making,” said Seth Johnson, United Way of Northwest Michigan Executive Director. “With the support of our Northwest Michigan Community Impact team- a group of community volunteers who make the decisions on where our dollars go- we look forward to the impact and change that these organizations are going to make in our region.”

Grant recipients include Northwest Michigan Supportive Housing, Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails, Inc. (Recycle-A-Bike), SEEDS Ecology and Education Centers, Newton’s Road Northwest, Junior Achievement of Northwest Michigan, Grow Benzie, Generations Ahead, and Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center.

“We can’t thank the United Way team enough for this timely Community Impact Grant,” said Josh Stoltz, Grow Benzie Executive Director. “With their work touching all of Northwest Michigan, it’s assuring to know that they recognize the emerging needs that some of us smaller, rural nonprofits have. It’s an amazing ripple effect they’re creating. Grow Benzie supports the development of multiple food businesses on our campus, and the United Way’s grant to update our incubator farm will allow us to extend our growing seasons while providing educational and volunteer opportunities for our entire community. The upgrades will also perpetuate new and expanding small farms, for them to build their business without incurring crippling startup debts.”

“Youth mental health is at a crisis state throughout the country, and that rings true here in the Grand Traverse region, as well,” said Ginger Kadlec, Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center Chief Executive Officer. “This incredibly generous grant from the United Way will help our therapy team provide essential trauma assessments and personalized mental health treatment plans to children and non-offending family members as they begin their journeys of healing in the aftermath of abuse.”