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BUCHANAN — One area organization recently granted more than $98,000 to organizations in Berrien and Cass counties.

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

• $25,000 from the Unity Fund to the City of Buchanan for the construction of a handicap accessible boat ramp on the Saint Joseph River. 
• $25,000 from the Walter Schirmer Jr. Fund to be used for the Northstar Revitalization Plan to help with improved housing in the northside neighborhood of Buchanan.
• $8,000 from the Ann S. Cone Fund for Families & Youth in support of the Positive Parenting Program. This is provided by the Berrien County Health Department and supports families in the City of Niles. 
• $3,221.38 from the Ann S. Cone Fund for Families & Youth to the Niles District Library for the purchase of a Playaway system for audio book access for their patrons.
• $5,000 capacity building grant awarded to Berrien County Cancer Services to build a new website and landing pages to assist cancer patients access their services. 
• $3,000 from the George W. Romney Fund to Junior Achievement of Berrien & Cass County in support of Junior Achievement programming at Sam Adams Elementary School in Cassopolis. 
• $7,660 from Buchanan Education Fund and the Buchanan Area Fund awarded to Buchanan Community Schools for executive leadership coaching. 
• $2,235 from General Funds awarded to Cassopolis Band Boosters for the purchase of 4 bass drums. 
• $9,210 capacity building grant from the Walter Schirmer Jr. Fund awarded to the Roti Roti Art Center of Buchanan to support consulting work aimed at building a strategic plan, future staffing models and board training. 
• $10,000 from the George & LaVonne Sullivan Endowment, Niles Area Fund, Cass Community Fund and Michigan Gateway Community Foundation General Fund to support the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber in their efforts to address population decline, job creation and the creation of marketing materials, landing pages and community tours to promote the region of South Berrien and Cass Counties. 

Founded in 1978, Michigan Gateway Community Foundation serves southern Berrien County and Cass County Michigan.  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 two times each year with submission dates of August 1, and February 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 a local community, contact Michael P. Rowland at 111 Days Avenue, Buchanan, MI 49107, visit www.mgcf.org, or call 269-695-3521.