| Organization information | |
|---|---|
| Organization Name | Allegan County Community Foundation |
| Please tell us the amount of funding you are requesting Aware to raise for your organization from the Aware annual fundraising event. | $15,000 |
| If your organization received Aware funding in the previous years, how many clients were serviced and/or how many services were provided with those funds. If you receive Aware funding this current year, how many clients will be serviced and/or how many services will be provided with these funds? | The West Shore Aware’s generous donation of $15,000 to the Pride Fund made possible grants administered by the ACCF. See the 2024 Grant report data. The ACCF has proudly administered the WSA Scholarships since 2013. |
| Please provide a listing of the Officers and Board members of your organization. | Ricardo Bazan - Board Chair |
| Your Contact Information | Vicki Knuckles |
| Phone | 269.673.8344 |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Scoring Criteria | |
| 1. Description of the Organization (maximum 5 points, please limit to ½ pages) | A Community Foundation is a tax exempt, nonprofit, autonomous, publicly supported, philanthropic institution comprised primarily of permanent funds established by many separate donors for the long-term diverse, charitable benefit of the residents of a defined geographic area. The mission of the Allegan County Community Foundation (ACCF) is to positively impact Allegan County through financial stewardship, education, and community partnerships. ACCF provides leadership and problem-solving for the present while building permanent funds to prepare for the future. |
| 2. Funding Request (maximum 35 points, total, please limit to 1 page) | Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails beautiful, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. The program is completely free to families and has existed in Allegan County for over a decade. In 2022 the Imagination Library program was almost eliminated from the Allegan community. United Way made the decision to cease support of this amazing early literacy program. That is when ACCF stepped forward to serve as the local affiliate for Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Allegan County. Because this program is available to all early learners within our county regardless of socioeconomic status, its positive impact cannot be overstated. The single biggest predictor of high academic achievement is reading to children. Mom or Dad and other loving caregivers taking the time every day or night to read books to their children greatly enriches the school readiness of the next generation. Book ownership can have a positive impact on a child's academic success, job attainment, and overall well-being. Children who own books are more likely to read more frequently and for longer periods of time. They are also more likely to read above grade level, which can lead to better academic performance and higher earning potential. The benefits of book ownership for kids include: Academic success: Children who own books are more likely to read above grade level, which can lead to better academic performance. Job attainment: Children who own books are more likely to attain better jobs. Well-being: Children who own books are more likely to have higher levels of mental well-being. Vocabulary development: Children who own books are more likely to develop a larger vocabulary. Attention: Children who own books are more likely to have better attention. Technological problem solving: Children who own books are more likely to develop better technological problem-solving skills. Imagination Library is often the only early literacy program available to children in Allegan County. |
| 3. Funding Justification (maximum 40 points, please limit to 1 page) | Administering this program requires a commitment by ACCF as local affiliate to raise approximately $120,000 annually. Obviously, this is a big number. But that represents more than 40,000 books into the homes of Allegan County kids each year. We appreciate the generosity of the individuals in our County. Likewise, we are realistic about the limited resources available to invest in our children. That is why we are respectfully requesting your consideration to fund a portion of this project. For about $3.00 per month – each child receives a book, with their name, mailed to their home. That is $36.00 for a whole year of books for one child, or $180 per child for the full five years! With your $15,000 support for the children of the Saugatuck, Douglas, and Fennville communities. You will be underwriting almost 417 kids. In addition to ACCF, we continue to have a strong financial partnership with the Allegan Area Educational Service Agency with a 2025 $30,000 donation to the program. We continue to seek out additional community partners for all areas of Allegan County. This request is for one year, however if you could consider multi-year funding for your community kids, that would be much appreciated. |
| 4. Summary | Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, beautiful, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. The single biggest predictor of high academic achievement is reading to children. Imagination Library is often the only early literacy program available to children in Allegan County. Our communities provide beautiful local libraries to give children access to books. It is important to remember that not all kids have parents able and willing to spend this time. Not every parent has transportation to the library. The benefits of book ownership for kids include: * Academic success Former Allegan County Public School Superintendent, and current ACCF Board of Trustees member, Kevin Harness said, "Imagination Library provides an invaluable service. Unfortunately, many of our youngest learners would not have access to any books in their home without this program. Parents have shared with me their toddler's excitement when receiving a new book in the mail each month. I cannot think of another program as widely supported by our families and educators alike." $15,000 of support would provide one year for the children of the Saugatuck, Douglas, and Fennville communities. You will be underwriting almost 417 kids. |
| Application Agreement | This is an application, otherwise known as a Request for Funding (RFF), from
West Shore Aware. This RFF is a request from your organization to Aware, for Aware to host a
Fundraising Event for your organization. By completing this RFF, your organization is requesting to be considered by Aware’s membership for an Aware fundraising event to be held during the summer of this year, also known as the White Party.
If your organization is chosen for a fundraising event by the Aware membership, your organization will agree to the following terms and conditions for the said fundraising event. 1. Aware will be given and provided full credit for the fundraising event in all of you organization’s publicity and advertising for said event, to include but not limited to event posters, newspaper advertising, handouts, radio and television advertising for the event, and organizational announcements concerning the event. 2. Your organization will only use the funds raised by Aware from said event for the purpose described in the RFF submitted to Aware. 3. Your organization understands that West Shore Aware is a philanthropic organization of LBGTQ+ individuals and their supporters, and that the funds your organization receives from Aware will be coming from the West Michigan lakeshore community. 4. The funds received from Aware as a result of the fundraising event will be net, after expenses for said fundraising event are paid. 5. Aware may use the name of your organization in its own advertising and publicity as a recipient of funds.. 6. Your organization will supply Aware with written approval to hold, or be part of a fundraising event held by Aware. 7. West Shore Aware reserves the right to audit any organization that receives funding to determine whether the funds were used as described in its RFF. 8. Your organization will allow West Shore Aware to use you organization’s name on the West Shore Aware website. In addition, if your organization has a website, you will link that website to the West Shore Aware website and allow West Shore Aware to link to your organization’s site. West Shore Aware’s web site link must remain on your web site for a full year from the date of the monetary disbursement. Failure to do so will disqualify you from requesting future funding. Once you have completed the RFF and agreed to the aforementioned, please submit it. Please sign this document below, indicating acceptance of the aforementioned terms and conditions. By signing the document, you acknowledge your organization is a registered 501(C) 3 Charitable organization. |
| Signature | |
| Date | 03/24/2025 |
| Ready to Submit |
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