Discretionary Grant - Michigan (June 2025) — Across the country, millions of river miles wind through landscapes and lives, providing drinking water, fish habitat, recreation and a sense of place. Yet until recently, there was no way to truly understand how well those rivers were being protected, or where the greatest opportunities for restoration remained.
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Discretionary Grant - Detroit, MI (June 2025) — Before she ever dreamed of a career in veterinary medicine, Le’Airra was a quiet middle schooler with little experience around horses. That changed when she joined Detroit Horse Power (DHP), a nonprofit that connects Detroit youth to horses to help them grow confidence, empathy and perseverance.
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Alpena, MI (June 2025) —A third grader crouches beside a tank, steadying the controls of an underwater robot he helped build with his classmates. As it dips beneath the surface, he guides it through a simulated mission – focused, confident, completely immersed. In that moment, he isn’t struggling to sit still or catch up on reading – he’s a navigator, a problem-solver, a leader. “That’s what drives me,” says Daniel Moffatt, Stewardship & Education Specialist at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. “Watching a kid suddenly light up because he’s building something, doing something, solving something. You know you’re witnessing transformation.”
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Discretionary Grant - Raleigh, NC (June 2025) -Alana was living in a car with her mom when she first walked through the doors at Designed for Joy, unhoused at just 20 years old. She had been referred through a local nonprofit to participate in Designed for Joy’s seven-day Day Work Program – a lifeline made possible, in part, by a grant from the Walters Family Foundation.
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Detroit, MI (April 2025) — Every morning used to be a struggle for one Detroit father. His son, resistant to school, dreaded the idea of learning. But everything changed when the boy joined the Center for Success Network, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth through literacy. Before long, he was so excited about attending that he’d grab his backpack even on weekends, forgetting the Center wasn’t open. Stories like this are exactly why the Center for Success Network exists: to make literacy a fun, life-changing experience for youth in Detroit and Pontiac.
The
Ocqueoc, MI (December 2024)—It’s an uncommon experience to catch a glimpse of the endangered Emerald dragonfly — when you do, its vivid emerald eyes and intricate wings make for an unforgettable encounter with nature. Along the rare dune and swale ecosystems on the shores of Lake Huron, moments with species like these are still possible. And worth preserving. Headwaters Land Conservancy is on a mission to protect northern Michigan’s most vulnerable landscapes and the remarkable species that inhabit them. Without conservation, these sensitive ecosystems face the threat of development, which could alter the land and put its fragile biodiversity at risk.
Detroit, MI (October 2024)—During a recent production of Julius Caesar in Detroit, a familiar young face glided through the bustling set. She paused to adjust props, lend a hand with costumes and offer words of encouragement to the actors. Kennedy, a production assistant, felt at home with the Shakespeare in Detroit team. Once a participant in its student program, she returned not only for her love of theater, but also to mentor the next generation of aspiring artists.
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Detroit, MI (October 2024) -When Jen Guarino wraps up her day at the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC), she often encounters a familiar face still immersed in his work in the lab. “Okay, Emery, I’m closing up shop,” she says, spotting Emery Jones, a recent graduate of the Fundamentals of Industrial Sewing and Production (FISP) program. With a passion for transforming fabric scraps into innovative designs, Emery is working on what he hopes will be his own clothing line.
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Southfield, MI (August 2024) -Imagine how much easier snow removal would be if, say, a robot could do it for you. What if a smart AI cutting board could help you plan, prep and execute more nutritious meals? These are the kind of cutting-edge ideas that Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University helps bring to life.
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Saginaw County, MI (August 2024)—Nestled in the heart of Michigan lies the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary teeming with wildlife, wetlands and birds galore – song birds, herons, wood ducks, egret, eagles, tundra swans and even pelicans. The refuge, sometimes referred to as the “Everglades of the North,” comprises 10,000 acres of natural habitat, a birder’s paradise that beckons nature enthusiasts and curious visitors alike.
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