MANISTIQUE — The Schoolcraft County Community Foundation Board of Directors approved eight mini grants totaling $7,761 in its spring grant round on May 3. The board also awarded the annual Prine and Hughes Scholarships.

SCCF received applications from three organizations seeking grants from their own funds. The board awarded the full amount that each group requested, which is the full amount available for granting in 2021. Eva Burrell Animal Shelter was granted $1,933 from the Humane Society Fund for the spay and neuter program; Lions club received $810 from the Lions Club Sight and Hearing Fund for support of that fund; and the Manistique Area Schools and Public Library was granted its first-ever request of $623 from the Library Fund to help pay for the Saline Fiddlers and Joel Tracey performances this summer.

Two applications were received for the Unrestricted Fund. SCCF granted $1,000 to Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital for a rehabilitation services therapy table and $500 to Good Neighbor Services for a bench for the front of its store.

Three additional grants were received for the Kellogg Fund. The board gave $795 to the Grind Coffee Shop for outdoor seating; $300 to St. Francis de Sales School for lunch trays and $1,800 to the Schoolcraft County Fair Association’s Summer Day Camp to help purchase Exploration Activity Kits for the children.

There were 11 applicants for the $500 Hughes Scholarship. The scholarship gives preference to Gulliver residents, and one applicant who met all the criteria is also from Gulliver. The scholarship was awarded to Delaney Zellar, who is enrolled at NMU in a business course.

There were also 11 applicants for the $2,000 Prine Scholarship. That award is split, with $1,000 given in the first semester and the other $1,000 given in the second semester if the student shows a class schedule and maintains a 3.5 GPA. Joseph Vandyck is this year’s recipient. He is enrolled at Eastern Michigan University’s chiropractic course.

In addition to 12 designated, or “donor advised,” funds, the community foundation may provide mini-grants from an unrestricted fund. The community foundation awards grants twice a year, in May and November. Deadlines for applications are March 31 and September 30 of each year. Applicants are asked to use the SCCF application form, which can be downloaded from our Facebook page or picked up at the Pioneer Tribune office.

Over the years, the foundation has given more than $181,000 to local organizations and individuals in grants and scholarships.

For more information on contributing to the Schoolcraft County Community Foundation or applying for a mini-grant, write to the foundation at P.O. Box 452, Manistique, MI 49854 or e-mail at sccommunityfoundation@gmail.com.