Recently five-year-old Reed Anderson of Niagara, Wis. visited the Cancer Loan Closet to donate his birthday money. He is pictured with volunteer Kay Mattson.

MENOMINEE — The M&M Area Community Foundation recently awarded grants to 11 organizations throughout Marinette and Menominee counties. The funds were made available by generous contributions from community members to the Philanthropy Fund, which was established by the MMACF Board of Directors to support the needs of local non-profit organizations.

The following programs and projects received funding:

— CASA of Menominee County received a grant for its Helping CASA Kids Connect program aimed at helping to make the first meeting between the volunteer and the child easier. CASA will purchase a book and a stuffed animal which are tailored for children placed in foster care.

— Crime Stoppers of Marinette and Menominee Counties received a grant to host another Child ID Event. Volunteers will fingerprint and cut a small lock of hair from each child and assist parents in completing a kit for each child in attendance at the event.

— Crivitz Youth Baseball Association will utilize the grant funding for its baseball/softball diamond construction project.

— The grant to the Dementia Friendly Community Coalition will be used to support the Purple Angel Program which aims to educate our communities about dementia and to support and empower those living with the disease through awareness training of local businesses.

— Individuals in Peshtigo and Grover will benefit from a grant to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for its community garden which will provide fresh produce to the food pantry.

— Pembine Area Christians will use their Philanthropy Fund grant to support their Panther Snack PACs which provide weekly snack packs to all K4 to fifth grade children in the Beecher-Dunbar-Pembine School District. The bags are packed by junior and senior high student council students.

— Peshtigo Elementary School received a grant toward their Pay It Forward – Birthday Gifts program which will partner fifth grade students with residents of Rennes Nursing Homes. The program will be complimented by reading the “Pay It Forward” book in the classroom.

— A grant to River Cities Habitat for Humanity will “Rock the Block” by organizing volunteers to help families in target neighborhoods with painting, window replacement, porch repair and yard work.

— St. Anthony Conference Niagara will designate its grant funding for expansion of their rental assistance program which supports 150 people.

— The funding provided to the St. Joseph Conference of the society of St. Vincent de Paul will be used for its Good Night’s Sleep program to benefit residents of Marinette, Peshtigo, Porterfield and Walsh.

— Stephenson School District Robotics Team will use its award to support the team in competing with a robot designed and built by eighth to 12th grade students.

Community members and businesses are encouraged to contribute to the MMACF Philanthropy Fund. Half of all contributions received in 2018 will be awarded during the January 2019 Philanthropy Fund grant cycle. The remaining funds will be added to the endowment.

Those interested in donating to the Philanthropy Fund may contact the Foundation at 906-864-3599 or visit the Foundation website (mmacf.org) to contribute online. Checks may be mailed to the MMACF at 1110 10th Ave., Suite L-1, Menominee, MI 49858.