BC/Kzoo General
A STAR is Born: 2022 STAR Awards
United Way of South Central Michigan (Battle Creek Kalamazoo Region) and Gryphon Place are honored to recognize 19 individuals or groups of volunteers who were nominated for the 2022 STAR Awards. The STAR (Sharing Time and Resources) Celebration and Community Volunteer Awards have long been a time to volunteers for their contributions of time, talent,…
Read More“Go! Go! Go!” After School Care At Work
“Start small, focus on the kids you have, retain those kids, and grow.” These words have been the mantra of Dan Walsh ever since the beginning of his career in Santa Monica, Calif. A pioneer and journeyman in the world of after-school programs, Walsh has built from scratch and helped grow top-tier programs in California,…
Read MorePatrese Griffin named CoC Director
Patrese Griffin, a champion of fair housing concerns in the Kalamazoo area, has been named Director of the Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care. “The CoC and and United Way of South Central Michigan are thrilled to welcome Patrese to the team,” said Alyssa Stewart, UWSCMI Chief Impact Officer. Griffin brings a passion for housing advocacy…
Read MoreKzoo Boxing: Fighting with a Purpose
For Jermont Reece, the pandemic was not an opportunity to slow down, but to start up. Owner of Kzoo Boxing, Reece took the leap and built his own business after the startup he was working for closed. After getting the space he needed in July of 2020, he was ready to take the next steps…
Read MoreCEO Summit: When Early Childhood Works, We All Work
More than 50 business leaders representing companies across Battle Creek and Kalamazoo gathered last month to learn about childcare challenges and steps the business community can take to help solve them. United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region, in partnership with KC Ready 4’s and Pulse at the W.E Upjohn Institute for Employment…
Read MoreALICE In Focus: 1 Million Michigan Kids in Financial Peril
Nearly one million Michigan children live in households that can’t afford basic necessities, with stark differences based on race and ethnicity, according to new research released by United Way. Click below to get the full story on our United Way of South Central Michigan website.
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Kalamazoo Grant Program Returns,
Providing Relief for Smallest Businesses
KALAMAZOO, Mich. [March 30, 2022]—A grant program in its third year of bringing crucial relief to Kalamazoo’s smallest businesses will offer two additional rounds in 2022. The Kalamazoo Micro-Enterprise Grants (KMEG) program provides grants of $5,000 to eligible microbusinesses within the city limits. The grants are a partnership between the City of Kalamazoo and United…
Read MoreSeeding Leaders Grants: Blossoming Nonprofit Leadership
United Way of Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region has awarded $2,500 mini-grants to 10 local leaders as a part of a new program called Seeding Leaders. These grants are intended to support the wellness, leadership, and professional development of nonprofit leaders and primarily focused on leaders who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color),…
Read MoreHeirloom Arts: Building More Than a Business
When Tempest Anderson co-founded Heirloom Arts, LLC, in 2018, they couldn’t have anticipated the challenges they would face in the business’ first year. But two years after the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the small business community, the non-binary owned tattoo shop has found its niche, and is thriving. Founded on a desire to build…
Read MoreAmerican Rescue Plan Investments
“United” is the operative word in United Way’s name. Working together is how communities tackle the toughest issues. The collaboration between United Way BCKR and the City of Kalamazoo to invest federal dollars through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) is a powerful example. The city gave $1.1 million in ARP funds to United Way to…
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