Communities First Fund Update
 
At a recent meeting, the PIE&G Communities First Fund Board of Directors finalized grants totaling $11,000.00 to the recipients listed below.
 
ALPENA
Foster Closet of Northern Michigan ($1,500) to continue providing aid to children in foster care in Northern Michigan. The Foster Closet provides clothing, toys, shoes, and other items to support foster children.
 
CHEBOYGAN
Northland Players Inc. ($2,500) for funding of new equipment and increased activities to be offered by their Summer Youth Theater program. They will replace their microphone system, upgrade lighting equipment, and stock costumes for upcoming productions.
 
MONTMORENCY
Atlanta Community Schools ($2,500) toward the purchase of a Bookworm vending machine to be used at the school. Students can earn school currency to use in the vending machine to get a book of their own to keep.
 
Tri-Township Fire Department ($4,000) to fabricate and replace the water pump in their tanker truck. Tri-Township Fire Department provides fire and rescue services to Briley, Avery, and Loud townships, as well as offering mutual aid to surrounding area fire departments.
 
OTSEGO
Otsego County Fire Authority ($500) to be used to improve the condition of their current training room with updated tables, chairs, and other equipment. This will also provide personnel with a space to work and coordinate emergency response during disaster situations.
 
The PIE&G Communities First Fund Board of Directors is pleased to announce that fifteen (15) $1,000 scholarships were awarded to the following high school seniors:
 
CHEBOYGAN:  Presley Chamberlain, Andrew Kiefer, Carson Kiefer
HILLMAN: Gretchen Weiland
ATLANTA: Valerie Binge
INLAND LAKES:  Andrea Vigneau
ONAWAY: Jonas Benson, Natalee Penfold, Ali Szymanski
POSEN: Ella Hincka, Alyssa Smigelski
ROGERS CITY: Chelsie Bielas, Sierra Grulke, Chelsea Myer, Justin Romel
 
The A. Barkley Travis Memorial Scholarship, valued at $500, was awarded to Kyliegh Burt from Cheboygan High School.
 
The Peterson Vocation School Scholarship, valued at $750, was awarded to Hunter MacNeill from Hillman Christian Academy.
Learn more about the PIE&G Communities First Fund.
 
The PIE&G Communities First Fund is a member-supported program that helps give back to local communities across the cooperative’s service area.
It was created in 1998 to collect and distribute funds for charitable, educational, and community-focused projects. The fund supports things like schools, emergency responders, youth programs, nonprofits, and other local organizations that strengthen the community.
 
The program is funded by PIE&G members who choose to participate by rounding up their monthly utility bill to the next whole dollar. On average, members donate about 50 cents per month, and those small contributions add up to make a big impact.
 
An independent, volunteer board reviews applications and awards grants and scholarships throughout the year to support meaningful projects in Northeast Michigan.
 
In short, it is neighbors helping neighbors, with small donations creating real, local impact.