Giving Tuesday Raises more than $100,000

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The philanthropic year now kicks off on Giving Tuesday, the first Tuesday following Thanksgiving.  And in Shiawassee County, community groups have been coming together for four years now to Raise Up Shiawassee to celebrate all the work volunteers, donors, and dedicated staff do through our local nonprofits.  This year, more than 250 people donated to #raiseUPshiawassee campaigns and have raised, so far, $104,409.  If you were a donor, thank you.  If you would like to make a gift, you still can donate to one or more, or all, of 22 local nonprofit organizations online at www.raiseUPshiawassee.org

A collaboration that began in 2017 now includes the Cook Family Foundation, Shiawassee Community Foundation, and the United Way, with support from the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce and Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership.  This year, 22 local non-profit organizations ran campaigns using #raiseUPshiawassee to raise funds for much needed funding to keep programs going in this difficult year.  Due to COVID-19, the majority of fundraising events that nonprofits count on for support were unable to be held, yet the need for their services is more pressing than ever.

But it’s about more than money.  More than 100 volunteer hours were donated as part of Giving Tuesday.  This was mainly due to a community mobile food distribution hosted by the Shiawassee Family YMCA where more than 250 families were served.  Year-round, the United Way coordinates volunteer opportunities through their Shiawassee Serves webpage.

Philanthropy is not an activity limited to the wealthy.  The donation page on the website of your favorite charity makes it easy to give. Many people also donate through their workplace thanks to United Way.  The Shiawassee Community Foundation provides ways for individuals to create a legacy through their estate planning. Perhaps most importantly, we can all show some kindness, personally help others in need, or otherwise demonstrate generosity in our daily life, all year long.  That is the true impact of Giving Tuesday.

The non-profit organizations that participated in the Raise Up Shiawassee campaign are:

  • The American Red Cross
  • The Arc of Mid-Michigan
  • Capital Area Community Services
  • DeVries Nature Conservancy
  • Durand Union Station Inc
  • Fridgebot Foundation, Inc.
  • Friends of the Shiawassee River
  • Girls on the Run Mid-Michigan
  • Great Lakes Bay Health
  • Great Start Collaborative
  • Laingsburg Clothesline
  • Lebowsky Center for Performing Arts
  • Respite Volunteers of Shiawassee
  • Safe Center
  • Shiawassee Arts Center
  • Shiawassee Council on Aging
  • Shiawassee Family YMCA
  • Shiawassee Hope
  • Shiawassee Humane Society
  • Shiawassee Hunger Network
  • Shiawassee Community Foundation-Community Cares COVID-19 Grant Fund
  • Voices for Children Child Advocacy

 

 

 

One University, Three Campuses

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The University of Michigan is not only located in Ann Arbor, it also has campuses in Dearborn and Flint.  For 40 years the Cook Family Foundation has provided scholarships to Shiawassee area students attending UM in Ann Arbor; starting this academic year, the Foundation will also assist academically accomplished students from local high schools to enroll at UM-Flint and UM-Dearborn.  These campuses are strong institutions of higher learning in their own right, but they are also alternate pathways to a degree from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

To explain the opportunities of education at UM-Flint, a ZOOM session will be held the evening of February 9.  Contact us or UM-Flint admissions staff (John Amboy 810-762-3302) to register for the event.  Previously, the Foundation hosted a ZOOM session for prospective students with representatives from all three campuses explained the advantages of their respective schools as well as answered questions about how to apply, afford, and transfer to and from each of the campuses.  You can request a recorded version of this workshop.

The Cook Family Foundation is committed to providing a scholarship of $3,000 to any Shiawassee area student who is admitted to Ann Arbor or meets the criteria for Honors College at UM-Dearborn or UM-Flint.  In order to be eligible for a scholarship, you must fill out an application with the Cook Family Family.  See our webpage for more information.

Perhaps the most important advantage of attending UM-Flint or UM-Dearborn is that credits easily transfer between those schools and UM-Ann Arbor, and no matter where a student starts or finally graduates within the system, their degree carries the important block M indicating they are a graduate of the University of Michigan.  Each campus has unique degree programs, courses, extracurricular and educational advantages that may appeal to a particular student. Prospective students should look at the offerings at each campus.

The cost of attending college may vary from campus to campus as well.  While each student has their own unique financial circumstances, each campus has different tuition rates, financial aid and scholarships, so attending one school may be more affordable than another.  The proximity of UM-Flint to Shiawassee County also allows a student to live at home and thus forgo room and board expenses at one of the other campuses.

 

Class of 2021 Bruce & Jacqueline Cook Scholarship Nominees Announced

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Scholarship Nominees (and several parents) attended a University of Michigan Information Event, held at the Owosso Country Club.      Photo credit: Michael D-L Jordan/DLP

Forty-seven of Shiawassee County region’s most academically accomplished high school seniors have been nominated for scholarships to the University of Michigan by the Cook Family Foundation.  One of these students will be selected to receive a four-year, full-tuition, scholarship from Bruce and Jacqueline Cook.

While current COVID-19 restrictions prevented the Cook Family Foundation from hosting a trip to visit the University of Michigan, an outdoor information event was held at the Owosso Country Club for all nominees. The event featured virtual presentations from former scholarship winners, as well as from U-M Admissions Officer, Sam Joustra.  This virtual “tour” covered various parts of both the University’s campus and the city of Ann Arbor, the different U-M Schools and provided important information regarding not only the application process, but also regarding financial aid. 

SEDP President/CEO, Justin Horvath, shares his personal U of M journey with Bruce and Jacqueline Cook Scholarship Nominees.                     Photo credit: Michael D-L Jordan/DLP

Special guest speaker, Justin Horvath, President/CEO of the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership (SEDP), described his personal college search experience and ultimate University of Michigan attendance, noting “You’re all great students, and no matter where you choose to attend college, the University of Michigan or elsewhere, please consider coming back to the Shiawassee Region and putting that top-notch education to work in your own community.”

“We want to make sure the leaders and the best among local high school students seriously consider the University of Michigan for the next level of education,” said Foundation President Bruce Cook.  “We are committed to the academic success of local students, and are committed to building partnerships with our public schools and our oldest public university.”

Each of the nominees will receive at least a $3,000 scholarship to the University of Michigan from the Cook Family Foundation.  The Cook Family Foundation annually provides a scholarship to any student from the greater Shiawassee region admitted to the University of Michigan.  In addition to scholarships to help students attend the University of MIchigan in Ann Arbor, the Foundation now also provides scholarships to Shiawassee area students who meet the criteria for  the Honors College at UM-Flint or UM-Dearborn.  For assistance applying to UM, or for more information on scholarships, contact the Foundation or visit: cookfamilyfoundation.org/scholarships

If they apply and are admitted to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, the following students will be considered for the Bruce and Jacqueline Cook scholarship: from Byron: Jenna Belmas, Evan Glennie, Sarah Marvin, and Regan Kopesky; from Chesaning:  Drew Beckman, Olivia Distelrath, Ethan Kohagen, Allison Oakes, and Weston Powell; from Corunna:  Lauren Aurand and Elizabeth Forbes; from Durand:  Elijah Beland, Goldyn Graham, Isaac Hager, Aidan Loos, Brynn Patsey, and Caila Zusack; from Laingsburg:  Cameron Allen, Abigail Atkinson, Alexandria Claus, Autumn Eyre, Grace Graham, Sierra Price, Ethan Regan, and Dawson Shastal; from New Lothrop:  Grace Adelberg, Matthew Bishop, Drew Kohlmann, Makayla Lienau, Macy Matthews, Jillian Rau, and Danielle Wendling; from Ovid-Elsie:  Abigail Cooper and Jordan Hitchens; from Owosso:  Kelsey Andrykovich, Ethan Coons, Tyler Hoag, Silas Krajniak, William Lavigne, Elizabeth Tolrud, Reyn Tuttle, and Sierra Wisely; and from Perry: Emma Cochrane, Rachel Follman, Parker Lewis, Ethan Smith, and Kyle Taft.

Past recipients of the Bruce and Jackie Cook Scholarship have included Mason Collard from Owosso and Kyah Ribble from Perry in 2020, Autumn Zwiernik from Laingsburg in 2019, Tyson Moore from Corunna in 2018, Elizabeth Hoornstra from Chesaning in 2017, Mitchell Lawrence from Byron in 2016, Nick Miller from Laingsburg in 2015, Nolan Wendling from New Lothrop in 2014, Emily Feuka from Perry in 2013, Sam Whaley from Perry in 2012, Adam Stewart from Laingsburg in 2011, Valerie Foster (Micol) from Byron in 2010, Adam Dingens from Corunna in 2009, Randy Piper from Owosso in 2008, Dan Frechtling from Perry in 2007 and Kendra Frye of Owosso in 2006.