Aug
Birchwood members are building a culture of generosity through the Birchwood Outreach Fund.
Established in 2010 to support and connect with the community they love, this fund provides a permanent source of charitable funding for the Harbor Springs area, with priority given to five key pillars: housing, food, children, elders, and education.
The guiding philosophy of the Birchwood Outreach Fund is to "acknowledge a need and fill it,” and they work hard to support a variety of projects serving Northern Michigan. A committee of nine members reviews grant applications submitted through the Community Foundation’s Community and Youth Grant cycles, and funding recommendations are made by a committee of nine members, with input accepted from all members.
The committee brings together people with a wide range of backgrounds and skillsets to support their mission, and they have an ambitious goal to inspire every Birchwood member to participate in giving back to the local community, whether through volunteering, community engagement, or donations.
"We want to raise money to help our community now and forever." - Connie Donovan
In alignment with their focus on youth and education, last spring, the Birchwood Outreach Fund supported a grant to purchase books for students in the area. The grant made it possible for the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book to purchase 140 copies of “Let Me Be Real with You” by Arshay Cooper for upper-level students at Harbor Springs and Petoskey High Schools, complementing the guest author visit and inspiring area teens to connect and learn through books.
Other recent grants awarded from this fund include support for the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan, the Harbor Springs Community Food Pantry, Great Start Collaborative/Char-Em ISD, Friendship Centers of Emmet County, Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity, and more.
Through their partnership with the Community Foundation, Birchwood members have created a lasting way to support the Harbor Springs area while strengthening connections between their membership and the broader community. With each grant, volunteer effort, and contribution, the Birchwood Outreach Fund continues its commitment to meeting local needs—both today and for years to come.