The Hestia Women’s Giving Circle, a donor-advised fund of the Charlevoix County Community Foundation, granted $15,000 for educational scholarships provided through WRCNM’s Educational and Employment Services. Many of the scholarship recipients are single moms who are working full time, managing homes, schedules, and life obstacles while successfully prioritizing education as the key to moving ahead.

This past school year, 17 women received Hestia funding from the previous grant cycle with three graduating, one completing training to be a substitute teacher, three in the nursing program, and ten continuing their studies.

“I can breathe easier.”
~EES scholarship recipient

Edward Jones Regional Financial Advisors donated $15,150 to support WRCNM programs and services. Edward Jones Financial Advisors Diana Eberhart (a WRCNM Board Member) and Toni Straughen (a Women Can/Women Do Otsego volunteer) helped lead the fundraising efforts that included a silent auction with items donated by advisors. Items included a boat ride with drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a dinner party, and golf at a local country club. Advisor and longtime 100 Men Campaign donor Mike Eberhart presented a match challenge in real time to raise even more dollars at the event.

Advisors and their families of Edward Jones Region 241 of Northern Michigan are pictured at their recent annual meeting.

“At Edward Jones, we are building a place where everyone feels they belong. We are working to achieve this goal by partnering for positive impact with our colleagues, clients and our communities. To accomplish this, we are intentionally present in areas of our community where we feel we can make the most impact. Supporting women and families in Northern Michigan via partnering with Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan is essential to our mission.”

In gratitude,
Edward Jones Region 241

Zonta of Petoskey Area refurbished a Safe Home bedroom through their Adopt-A-Room Project. Members repainted the room, donated fresh bedding and had the room re-carpeted to ensure a pleasant night’s rest for Safe Home residents. Contractors Supply donated and installed the carpeting and Complete Paint and Supply donated painting materials for the project.

Petoskey Zontians are pictured painting a room at the Safe Home (from left) Gail Kloss, Kim Phelps, and Christine Woodbury.

Michigan State Police (MSP) Gaylord Post donated more than 130 new purses and totes filled with daily essentials to share with individuals accessing WRCNM’s domestic abuse and sexual assault services. Purses with a Purpose was organized by Trooper Jukanovich and Sergeant Miller as part of MSP’s Women Leading Change employee resource group.

Trooper Jukanovich, Sergeant Miller, and WRCNM Advocate Amy Strohpaul are pictured with a few of the purses donated through Purses with a Purpose.

Mackinaw Woman’s Club initiated annual support of WRCNM’s Educational and Employment Services scholarship fund with a donation of $1,500. As part of the club’s philanthropic program, they donate to local organizations that promote education, literary, music, art, cultural, and similar endeavors for the betterment of Mackinaw.

WRCNM Educational and Employment Services Coordinator Stacey Burns accepts a donation from Mackinaw Women’s Club Second Vice President Cathy Paquet.

Live Local Realty, a Michigan-based real estate company, donates 3% of their sales commission to a local nonprofit based on the client’s choice; a $247 donation was directed to WRCNM.

Back Lot Petoskey donated $941 through their Pints for a Cause fundraiser to support WRCNM services. During April, they donated a dollar for every Blackrocks 51k beer poured. Since their first donation in 2021, the Back Lot has raised $3,325 in donations for WRCNM services through various fundraising activities.

Charlevoix County Community Foundation (C3F) awarded a grant to support services for children and families provided through WRCNM’s Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). The CAC is a place of hope, healing, and justice for children and families impacted by sexual abuse, physical abuse, and violence. It is a safe, neutral, trauma-informed space for children and teens to tell what happened to them. The goal is to reduce the number of times a survivor must repeatedly describe a traumatic event by meeting one time with a forensic interview specialist. The C3F grant was made possible through the Community Priorities Grant Cycle and the following funds:

• Community Endowment
• Alyce Lesser Fund for the Community
• Dennis and Flo Wojan Family Fund for the Community
• Drost Fund for the Community
• Edward B. and Anne C. Leverich Fund for the Community
• Frank J. and Betty J. Strehl Fund for the Community
• Kerry and John Keyser Fund for the Community
• Laura Hansen Fund for the Community
• Phyllis Childs Memorial Fund for the Community
• Susan and Gordon Van Wieren Fund for the Community
• Trustees Fund for the Community
• Van Dam Family Fund for the Community
• Williamson Family Fund for the Community

To learn more about those who established these flexible funds to meet needs and advance opportunities, click here.

Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation and the Jeff and Lynne Smetzer Fund of the Otsego Community Foundation (OCF) provided grants of $3,500 and $2,000, respectively, to ensure continued access to domestic abuse and sexual assault services the agency provides at no cost to adults and children in Otsego County. WRCNM has participated in the OCF Community Grant Program annually to sustain critical services in Otsego County.