MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Michigan Baseball Foundation Grant Donations Top $100,000

Published on March 13, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


Twenty-five non-profit organizations representing nine Mid-Michigan counties have been selected to receive the inaugural Michigan Baseball Foundation grants. The amount awarded totaled $100,500.

The Michigan Baseball Foundation was formed in 2006 by a group of community leaders led by Bill Stavropoulos. The Foundation's mission is to revitalize and reinvigorate the Mid-Michigan region and promote greater economic and civic prosperity through the Great Lakes Loons baseball club and the operation of Dow Diamond. One of the key components of the Foundation's mission is to give back to the community through grants and other donations.

The Foundation began its first grant process in November 2007 and solicited grant applications to non-profit organizations throughout the community. Over 100 non-profits applied for grants before the January 15, 2008 deadline. All applicants were required to meet one or more of the following guidelines which reflected the purposes for which the Michigan Baseball Foundation was organized:

- The organization contributes to regional economic development.

- The organization is based in Mid-Michigan and serves young people.

- The organization promotes amateur sports.

A Michigan Baseball Foundation grants committee was formed and consisted of Paul Barbeau, Tammy Brinkman, Mike Hayes, Susan Kaltenbach, Scott Litle, Bob Rocks, Patti Tuma and Jenee Velasquez - a combination of members of the Michigan Baseball Foundation and the Loons' management team. All potential grant recipients were called to discuss with the grant committee what their organization planned to do with the money.

The grants committee determined that the most equitable way to divide the Foundation's grant money was to separate the applications by county and divide the money based on per county ticket sales percentages from the Loons' inaugural season. Therefore, with a $100,000 grant budget, the money was distributed as follows: 40% to Midland County organizations, 24% to Saginaw County organizations, 16% to Bay County organizations. The remaining 20% of the Loons' ticket revenue came from other counties, and 20% of the grant budget was distributed to groups from Clare, Gratiot, Gladwin, Tuscola, Isabella and Arenac Counties.

The inaugural Michigan Baseball Foundation grant donations totaled $100,500, awarded to 25 different organizations representing nine counties and 21 cities. The total grant donations brings the total amount generated by the Foundation and the Loons in donations to regional charities across Mid-Michigan to over $350,000 since the start of the Loons' inaugural season.

The Michigan Baseball Foundation grant process will become an annual event. Grant applications will be available again in November 2008.

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