DETROIT — The Stebbins Family Fund, administered by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, will award $100,000 in five matching grants of $20,000 each to St. Clair and Lapeer county-based charities. Each will have 12 months to raise one-to-one matches from new or increased donor gifts.
To raise the matching funds, the charities will utilize fundraising skills learned at a recent, two-day training provided by the Stebbins Family Fund. The Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University facilitated the training, as well as provided one-on-one follow-up coaching to the organizations.
With roots in Port Huron, the Stebbins Family Fund was established at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan by the Stebbins Family in 2005 after a family member won the lottery and became commited to giving back to the community. Its mission is to support charitable organizations that improve the quality of life for residents in southeast Michigan, most specifically in St. Clair and Lapeer counties.
The fund, which has made grants of more than $5.5 million since its founding, recognizes that there are many children and families in financial need. As a result, grants are typically made to public charities that benefit children and families with a preference to those of modest means.
Charities selected to receive the grants are City of Port Huron Recreation Department, Kids in Distress Services, St. Clair, Literacy and Beyond Inc., Port Huron, Stone Soup Food Pantry, Lapeer, and Paul Mitchell – The School Great Lakes, Port Huron Township.