Community Impact

Hope College Office of Educational Outreach - RISE program

Education Opportunity Gap

$60,000 over 2 years

To launch the new RISE Academy which offers individualized academic support to ninth grade students from Holland Public, West Ottawa, and Zeeland Public schools. The program aims to improve proficiency in reading, writing, and math, especially for historically underserved students.

ODC Network - Equity for Education Program

Education Opportunity Gap

$60,000 over 2 years

To provide year-round academic support for kindergarten – 8th grade students in Zeeland Public Schools who are falling behind in reading and math, with a focus on prioritizing students from low-income households or challenging situations. The program will also create mentorship opportunities for aspiring educators from underrepresented backgrounds.

Escape

Youth

$60,000 over 2 years

To double summer program capacity in two years and introduce a year-round initiative to equip youth with essential skills for early and long-term career success. Escape will use this grant to assist youth ages 14-17 to learn job skills, build relationships in the community, develop confidence, and gain workforce readiness so they can thrive in a productive and meaningful career post-high school.

ODC Network

Education

$60,000 over 2 years

To expand Reimagine Education, an extension of ODC Education Network's successful nature-based learning support for local schools, to West Ottawa Public Schools (WOPS). Reimagine Education addresses significant challenges in student achievement, particularly in science, reading, and math.

Community Action House

Human Services

$60,000 over 2 years

To expand staffing and infrastructure for the Food Club & Opportunity Hub and respond to a growing demand for Community Action House’s services.

Renew Therapeutic Riding Center

Health

$60,000 over 2 years

To fund the expansion of the Renew Equine Assisted Learning programs (REAL) to serve veterans, first responders, and children in foster care.

Dwelling Place

Community and Economic Development

$40,000

To support the housing need in Ottawa County by providing fifty-two (52) units of high-quality, sustainable, and inclusive housing to low-income individuals/families.

Good Samaritan Ministries

Human Services

$35,000

To improve office facilities to enhance client and community partner experiences, including adding private meeting spaces and more staff offices to meet a growing demand for services. These upgrades are essential to meet the growing needs of the community and ensure the effective delivery of resources to those who need them most.

Zeeland Public Schools

Education

$30,000

To enhance the Introduction to Public Safety Course, increasing educational and career prospects for students who are interested in careers as first responders, emergency personnel, and other public safety professions.

The Salvation Army

Youth

$27,000

To assist in developing a sustainable Day Camp Program, which provides quality childcare to working parents with limited financial resources, and increase increase weekly participant capacity from 17 to 50 campers.

Holland Free Health Clinic

Health

$18,812.88

To acquire a new dental operatory system to improve patient care and program efficiency. Holland Free Health Clinic has been a crucial resource for underserved populations since 2002 and is a key provider of free dental care for the uninsured/underinsured accepting Medicaid.

Camp Blodgett

Youth

$15,000

To expand summer academic and recreational programs to include students from Holland Public Schools beginning in 2024 and gradually increase enrollment across Ottawa County public schools through summers 2025 and 2026. Camp Blodgett's STEM Academy and Summer Camp serves children from low-income households, with the STEM Academy specifically seeking to increase middle school student competency in science and math.

Children's Advocacy Center

Education

$15,000

To ensure Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) child abuse prevention education is accessible all members of our community. CAC partnered with Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP) to develop a comprehensive, culturally-aware, and phased approach to expanding their prevention reach in Spanish.

The First Tee of West Michigan

Youth

$15,000

To expand staffing and position First Tee for future growth as they teach students ages 7-17 valuable life lessons through the game of golf.

Holland Public Schools - Project Endeavor

Education Opportunity Gap

$60,000 over 2 years

To implement the new After School Endeavors Program, which supports K-12 students at risk of learning loss in the areas of reading, writing, and math.

Zeeland Public Schools - ZPS Summer Learning

Education Opportunity Gap

$60,000 over 2 years

To supplement the work being done with elementary students at-risk of learning loss during the summer and grow the program to serve an additional 30+ students who demonstrate academic and/or socio-emotional needs.

Single MOMM - Establishing Comprehensive Support for Single Moms

Healthy Parent/Caring Adult Relationship in a Child's Life

$60,000 over 2 years

To help Single MOMM offer parenting classes, resource navigation assistance, and mental health support services for single mothers.

Beacon of Hope

Mental Health

$60,000 over 2 years

To help Beacon of Hope address mental health service delays— often averaging 6-12 weeks—by expanding its counseling internship program.

City on a Hill Ministries Health Clinic

Mental Health

$55,000 over two years

To help deliver comprehensive mental health care for individuals from low-income households, including those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Arbor Circle - Increasing Father Friendly Services in Ottawa County

Healthy Parent/Caring Adult Relationship in a Child's Life

$30,000

To research, understand, and address the needs and barriers for engaging fathers and father figures, ultimately leading to the development of best practice tools, resources, and training to support them.

Midtown Counseling - Family/Parental Engagement in On-Site School Counseling for Holland Public Schools

Healthy Parent/Caring Adult Relationship in a Child's Life

$30,000

To deepen the family and parental engagement in on-site school counseling by offering: free counseling to family members of the student being counseled, parenting classes; art therapy; life skill groups; and more.

Community Mental Health of Ottawa County

Mental Health

$30,000

To help Community Mental Health of Ottawa County (CMHOC) expand its Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program, which has trained over 100 first responders recognize behavioral health conditions, de-escalate behavioral health crises, and connect individuals and families to community services and support.

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holland - Education Programs

Education Opportunity Gap

$25,000

To make daily academic assistance available to all club members through Power Hour, Project Learn, and EPIC. Power Hour offers students homework help from BGCGH staff or volunteers; Project Learn focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; and EPIC supports high school students in connecting their current studies with post-secondary education plans.

Radiant Roots Doula Network - Doula Services and Community Birthing Classes

Healthy Parent/Caring Adult Relationship in a Child's Life

$25,000

To help the organization expand into Ottawa County and provide high-quality, culturally responsive doula services and birthing classes.