FLINT, Mich., April 3, 2019 – The Ruth Mott Foundation Board of Trustees awarded over $2 million in its first grant cycle of 2019.
In all, 20 grants were awarded to projects and programs that serve north Flint residents in the priority areas of youth, safety, economic opportunity and neighborhoods.
Included in the awards is $230,000 in renewed support for Berston Field House, the historic north Flint neighborhood hub offering youth development programs, community services, and other civic engagement activities.
Berston received one of the first grants awarded when the Ruth Mott Foundation launched its north Flint strategy in 2016. Since then, under the stewardship of the nonprofit Friends of Berston group and United Way of Genesee County, the Field House has continued to thrive as a trusted community center with expanded year-round programming that provides opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in activities that enhance quality of life in north Flint. The Ruth Mott Foundation support will be used to leverage funds Berston will receive from the new Genesee County arts millage that must be used for arts education and cultural enrichment activities.
“Berston Field House is much more than a neighborhood center – it’s a landmark institution that residents of north Flint and beyond have enjoyed for decades,” Ruth Mott Foundation President Raquel Thueme said. “We are proud to support Berston and all of the recently awarded projects and programs, and we look forward to working with each of these organizations to enhance the quality of life in north Flint.”
The grant awards include:
- Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission: North Flint Public Safety Strategy 2019 — $410,168
- United Way of Genesee County: Friends of Berston General Operating Support — $230,000
- Flint Police Foundation: North End Community Crime Strategy — $228,000
- Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village: General Operating Support 2019 — $150,000
- Specialized Employment Services (aka Flint STRIVE): Northside Impact Strategic Plan 2019 — $140,000
- New Community Baptist Church: Working Actively Intentionally Together – The Phoenix Program — $110,000
- St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center, Inc.: North Flint Women’s Employment Preparation — $105,000
- Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village: North Flint Neighborhood Action Council 2019 — $91,600
- Community Foundation of Greater Flint: Neighborhood Small Grants Program 2019 — $90,000
- Flint Cultural Center: Sloan Museum of Discovery – North Flint Collaboration — $89,164
- Fair Food Network: Innovating Technology and Expanding Geographies for Double Up Healthy Food Incentives — $80,000
- Faith Foundation Resources: Helping Young People with Employment Program 2019 — $65,000
- Motherly Intercession: RACS and In-Touch Ready To Work — $40,000
- Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce: Flintside: On the Ground — $37,260
- Clingman Foundation: Academic Improvement College Readiness Program 2019 — $32,800
- Active Boys in Christ: ABC Youth Program 2019 — $27,835
- Kentakee Athletic and Social Clubs: Berston Bicycle Club Project 2019 — $24,300
- United Way of Genesee County: Jackson Park Youth League – RBI 2019 — $22,000
- Bethel United Methodist Church: Bethel CDF Freedom School 2019 — $20,000
- Neighborhood Engagement Hub: The Porch Project — $14,025
TOTAL: $2,007,152
The Ruth Mott Foundation is a private family foundation established in Flint, Michigan, by Ruth Mott, a philanthropist and wife of automotive pioneer Charles Stewart Mott. The Foundation’s mission is to stimulate and support community vitality through its focus on four priority areas in north Flint: youth, safety, economic opportunity and neighborhoods.