Twice each year, HSC’s Community and Regional Empowerment (CARE) Grants provide funding to nonprofit organizations across the Great Lakes Bay Region to support their work in strengthening communities, youth and families.
“Enhancing the quality of life in the communities where our employees live and raise their families is the primary goal of HSC’s CARE grant program,” said Raquel Pérez, HSC diversity and community liaison. “We’re proud to support the incredible efforts of organizations across the region who are dedicated to uplifting families and youth, advancing STEM education, and strengthening arts and culture.”
In the first round of 2025 CARE grants, the following organizations received funding for projects and programs that align with HSC’s mission and values:
Focusing on student athlete development
Books & Ball was founded in 2009, and since its founding has served over 705 athletes, with 100% graduating from high school, and 93% obtaining college scholarships. Their goals include increasing high school graduation rates, connecting more students with college scholarships, and improving resiliency and college readiness for at-risk student athletes. The CARE grant will allow them to purchase equipment that will improve the effectiveness of their academic and athletic training, ensuring all eligible youth can participate to the full extent.
Building community through family-focused initiatives
Families and Children Together, Inc. (FACT) supports families in Saginaw County facing instability and disruption (including food insecurity, housing instability, or Child Protective Services involvement), combating isolation and lack of access to resources. FACT hosts events in trusted community locations across Saginaw, through their Community-Based Bare initiative. With the CARE grant, they will be able to continue hosting community dinners, caregiver events, and family-centered programming in non-threatening/non-judgmental and supportive settings to continue fostering connections.
Supporting life skills for young girls
Girls on the Run Great Lakes Bay inspires participants to be joyful, healthy, and confident through a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. The organization currently serves 23 sites in Saginaw, Midland, and Bay counties, aiming to improve community quality of life, promote growth in participants, and prevent unhealthy behaviors. The program concludes with a Girls on the Run 5K. With the CARE grant, they will be able to sustain their continued growth and expand programming and scholarships to support mental, emotional, and physical health in the region.
Major Chords for Minors strikes a chord for kids
Major Chords for Minors is a nonprofit that provides free music lessons and instruments to the children in Saginaw, with a focus on children from low-income households. Serving as a “third space” for students, their program fosters academic and social success, building confidence, performance skills, and connections to the community. The CARE grant will allow them to continue paying their instructors, to keep lessons free for students and to foster continued growth of their program.
Creating a space for community theatre
The Friction Theatre, is a nonprofit theatre dedicated to bringing innovative and inclusive theatrical experiences to Midland, Michigan. Providing opportunities for artists, technicians, and volunteers to collaborate, they’re committed to creating a thriving arts scene and provide hands-on experience and STEAM exposure to community members. With the CARE grant, they will be able to update and acquire new equipment for the theatre, improve infrastructure, and purchase performance rights for future productions to continue putting on quality entertainment for the area.
Expanding Great Lakes Bay Pride to be a year-round resource
Since 2002, Great Lakes Bay Pride has served the LGBTQ+ community by providing inclusive education, advocacy, networking and resources to individuals and organizations across the region. They are responsible for regional Pride month events, fundraisers, peer support groups, direct service programs, LGBTQ+ education and advocacy, and more. The CARE grant will allow them to renovate their current website, to allow them to better tell their story and provide easily accessible information and resources to the community.
Strengthening end-of-life care for the terminally ill
Toni and Trish House provides dignified end-of-life care to guests and their families in a home-like setting, free of charge and accessible to everyone regardless of background, race, gender, creed, or sexual orientation. They also help to care for families and loved ones, supporting them as they say goodbye. With the CARE grant, they will be able to make much-needed updates and renovations to their house, to better serve the families and guests that stay there, including additions to their space.
Restoring urban tree canopies in Saginaw and Bay City
The Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy’s Trees for Tomorrow project will use an HSC CARE grant to expand its tree planting efforts as part of its Better Branches Regional Tree Initiative. The project will result in 75 native trees being planted on vacant Saginaw County Land Bank-owned parcels in Saginaw and 100 more trees added to the Conservancy’s existing tree nursery at the James Clements Airport in Bay City. The goal of this regional project is to restore the tree canopies in Saginaw and Bay City. Healthy tree canopies provide several benefits for residents and wildlife in urban settings, including minimizing the heat island effect, reducing stormwater runoff and flooding, and providing habitat for wildlife in the community.
New life for Bay City’s Fire House No. 3
Bringing the past to life and cultivating an enthusiasm for firefighting history are the cornerstones of the Antique Toy and Firehouse Museum. With support from its HSC CARE grant, the museum will continue the restoration of Fire Station No. 3 in downtown Bay City, transforming the historic structure into a new venue for learning about local history. Renovations include third floor structural work for displays and museum space, installation of a code compliant exit stairway to both second and third stories, and infrastructure for a training and education center.
Upgrading animal care at the Humane Society
The Humane Society of Midland County (HSoMC) is a non-profit animal shelter located in Midland, Michigan dedicated to finding permanent, loving homes for abused, unwanted, and abandoned animals. They have one of the highest adoption rates in the state, and do not refuse or euthanize animals that have treatable medical conditions. Through the CARE grant, they will be able to purchase new equipment that is critical to their continued operations, which also contributes to offering spay/neuter and vaccination services at a lower cost.
New facility will support parenting education
An HSC CARE grant will help LifeClinic Community Resources replace flooring for the basement of their new location in Bay City. LifeClinic is a non-profit organization that supports mothers, fathers, and families in the region, specifically those who may face barriers to accessing resources. They offer parenting education classes, collaboration with Community Connect – Skills for Tomorrow (a non-profit that supports individuals in recovery through trade education), and resources to those in need of assistance.
Promoting STEM education at SVSU
The Chief Science Officers (CSO) Program at Saginaw Valley State University was launched in 2017 and is a student-led initiative designed to cultivate interest in STEM among students in 6-12 grade through the program STEM@SVSU. Students involved have the opportunity to attend a leadership training institute, cabinet meetings, promote and participate in regional initiatives, and create STEM Action Plans to promote STEM in their communities. Through the CARE grant, the organization will be able to continue serving students in Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties, as well as expand their reach and impact.