Ten Organizations to Benefit from CARE Grants Awarded This Month by Hemlock Semiconductor

Local organizations in Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties receiving financial help

HEMLOCK, Mich. ― The Midland Area Honor Guard has been supporting families of deceased military members for over 40 years. With the help of a CARE Fund grant from Hemlock Semiconductor Operations (HSC), the Honor Guard will be able to purchase new uniforms for its members to wear during funeral services.

The CARE (Community and Regional Empowerment) Fund grant will help pay for winter jackets, shoulder cords, long sleeve shirts, ties and pants for Honor Guard members. The Honor Guard Uniform Project is intended to satisfy the need for uniforms for the next 20 years. Demand for the Honor Guard’s services has increased in recent years as COVID-19 deaths have risen.

“In a typical year, the Honor Guard will perform between 100 to 110 funerals,” said Bridgette Gransden, Midland County Administrator/Controller. “This grant will change the fact that there is ‘very little uniform about the uniforms’ and allow the Honor Guard to fulfill its purpose of providing comfort and closure to the families of Midland County honorably discharged veterans and active-duty military personnel. The County of Midland is grateful for their dedication and was thrilled to assist the Honor Guard with this project.”

The City of Midland Parks and Recreation also received a CARE grant for its Middle of the Mitt Miracle Field, where it plans to build a soft-surface baseball field for children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities. The surface will be specially made to accommodate wheelchair and other assistive devices to help prevent injuries. The field also will be used for other therapeutic recreational activities such as movie nights, holiday-themed activities and more, fulfilling a need for recreational space that does not currently exist.

A third recipient in this round of CARE grants is the Bay City School District, which is receiving funds to buy a sawmill for the industrial arts program at Bay City Western High School. The sawmill will help hold down the cost of wood for projects and enhance the curriculum for students, especially those learning skilled trades. Students will be able to make projects they couldn’t before, allowing them to grow and express themselves through exploratory classes such as woodworking and construction.

“All of the CARE grant recipients are working to make the Great Lakes Bay Region a better place for students, families and residents,” said Brooke Beebe, HSC senior vice president of advocacy and engagement. “HSC is proud it can assist organizations in these efforts and applauds them for the work they do.”

Other grant recipients include:

  • City of Auburn for the West Ballfield Fence Replacement Project
  • The Arc of Midland for its Emergency Notification/Check-in System
  • Reaching Our Community Kids (ROCK) for the Discover YouTM Program
  • National Inventors Hall of Fame Inc. for the Camp Invention STEM, Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summer Programs in Great Lakes Bay Region communities
  • Major Chords for Minors for music lessons for youth
  • Saginaw Valley State University for the Great Lakes Bay Region Chief Science Officer Program
  • Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital for the Full Peds Ahead – Supporting the Mary Free Bed at Covenant Center for Autism

HSC awards CARE grants in three rounds throughout the year. Annual application deadlines are the end of January, May and September. Anyone interested in learning more about the CARE grant program and how to apply can find information on the foundations’ websites at www.bayfoundation.org, www.midlandfoundation.org or www.saginawfoundation.org.

About Hemlock Semiconductor   
Hemlock Semiconductor Operations (HSC) is a leading provider of hyper-pure polycrystalline silicon and other silicon-based products used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, solar cells and modules. At HSC, we’re passionate about silicon-based technology and its unique potential to connect and energize the world we share. HSC’s polysilicon enables customers to produce high-tech electronics and solar energy, and our efficient manufacturing process delivers
products with an ultra-low-carbon footprint. HSC began operations in 1961.

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For more information:
Kristen Opperman
Communications Liaison
(989) 301-6063
kristen.opperman@hscpoly.com