Mt. Pleasant Agency and McArthur Insurance Agency Celebrate Giving Tuesday
MT. PLEASANT, Mich., November 29, 2022 — In the spirit of giving and in recognition of Giving Tuesday, Mt. Pleasant Agency and McArthur Insurance Agency are giving away $6,000 to organizations and projects in the central Michigan area.
The agencies’ Giving Tuesday project began in 2020 because of the awareness that COVID-19 had a profound impact on schools and non-profit organizations, which had to postpone major fundraisers that year. After seeing a positive response from the initial campaign, the agencies decided to revive it.
This year, 12 organizations will receive $500 each. The organizations receiving funds in 2022 are:
Community Cancer Services of Isabella County
Women’s Initiative (Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation)
William & Janet Strickler NonProfit Center
Clothing, Inc.
Girl Scouts – Jane Harris Cabin renovation project
Forgotten Eagles Chapter 3
Shepherd Elementary School
The Giving Barn (Harrison)
Montabella School District
Beal City Volleyball
Veterans 4 USA (Weidman)
Courser Family Community Center (Blanchard)
Each organization was selected internally by the staff at Mt. Pleasant Agency and McArthur Insurance Agency. The project is supported in part by Frankenmuth Insurance out of Frankenmuth, Michigan.
For more information about Mt. Pleasant Agency, Inc. – Central Insurance, visit mtpleasantagency.com.
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Kendra Crandell (left) delivers check to Mike Moore, principal at Montabella Elementary, and Montabella Community Schools superintendent, Shelly Millis.
They plan to use their $500 to purchase new books for the media center, items for the playground (balls, jump ropes, cards, board games), and clothing/items for individual families in need. They will also be able to add some new items to their PBIS store that students can purchase with tickets they earn for random acts of kindness and for being a good student.
Lauren Adams (left) delivers Giving Tuesday check to Principal Farley at Shepherd Elementary along with her 2 kids. Here’s why she nominated Shepherd Elementary:
“I live in Shepherd and both of my children attend Shepherd Elementary School. When I heard that there were many children coming to school without winter coats, snow pants, and winter boots, I knew something had to be done! Before a plan could be put in place to start donation collecting, Mt Pleasant Agency announced to the staff that we were doing the Giving Tuesday program again this year, and after partnering with Frankenmuth Insurance, we were going to give out $500 to 12 different organizations. I picked Shepherd Elementary to help with this specific need! With these funds, Shepherd Elementary School will be purchasing new coats, snow pants, and boots for students that need them. With this donation, many children will be warmer this winter and have more fun playing outside! There is still a great need in our community for children’s winter items if anyone is able to donate new or gently used winter gear to students who need them. Donations can be dropped off at the school’s main office.”
Kim Flaugher (left) presents a Giving Tuesday check to Mike with Veterans4USA. This organization provides furnishings for homeless veterans coming out of homelessness. For the holiday season, they’re putting together 630 Christmas stockings for veterans. They also provide meals for veterans in a variety of ways including 40 Thanksgiving meal boxes, 40 Christmas meal boxes, and special meals for Veterans Day each year. Kim nominated this organization because she really appreciated the mission for Veterans 4 USA. She also noted that they’re a small group that’s trying to accomplish a lot.
Meagan Huber (left) presents Giving Tuesday check to Tina Murray from the Courser Family Community Center, which is part of the Save the Blanchard Elementary School project. Meagan nominated this organization because she attended Blanchard Elementary as a child and is eager to see the building’s transformation into the Courser Family Community Center – a place where children and families can come together and make memories like they did back when it was a school.
Kim Rogers (right) presents Giving Tuesday check to Bryan Chapman of Clothing, Inc. The organization plans to use the funds to purchase winter gear for people in need this season.
Elaine Maxon (left) presents check to Vanda of Community Cancer Services of Isabella County for Giving Tuesday. CCS provides support and financial assistance for people in Isabella County with cancer.
Julie Gronda (left) met with Erika Ross & Linda Coyne to deliver the Giving Tuesday check to the Women’s Initiative through the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation. Here’s what Julie had to say about nominating this organization:
“I choose this organization because I value the important services and programs this organization offers the women and girls of Isabella County. The Women’s Initiative’s motto is: “A legacy of women helping the women and girls of Isabella County now…and for generations to come.” and I just love that!”
Niki Mathews (right) met with Jenna Zelkowski (left) of The Giving Barn- Clare County! Here’s what Niki had to say about her nomination:
“I chose to support this organization because Jenna & Kori give their personal time and space to support the foster families in our area by providing clothing, toys, etc for kids of all ages that are in the foster care system. They are a huge support for foster families by helping the families & children during these transitions! They have such love for kids and what they are doing is truly amazing!”
Kelly Hudson (right) delivered Giving Tuesday check to Christine Ortman (left) of the Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan. They met at the Jane Harris Cabin in Mt. Pleasant. The funds will be used for a project that Kelly initiated with the Girl Scouts earlier this year to renovate the cabin, which has been used by Girl Scouts for generations. Here’s what Kelly had to say about her nomination:
“I was a Girl Scout as a kid — my mom was my troop leader. I remember meeting at the Jane Harris Cabin for our meetings. Now, my daughter is in a troop that regularly meets at the cabin. During our meetings there, I noticed that the cabin needed some repairs, upgrades, and TLC. I’ve been working with multiple people within the scouts for the past several months to assess the building and make plans. Fundraising officially began a month or so ago! I’m really excited to see how everything turns out and especially to see what ideas the girls contribute to the project. Once it’s done, girls can have a better space to meet, have fun, and build leadership skills. Here’s the fundraising link, if you’d like to contribute to this project! https://bit.ly/3TkNZUk
Terry Kunst (right) presents Giving Tuesday check to Forgotten Eagles state president, Kevin Stevenson. Terry selected this organization because of the variety of ways in which they provide for Veterans, their families, other like-minded Veteran organizations, and continue to press for a full accounting of our POW/MiA’s.
Jill Bourland (right), board member with the William & Janet Strickler Non-Profit Center received check from Kelly Hudson. Kurt Feight selected The Strickler Center because of the wide variety of all of the organizations that are located within the center and the positive impact they have on the community. They plan to use the funding for signage so it’s easier for clients to find the services they need.
Deanne Kennedy (left) delivered a Giving Tuesday check to her daughter, Jade Jablonski, who’s the coach for Beal City Volleyball. Deanne has been a proud supporter of the Aggies’ volleyball team for 20-some years. The team is going to use the funds for youth camps and some equipment the team has been wanting to purchase for quite a while.
