Lansing, Michigan - The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) announced today that 13 state nonprofit organizations received $200,000 for 2008 Michigan Volunteer Investment Grants (VIG).  Each organization will use the funds to create innovative, sustainable strategies to mobilize volunteers to address specific community needs.

The grant recipients were part of a competitive application process to receive VIG funding.  Thirteen organizations from across the state received VIG funding from a total of 45 organizations that applied.

The MCSC identified three funding priority areas: mentoring, engaging Baby Boomers in volunteering, and engaging all youth in service, particularly those in disadvantaged circumstances.  The following organizations received funding:

Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living - Washtenaw Youth Mentoring Coalition received a $10,000 grant to enhance its mentoring efforts by increasing public awareness, developing partnerships, increasing recruitment and referrals of potential mentors and enhancing the capacity of local mentoring organizations.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint received a $20,000 grant to support mentoring marketing and recruitment activities in Genesee County. 

Camp Fire USA West Michigan Council located in Grand Rapids received an $18,242 grant to support Operation SAGE: Seniors Active, Giving & Enriching volunteer recruitment and retention program. 

Catholic Services of Macomb in Clinton Township received a $9,252 grant to expand their capacity to recruit and place Baby Boomer volunteers and expand partnerships for volunteer placement.

Communities in Schools of Detroit, Inc. received at $20,000 grant to recruit, train, place, and retain 200 Baby Boomer volunteers to serve in metro Detroit schools to tutor at-risk children through the readetroit initiative.

Human Development Commission located in Caro received a $19,108 grant to implement the Volunteer Leadership in our Community (VLOC) project. 

Kalamazoo Communities in Schools received a $6,196 grant to increase the distribution of the Retention and Recruitment Resource Kit and build a network of business partners to increase resources and engage potential volunteers.

Little Brother - Friends of the Elderly located in Hancock received a $10,984 grant to help the program purchase and integrate a new volunteer database that will replace and improve upon an outdated system. 

Oak Park Business and Education Alliance received a $20,000 grant to students transitioning from 5^th and 6^th grade at three local elementary and middle schools.  The project will also implement the Faces of the Future mentoring program for 9^th-11^th grade students.

United Way of Northwest Michigan Volunteer Center located in Traverse City received a $20,000 grant that will build and strengthen the virtual capacity of its Volunteer Center in order to significantly increase volunteerism among boomers and youth. 

United Way Volunteer Center of Chippewa County in Saulte St. Marie received a $12,400 grant to prepare student teachers, via an intensive training opportunity, to conduct meaningful and effective service-learning activities.

Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan located in Niles received a $10,839 grant to help the organization utilize an innovative strategy to connect mentors with organizations. 

Volunteers in Prevention, Probation and Prisons, Inc. in Detroit received a $20,000 grant to increase mentoring for youth in five Detroit neighborhoods that have incarcerated parents. 

Volunteers are essential ingredients to the health and vitality of our communities and act as critical problem-solving resources to communities.  Since 1998, Michigan's VIG, administered by the Michigan Community Service Commission, has provided state-funded grants to increase the capacity of nonprofit organizations so they are better equipped to mobilize volunteers.

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