Meet the Finalists

Children & Families

Chaldean Ladies of Charity

The Chaldean American Ladies of Charity (CALC) was founded in 1961 by 20 refugee and immigrant women seeking to support other newcomers in rebuilding their lives. CALC has since grown from an all-volunteer agency into a robust organization providing wrap-around social services. In 2016, the Board adopted the name United Community Family Services (UCFS) to represent their goal of supporting the broader community as a whole. Over 60 years since its founding, UCFS continues to carry out its mission of providing programs that guide, support, and empower individuals to achieve self-sufficiency with dignity and hope.   

At UCFS, 95% of our team were once immigrants, refugees, or asylees themselves, and the majority are fluent in the most common languages spoken by the community members they serve. Having navigated many of the same challenges as our clients, UCFS staff members are uniquely qualified to provide linguistically accessible services to clients with unmatched cultural competence, empathy, and understanding. 

UCFS serves over 12,000 individuals annually through afterschool tutoring, their Sharehouse Food Pantry and Basic Needs Center, employment services, maternal health education, youth sports, nutrition education and cooking classes, citizenship courses, and more.

DRIVE R & E Family Foundation

The mission of DRIVE R & E Family Foundation is to create a brighter future for children within Southeast Michigan. Through funding, partnerships and community involvement, DRIVE supports the education, health, and wellness of children.

The largest program within the R & E Family Foundation (DRIVE) initiatives is the Elementary Eats! Food Program, which provides weekend meals to low income, food-insecure elementary students. They work collaboratively with R & E Automated, Kroger, the Utica School District, Romeo School District, and a compassionate group of volunteers. Together, they ensure that nutritious meals are ready to bring home every Friday throughout the school year for each child enrolled. 

All children enrolled in our Elementary Eats! Food Program are at or below the poverty level and food insecure. They are also part of the free/reduced food program within their respective school. In most cases, the food we provide them for the weekend is the only nutrition they receive away from school.

Ellington Grace Foundation

The Ellington Grace Foundation is dedicated to supporting low-income mothers with babies in the NICU and beyond, ensuring they have the resources, emotional support, and practical assistance they need. Their mission is to alleviate the stress of navigating life with a critically ill or premature infant by providing essential care packages, financial aid, and community-based support systems.

They bring value to the community by empowering families facing one of the most challenging times in their lives. By offering material and emotional support, they reduce the financial and psychological burden on families, helping them focus on their child's health and well-being. The Foundation’s work fosters a stronger, more compassionate community, where families are not left to struggle alone during their baby's medical journey.

iCare of Michigan

iCare of Michigan is dedicated to improving the lives of Michigan families in need, providing emergency support through their No Red Tape approach. The organization’s mission is to ensure that families facing hardship receive immediate assistance for their emergency needs, whether through housing support, food security, or mental health services, with a commitment to respond within 24-48 hours. They believe in offering help with dignity and respect, empowering individuals to regain stability and rebuild their lives. This funding would allow us to expand our reach, helping even more Michigan families overcome their emergency challenges and thrive.

iCare of Michigan assists with any medical, financial or emergency needs for any child, adult or family. They provide one-time emergency aid when there is nowhere else for you to turn. iCare of Michigan is also a partner to many Detroit area charitable agencies. When these charities are unable to assist in an urgent situation, they can provide immediate assistance.

Life Lab Kids

LifeLab Kids strives to create a community of belonging where children and teens with disabilities can flourish physically, mentally, and socially. LifeLab looks to find the spark of passion inside each child and create innovative ways to support them. LifeLab Kids is a joyful therapeutic community that blends art, music, fitness, and technology therapies with traditional treatment to help children with developmental disabilities express themselves, be happy, and live their fullest lives.

All funds will be applied to LifeLab Kids new teens and young adults program. This new program is dedicated to supporting teens and young adults with developmental disabilities as they navigate the challenging transition into adulthood. The goal is to promote healthy independent living, personal independence, social skills, and workplace readiness. In addition to physical health, participants will learn the following skills: grocery shopping, scheduling appointments, driving, or using public transport, banking, visiting the library, and dining out. Participants will develop their independence and safety through activities such as meal planning, home organization, medication management, dressing for the weather, laundry, first aid, recognizing online/phone scams, and financial management.

Arts & Education

Dutton Farm
Dutton Farm's mission is to empower and support adults with developmental disabilities to live a life of purpose, inclusion, and dignity. 

Dutton Farm's skill-building program brings significant value to the community by empowering individuals with disabilities. It enhances their vocational skills, promotes independence, and fosters social inclusion. By providing training and support, the program helps participants gain confidence and develop practical abilities that can lead to employment opportunities. Additionally, it strengthens community ties by raising awareness about the capabilities of individuals with disabilities, encouraging inclusivity, and creating a supportive environment where everyone can thrive. Overall, the program contributes to a more equitable and vibrant community.

These funds will be allocated to their Art Without Limits Program, which provides participants with the opportunity to explore a diverse range of artistic mediums. Through guided lessons, individuals can develop their creative skills and produce artwork that reflects their unique perspectives. The finished pieces will be showcased and sold at Dutton Farm's Farmers Market, and other community events allowing participants to earn a commission on their sales. This initiative not only fosters artistic expression but also empowers individuals to build a micro-enterprise, enhancing their entrepreneurial skills and promoting financial independence. By participating in this program, individuals gain confidence, develop a sense of community, and contribute to a vibrant local economy.

Friends of Chesterfield Library

The mission of the Chesterfield Township Library is to enrich their community with unlimited opportunities for learning and discovery through excellence in services, resources, and cultural programs.

The Friends of Chesterfield Library would like to add study rooms in the library to create space that's conducive to healthy study habits for the community.  We do not currently have a private space for such activities and feel it would benefit so many visitors if we had one. There are manufacturers who build easy-to-assemble study pods for these purposes.

Macomb Alumnae Chapter - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, is an organization of college-educated women committed to the constructive development of its members and to public service with a primary focus on the black community.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated is a private, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world. This chapter provides community services to the following cities in Macomb County:  Clinton Township, Eastpointe, Harrison Township, Macomb, Macomb Township, Mt. Clemens, Roseville, Shelby Township, St. Clair Shores, Sterling Heights, Warren, and Washington Township.

The Macomb Chapter has been in existence for the past 4 years and during this time has provided mentorship to students and issued over 20K in scholarships to graduating seniors.  They have also partnered with Turning Point on Domestic Violence events, sponsored two Back to School Wellness events where students received backpacks full of supplies, got free haircuts, free physicals, free dental cleaning, and much more.  This organization has gone into nursing homes and provided clothing and food to a variety of shelters.  In 2024, this organization hosted a CODE RED event at the Clinton Macomb Public Library on Romeo Plank, where the community was able to get hands-on CPR training, and learn about the importance of vaccinations, and other safety precautions.  The organization also hosted an event with MOTTEP where they educated the community on the importance of organ donation.  They handmade over 100 blankets for patients. The Macomb Chapter has sponsored a lot of diverse events that have been very well received across Macomb County.  They are truly committed to providing service under the umbrella of Education Development, Economic Development, Physical and Mental Health, International Awareness and Involvement, and Political Awareness and Involvement. 

The funds will be used to issue scholarships to graduating seniors in 2025, enhance the Back to School Wellness Event, and mobilize the book drive.

Macomb Ballet Company

The mission of the Macomb Ballet Company (MBC) is to provide an opportunity for serious dance students ages 8-18 to grow artistically through training and performance experience in a professional setting, while simultaneously providing arts enrichment to the community at large with the presentation of two full-length ballets annually at The Macomb Center for Performing Arts. 

As the only non-profit ballet company in Macomb County, their mission to promote and foster the art of ballet brings a rich cultural experience to Macomb, Oakland and surrounding communities. MBC's twice-annual full-length affordable ballet performances at The Macomb Center for Performing Arts provides cultural, educational, economic, and social benefits that enhance the quality of life for nearly 10,000 residents per season. 

If Macomb Ballet Company were to receive the generous Banksgiving funding from First State Bank, it would be directly applied to supporting the creation and implementation of sensory-friendly programming. This initiative aims to make ther performances more inclusive for the neurodiverse community in Macomb and Oakland counties, as well as their families. The funding would enable them to present a dedicated sensory-friendly performance, offering a relaxed daytime environment for children and adults with varying physical and cognitive abilities to enjoy the theater in a safe and comfortable setting, free from the pressures of traditional theater etiquette. MBC will collaborate with experts to ensure the performance modifications best meet the needs of the autistic community and others with sensory sensitivities. The funding would also support additional resources, such as tactile activity tables, quiet spaces for patrons to use if needed, and educational materials like visual checklists and social stories to help ensure a positive theater experience for all attendees. their first Sensory Friendly Performance is slated for the company's spring production of “The Wizard of Oz” on Friday, April 25th at 10 a.m. at Macomb Center for Performing Arts. 

Teacher’s Pet

The mission of Teacher's Pet is to empower at-risk youth to improve in the areas of empathy, patience, impulse control, perseverance and hope. Participants are paired with hard-to-adopt rescue dogs for positive, reward-based dog training to increase the dogs' chances of becoming adopted and remaining in their homes permanently.

At Teacher's Pet: Dogs and Kids Learning Together, they are guided by a set of core values that shape the mission and purpose. They believe in the transformative power of empathy, recognizing its pivotal role in fostering understanding and compassion. Their commitment to empathy is woven into the fabric of their philosophy, as they strive to instill in humans the ability to sense and comprehend the feelings and thoughts of others.

The funds would be used to fund their three main programs: 
Children’s Village: Children's Village in Pontiac, Michigan, is a facility that serves as a juvenile detention and residential treatment center for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. It provides a range of services including secure detention, residential treatment programs, educational services, and therapeutic interventions. The goal of the Children's Village is to rehabilitate and support youth in trouble with the law, providing them with opportunities for education, counseling, and skill development to help them successfully reintegrate into their communities. Teacher’s Pet educational programming is delivered throughout the year for youth housed at the facility. The 10-week program runs two-days a week for 2 hours per day and upon completion, youth will gain 40 hours’ worth of animal welfare education and training experience. 

Camp Oakland: Camp Oakland provides children with a safe environment to receive counseling, therapy, and support. Abused and troubled youth come to CO through referrals from the Department of Health and Human Services and the juvenile justice program. Each session is split into two one-hour sessions. For 1 hour, youth trainers teach dog's life skills and basic obedience to make them more adoptable using positive reinforcement training methods. While the other hour is dedicated to classroom time learning about body language, force-free training, dogfighting, puppy mills, shelters, and more.

Macomb County Community Mental Health: MCCMH offers an array of services and supports to meet the needs of children with emotional disturbance and their families. Our services to children are offered using a family-centered approach. We work with children and families to strengthen relationships and improve functioning at home, school, and in the community. We work to nurture resiliency in children and families — the ability to bounce back from setbacks and to build on successes, despite the challenges that may be faced in life.

Human Supportive Services

Chaldean Community Foundation

The Chaldean Community Foundation’s (CCF) mission is to improve the stability, health, and wellness of those served through advocacy, acculturation, community development, and cultural preservation.

Although Chaldean is in their name, they serve anyone who enters their doors. The Chaldean Community Foundation, (CCF) works to empower the vulnerable by helping develop the language and life skills, cultural competency, and workplace training needed for self-sufficiency, acculturation, inclusion, and life-long success. During 2024, over 50,000 individuals (up 20% from last year) from 68 different countries of origin received services through CCF. Their programs connect individuals with comprehensive, long-term solutions, so they can develop life skills, master language proficiency, educate on cultural competency, and open pathways to workplace training needed for self-sufficiency and inclusion, building roadmaps toward life-long successes. CCF plays an invaluable role in the lives of many families in the surrounding school districts and beyond.

CCF will apply these funds for its Breaking Barriers program. Specific services dedicated to providing advocacy and programming for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, Art is a universal language, and its ability to connect people is particularly profound within the disability community. In a world where individuals with disabilities may face unique challenges, creative outlets become essential tools for self-expression, empowerment, and community building. CCF would like to offer tailored on-site art sessions at the Anton Art Center for individuals with I/DD. Through their artwork, we would like to amplify their voices, drawing attention to societal challenges and driving positive change. This funding will be paired with an already committed award through Michigan Art & Culture Council (MACC) which specifically provides transportation for the Breaking Barriers clients to attend art/cultural events through a special transport service.

Free Bird Initiative

Free Bird Initiative exists to provide practical care and life skills support for survivors of human trafficking and those at risk to show them they are seen and loved.

The funds will be used to help the organization obtain a physical location it can use to meet with trafficking survivors. Having that space would allow them to help so many more women. The funds would be put towards purchasing or renting a space where they can have survivors meet with them and come up with a game-plan together on how they are going to conquer the difficult situations they are facing. The organization wants to help empower them to keep moving forward in their lives and not feel like they are defined by what happened to them.

MyCare Health Center

MyCare's mission is to improve the health and wellness of their community by delivering quality healthcare to all people. The organizational vision is to be the region’s premier patient-centered health and wellness provider, widely respected as a trusted and valued community partner, noted for both its commitment to excellence and devotion to improving health outcomes.

In a recent needs assessment conducted by the Macomb County Health Department, nearly half of respondents cited cost as a barrier to obtaining the health care services they need. In addition, many Macomb County residents have lost insurance coverage as the COVID-19 public health emergency has ended. Between June and December 2023, only 65.2% of Michigan Medicaid beneficiaries were renewed while 6%, or approximately 75,000, were determined ineligible and another 28.8%, or approximately 362,000 were closed, lost coverage, for procedural reasons. As a community health center, MyCare can provide services to patients who are uninsured or unable to pay for their health care. However, the funding used to help cover these costs has not kept up with the increasing need. MyCare has seen a severe decline in community members seeking appropriate dental care due to the cost of care.  If awarded, MyCare will use the donation from First State Bank to provide direct health services to those who are uninsured, most income-limited, and unable to afford their dental care copays.

Suzie Q’s Kids

Suzie Q’s Kids provides comfort bags for kids in need. Their mission has four essential elements:

• To further the missions of the nonprofits who distribute our comfort bags to kids in need in their programs: hospitals, shelters, foster care, schools, autism centers, refuge centers, advocacy centers, camps, grief agencies, schools, camps, sheriff departments, first responders, wherever there is a need.
• To raise awareness as Mental Health advocates surrounding suicide awareness and prevention, the Power of Positivity, and “It’s OK not to be OK” flipping the script to enhance mental health and well-being.
• To encourage 'Kids in Helping Kids' through philanthropy, fundraising, and service creating and distributing comfort bags, and practicing gratitude.
• To spread smiles and brighten and inspire the lives of kids in need in our community, 'one comfort bag at a time.'

The funds would help fund their collaboration with the MISD older adult students (18-26) who are learning skill sets putting together inspiration books, hygiene, and sensory kits for Susie Q's Kids.  They're able to help other kids in our community through this collaboration.

Whole Life Healing Centers

The organization’s mission is to provide access for ALL to comprehensive healing modalities for individuals and families impacted by emotional and physical trauma through sustainable Whole Life Healing Principles. The value is healed individuals which creates a domino effect in their home, their families, and the community at large.

The grant funds would be used for individuals, currently and in-coming, on a waitlist to receive coaching services for trauma and related conditions. WLHC will provide services to them for free or at a minimal cost with the grant money provided. 

Environment

Clinton Valley Challenger Little League

Clinton Valley Little League Challenger Baseball gives special needs children and adults the opportunity to play Little League baseball in a safe and structured environment. We are of value to the community because it enriches the lives of the special needs community giving them the chance to play Little League Baseball.

In 2024 they built the 2nd Little League adaptive field in Macomb County.  Funds will be used to maintain the new field and also the first adaptive field that was built in 2008.

Lake St. Clair Fish Cleaning Foundation

The core mission is to build a publicly available fish-cleaning station on Lake St Clair. Lake St Clair receives more fishing pressure and harvest than any other lake in Michigan. This project provides for clean, sanitary, legal, and convenient disposal of fish waste. This alleviates problems for local businesses that commonly find smelly carcasses in their trash cans and dumpsters. This project supports tourism and the local economy. It is located in Harrison Township near some of the most underserved communities in southeastern Macomb County.

Funds will be applied to engineering, project management, marketing, and construction.

Rochester Pollinators

Rochester Pollinators’ mission is to provide education & resources to preserve the Monarch butterfly & pollinator population, by reintroducing Michigan native plants into local landscapes including home gardens, businesses, and municipal landscapes, they can help our local pollinators flourish.

The funds will be used for a Mini forest community project and benefit the city of Rochester and Howlett park visitors.  They will create a sustainable, pollinator-friendly space

Six Rivers Land Conservancy

The mission of Six Rivers Land Conservancy is to conserve, sustain, and connect natural areas, lands, and waters that make the places we live special. They protect the “Nature Near You” in the northern section of metro Detroit, including the Belle, Clinton, Flint, Huron, Rouge, and Shiawassee River watersheds in Genesee, Lapeer, Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties.  

Funds provided by First State Bank will be used to reinstate the Six Rivers Adventure League. Adventure League is a program of the Six Rivers Land Conservancy that helps community members of the metro Detroit region discover the great natural resources available right here in southeastern Michigan.  The program will take people out into nature for guided hiking, biking, and kayaking twice a month from May through October as a way to connect community members to natural resources in our community. With funding support, the program would be offered for free, apart from equipment rental fees.  

Szajna-Carr for Paws

This organization is known for giving welcome bags to the K-9 teams that graduate from the K-9 Police Academy, which consist of a 2 training reward toy, buddy bowl, leash and with this extra funding they would like to add a field first aid kit for the K-9.    They would also set up a program that would assist the elementary schools learning about the importance of the K-9's and the handlers. They would pass out activity books, teach about the K-9's, and assist in scheduling meetings and greets with the officers.  They would like to target the 5th and 6th graders and possibly as the program evolves offer a start of a scholarship program based on an essay or drawing.