Wednesday, February 12, 2025, HILLSDALE COUNTY, MI – The Heartwood Solar Fund, a component fund of the Hillsdale County Community Foundation, is proud to announce the awarding of $4,980 in funding to support three educational initiatives in Jonesville Community Schools. These grants will provide hands-on learning experiences, financial literacy education, and literacy enrichment for students.
The grants will support the following projects:
- Lego Robotics/First Robotics Elementary After-School Program: Erin Smith has been awarded $1,800 to establish a Lego Robotics and First Robotics after-school program at Williams Elementary School. This initial funding will support two teams at the first level (Discover/Explore) and two teams at the second level (Challenge), engaging a total of 32 students in STEM-based learning through hands-on robotics challenges.
- Game of Life: Financial Reality Fair: Teryn Bugbee and Andrea McKelvey have been awarded $1,000 to host a financial literacy event for the junior class. This program will provide 71 students with real-world budgeting and money management skills. Notably, $690 of the funding will go toward reusable materials that will benefit future junior classes for years to come.
- Community Read Program – “March is Reading Month”: Linda Quiggle, Olivia Turner, and Kathy Schneider, librarians from the high school, middle school, and elementary school, have been awarded $2,180 to purchase approximately 325 books on shipwrecks. These books will support the Community Read initiative, encouraging students to explore and discuss themes of historical disasters at sea during March is Reading Month.
“We are thrilled to support these valuable educational initiatives that will enrich the lives of students in the Jonesville community,” said Brady Friss, Development Manager of Ranger Power LLC. “Investing in STEM, financial literacy, and reading programs aligns with our mission to create lasting positive impacts in Hillsdale County.” Since its inception in May 2023, Heartwood Solar has invested a total of $22,369 into the Jonesville area, supporting both education and community initiatives. This funding has enabled ten projects at Jonesville Community Schools and contributed to local fresh food distribution programs. Heartwood Solar remains committed to the community and plans to establish an endowment fund upon the project’s commencement of commercial operations.
The Heartwood Solar Project, a 150-megawatt solar farm, is committed to investing in the Jonesville community. The project will feature photovoltaic panels surrounded by prairie grasses and pollinator-friendly vegetation, supporting sustainable land use practices such as beekeeping. Located on private farmland where landowners have chosen to participate, the Heartwood Solar Project is designed to contribute to Michigan’s renewable energy landscape. For more information on the Heartwood Solar Project and its community initiatives, please visit https://heartwoodsolarproject.com.
The Hillsdale County Community Foundation was established in 1991 with their slogan, “For good. For ever.” As a community grant-making foundation, it provides seed money to organizations and institutions that have identified problems and have designed constructive action programs aimed at solutions. A majority of the Foundation’s grant making is focused on the areas of youth, leadership, philanthropy and volunteerism.
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Contact:
Mindy Eggleston, Program Director
Hillsdale County Community Foundation
(517) 439-5101, M.Eggleston@abouthccf.org
Brady Friss, Development Manager
Ranger Power LLC
(734) 680-3556 | brady@rangerpower.com