Jaycees award $15,000 in grants; raise funds for July 4 fireworks

Jaycees award $15,000 in grants; raise funds for July 4 fireworks

LUDINGTON — The Ludington Area Jaycees recently awarded $15,000 grants to five area nonprofit organizations. During the past season, the Ludington Area Jaycees’ Mini Golf Course, located at Stearns Park, has donated about $35,000 back into the community. The total donated to the community since beginning the mini golf course in 1967 is nearing $500,000.

Additionally, the mini golf raised $15,000 for the 2024 Ludington Area Jaycees’ Freedom Festival during its Fund the Fireworks Fridays. The mini golf also raised over $4,000 for nonprofit organizations through its Charity Mondays.

As part of the organization’s Major Projects funds, the following grants were awarded:

• Lakeshore Children Advocacy Center, $5000, to provide critical child abuse prevention education opportunities for Mason County’s youth and adults working with youth.

• Caritas Food Pantry in Custer, $1500, to help continue the tradition of delivering Christmas dinners to 150 + people each year.

• Bass Lake Area Environmental Partnership, $3500, to support an innovative method to preserve fish habitat, control/reduce aquatic invasive species, and maintain fishing and recreation on Big Bass Lake and Little Bass Lake in Lake County.

• Ludington Coats and Boots for Kids, $4000, to assist in providing, free of charge, warm winter outerwear to qualifying Mason County students.

• AFFEW (A Few Friends for the Environment of the World), $1000, to pay for staff and supplies for organic gardening, nature exploration, and nature art during the six week 2024 Summer U DIG Youth Program.