Kalamazoo Community Foundation

What’s the story? KZCF and the City of Portage came together to establish a historic new partnership. The partnership signals a bright future ahead as we work together to better serve the residents of Portage for generations to come.

On August 22, Bell's Brewery will be hosting a benefit concert in support of community members affected by the May 7 tornadoes. Donations from the event will go directly to KZCF's Community Urgent Relief Fund. You can learn more about the concert here. ⬇️

KZCF applauds state legislators for allocating $20 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) resources to the expansion of the Rx Kids program to additional sites across the state. Special thanks to our local legislators, State Representative Christine Morse, State Representative Julie M. Rogers and State Senator Sean McCann for their support. Learn more about Rx Kids and what it could mean for Kalamazoo in the article below. ⬇️

Long time supporters and longer time friends Kalamazoo Community Foundation stopped by for a repackaging event! With the help of a little Charli xcx and Bad Bunny, the KZCF team repackaged over ten thousand diapers and period products! Getting a chance to show our funders how we do our work is always fun, but KZCF went the extra mile to help us get it done. We have a lot to thank KZCF for, but today we show appreciation for these volunteers. #donate #volunteer #nonprofit #kalamazoo #michigan #enddiaperneed #endperiodpoverty Photos show a group of nine volunteers from KZCF repackaging diapers and period products. They are wearing shirts that say "community, equity, investment, education, passion, people."

Earlier today, KZCF staff had a chance to tour the KRESA Career Connect Mobile Discovery Lab. The Lab allows for deeper engagement within the community and provides broader access to state-of-the-art educational resources. Thanks for the opportunity Kalamazoo RESA!

At KZCF, we value the opportunity to engage with community members from all across Kalamazoo County. Recently, our President/CEO, Dr. Grace Lubwama, sat down with individuals from Portage who contributed to our Community Urgent Relief Fund in support of those affected by the May 7 tornadoes. Since tornado relief efforts began, our community has rallied to donate over $400,000 to the Community Urgent Relief Fund. You can learn more about the fund, here: https://lnkd.in/eX7kdTQu

KZCF is currently closed in observance of Independence Day and will reopen on Monday, July 8. In the meantime, we wish you all a safe and joyous holiday. Happy 4th of July! 🎆

ONEplace@KPL will be hosting a virtual Advocacy 101 training session on Wednesday, August 7 in partnership with the Michigan League for Public Policy. You can learn more about the free event and register at the link below. ⬇️

As Pride Month comes to an end, KZCF wants to thank the Kalamazoo community for continually showing up for our LGBTQIA+ residents. We are so thankful to be a part of a community that holds the values and contributions of the LGBTQIA+ as critical. We also want to extend our gratitude to KZCF’s Pride Committee, who help us celebrate and experience pride all year long. Happy Pride! 🌈

After 24 years of remarkable service at KZCF, our wonderful colleague Karen has officially retired! We want to extend our deep gratitude to Karen for her commitment to our mission and work, her passion for our community, and her generous and kind-hearted spirit. Happy retirement Karen!