Addressing the Greatest Needs of Our Community
At Pennies From Heaven, we believe in Bridging the Gap. We believe in our community and helping everyone be successful. The following programs, we have invested in the start up and help create. We have granted the funds necessary for these programs to grow and succeed. We are proud of their commitments to the community and we look forward to seeing their successes over time.
Lakeshore Employer Resource Network
Lakeshore Employer Resource Network was generated to help local businesses as well as employees become more successful. Twelve local companies are currently members, which makes up about 20% of our local workforce.
The Program includes:
-Removes Barriers to Employment
-On-Site Success Coach
-Shared Education and Training
Oaktree Academy
Pennies from Heaven Foundation provides support and leadership to Oaktree Academy, a non-profit child development center. Oaktree helps to meet the community's need for additional child care, free preschool, and after school programming while parents and guardians work toward their families' goals. Research links high quality early childhood care and education with healthy brain development, higher rates of high-school graduation, increased employment in adulthood, and significantly lower rates of arrest later in life
Mason County Family Link
Provides on-site Community School Coordinator, Mental Health Clinicians and DHHS Worker for LAS, MCC and MCE
Goal - Removes barriers that prevent students and families from being successful in school.
Goal - Allows school administrators, teachers and support staff to focus on providing quality education.
Gateway to Success Academy (G2S)
September 06, 2016
Gateway to Success Academy (G2S) is a new public charter school specializing in educating the students that need something different in order to succeed. Mason County currently has a graduation rate of under 80%. Graduating high school weighs heavily on a person's ability to be successful in life.
G2S will provide an innovative and engaging project-based learning environment where the different needs of students are understood and used to effectively stimulate and support success.
Momentum Business Plan Competition
Momentum Business Plan is a competition to give out $50,000 to help start, expand or grow a new or existing business. Upon winning the competition and accepting the award, the entrant agrees to locate or relocate business operations to Mason County, Michigan and continue operations in Mason County for a minimum of three years from the date of the award.