Welcome to our 8th annual 31 Days of Giving campaign — Cherry Republic’s oldest charitable giving initiative. Each day throughout the month of December, we will announce grants to non-profit organizations throughout Michigan. Over the years, the gifts have benefited everyone from children and families to our beloved Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. In 2018 and 2019, the imminent threat of climate change caused us to laser-focus on those groups that promoted clean and renewable energy. This year, we have a good mix of charities in mind, starting on December 1st and 2nd with generous gifts to two local organizations who can help make a Merry Christmas for 25 families in our community. Be sure to follow our blog all month long to see who 31 Days of Giving supports this year!
DECEMBER 31st
$15,000 to Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology. We end our 31 Days of Giving with a gift to a long-time partner and friend of Cherry Republic. Crosshatch is celebrating its 15th year of building strong communities “through the intersections of art, farming, ecology and economy. Crosshatch envisions communities that are grounded in place: where people connect through stories, music, art, shared work, and food, and where the economy and culture are rooted in restoration of the earth and its people.” Donate to Crosshatch.
DECEMBER 30th
$7,500 to the National Wildlife Fund. The NWF believes that protecting our nation’s natural resources is a cause that has long united Americans from all walks of life and political stripes. We support them in their work to conserve water, preserve wildlife habitats, protect habitats, and address threats to our climate head on. Donate to the National Wildlife Fund.
DECEMBER 29th
$10,000 to MIEIBC (Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council. EIBC’s mission is to grow Michigan’s advanced energy economy by fostering opportunities for innovation and business growth and offering a unified voice in creating a business-friendly environment for the advanced energy industry in Michigan. Donate to MIEIBC.
DECEMBER 28th
$7,500 to Inland Seas Education Association. After 30 years and reaching more than 125,000 program participants, ISEA is convinced that the scientists and citizens who will solve the Great Lakes’ problems of the future will sail aboard Inland Seas’ ships today, and we are proud to support them! Donate to ISEA.
DECEMBER 27th
$7,500 to Renewable Energy for Michigan. REM is a partner organization of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA) and part of our ongoing mission to support renewable energy solutions to curb global warming. Donate to REM.
DECEMBER 26th
$7,500 to Michigan Environmental Council. The MEC is a coalition of nearly 70 organizations created in 1980 to lead Michigan’s environmental movement in achieving positive change through public policy solutions. Donate to MEC.
DECEMBER 25th
$7,500 to Buckets of Rain. Based in Leelanau County, this amazing organization’s goal is to support the rebuilding of Detroit by transforming blighted areas into agricultural oases — growing hope and feeding lives one garden at a time. Donate to Buckets of Rain.
DECEMBER 24th
$10,000 to two other important land conservancies in Michigan. $5,000 to Little Traverse Conservancy and $5,000 to Legacy Land Conservancy. We are proud to provide ongoing support for both of these important farmland programs.
DECEMBER 23rd
$12,000 to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. This is long-term ongoing support for GTRLC’s Farmland Programs — Farmland Preservation and Misty Acres Farm. Donate to GTRLC.
DECEMBER 22nd
$5,000 to Washtenaw Camp Placement. Among our favorite causes are those that benefit kids — especially those that give young people the opportunity to get outside and be active. This year’s grant will help in connecting at-risk youth to camps through community support. Donate to Washtenaw Camp Placement.
DECEMBER 21st
$10,000 the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities. Cherry Republic is happy to continue to support Groundwork, which focuses on solutions that improve daily life and build community health—things like food, energy, transportation, and economy. Donate to Groundwork Center.
DECEMBER 20th
$7,500 to SEEDS, which has been investing in youth, the environment, and Michigan communities for over 20 years. Through a vast array of restoration, education, and community-based projects, SEEDS helps prepare people of all ages for a better future. SEEDS exists to address global problems by focusing on local solutions including youth leadership training and workforce development, K12 experiential education and after school services, and by supporting clean energy leaders in achieving excellence. Donate to SEEDS.
DECEMBER 19th
10,000 to several great Glen Lake organizations, including $3,000 to Glen Lake Library Garden Fund, $5,000 to the Glen Arbor Arts Center, $1,000 to Glen Lake Community Young Life, and $1,000 to the Glen Lake Association.
DECEMBER 18th
$2,500 to the Ruth Ellis Center. The Ruth Ellis Center is a Detroit-based organization providing services for homeless, run-away, and at-risk LGBT youths. $2,500 to Village Focus International. VFI is an international organization working in Laos to stop human trafficking that was started by a northern Michigander named Rick Reece. $2,500 to the Grand Traverse Dyslexia Association. GTDA provides one-on-one tutoring in reading and spelling, training to tutors and teachers, and community education to enhance awareness of dyslexia and the challenges faced by people with dyslexia.
DECEMBER 17th
$20,000 to Michigan Climate Action Network. This group is pushing hard to bring climate action to the forefront of Michigan’s politics in 2021 and beyond. Donate to MiCAN.
DECEMBER 16th
$7,500 to Empire Area Community Center. This money will go toward helping several Michigan families have a brighter Holiday. Some money will also be put aside for EACC’s household emergency fund. Donate to EACC.
DECEMBER 15th
$2,500 to the Michigan Clean Energy Leaders Project. The MCEL is working to develop the next level of young renewable energy leaders in our great state. Donate to MCEL.
DECEMBER 14th
$8,000 to two important local schools, which connect students to nature. $4,000 to The Leelanau School and $4,000 to The Pathfinder School in Traverse City.
DECEMBER 13th
$5,000 to Michigan Farm 2 Neighbor. Part of the Northwest Food Coalition, this program purchases fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers and distributes them to hungry neighbors through local pantries and meal sites. Donate to Michigan Farm 2 Neighbor.
DECEMBER 12th
$7,500 to Circle of Blue. The amazing team at Circle of Blue believe there are better ways to manage the water needs of people and planet, and for over a decade this fine organization has informed their discovery. Its trusted reporting has enhanced climate agreements, urban policy and citizen activity, and we are proud to support them. Donate to Circle of Blue.
DECEMBER 11th
$10,000 to support three new solar installations. This includes $2,500 to Al and Lynn Bakker of Bakkers Acres, $2,500 to Loma Farm / Farm Club, and $5,000 to our Culinary Manager at Cherry Republic, who chose to power his home with 100% renewable energy.
DECEMBER 10th
$5,000 to the Citizens Climate Lobby. The Citizens Climate Lobby exists to empower citizens to connect with and influence their members of Congress and to spread the idea that each one of us can address climate change. This grant supports the very strong local chapter we have up here in the north. Donate to the Citizens Climate Lobby.
DECEMBER 9th
$5,000 to 350.org. This donation supports Bill McKibbon’s organization that has been calling for action on our warming climate longer than anyone. 350.org is an international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all. Donate to 350.org.
DECEMBER 8th
$12,000 to four excellent nature centers. The Grass River Natural Area in Bellaire, the Leslie Science & Nature Center in Ann Arbor, the Outdoor Discovery Center in Holland, and the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee will each receive $3,000.
DECEMBER 7th
$10,000 to FLOW. This is ongoing support for this important organization working on protecting the Great Lakes watershed, which holds 20% of the world’s freshwater. This group is working on stopping many of the biggest threats to our precious Great Lakes — climate, invasive species, aquaculture, diversion, energy, algae blooms, and more. Donate to FLOW.
DECEMBER 6th
$6,000 to Little Traverse Lake Association. Half of this will go to their new Clean Water Campaign, which will monitor water quality and the other half will go to the purchase of a spray washer at the public access to prevent invasive species from getting into Little Traverse Lake. Donate to the Little Traverse Lake Association.
DECEMBER 5th
$20,000 to the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. This is ongoing support for this important environmental organization that has been focused these last years on clean water and climate action. Much of this grant is going to help MLCV highlight the good happening politically in Michigan. Governor Whitmer recently moved to shut down Line 5 and also set some of the biggest climate action goals of any state in the union. This gift will help educate people about what Gov. Whitmer is doing to address clean water and climate change. Donate to the MLCV.
DECEMBER 4th
$6,000 to several important neighborhood causes. Today’s donation includes $2,000 to the Sleeping Bear Gateways Council to support their work on creating housing for summer workers in our region. $2,000 to the AIR Foundation to help send kids with special needs to camp at a beautiful site on Basch Road. And $2,000 to Glen Lake Association to support their clean water programs and monitoring.
DECEMBER 3rd
$10,000 to the Leelanau Conservancy. For 27 years we’ve been supporting this important organization preserving our land and quality of life here in Leelanau County. $5,000 goes to support the Leelanau Conservancy’s Farmland Preservation work, and $5,000 goes to the expansion of their Palmer Woods Forest Reserve. This supports the purchase of adjacent lands and the expansion of their excellent multipurpose trail systems. Donate to the Leelanau Conservancy.
DECEMBER 2nd
$7,500 to the Great Lakes Business Network. Cherry Republic is a founding member of the GLBN, a business association dedicated to protecting our Great Lakes. Bob Sutherland, our president, is on the Executive Committee and is Chair of the Energy Committee. We proudly support Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in shutting down Line 5, which has been the greatest threat to our vital watershed since it was installed in the 1950s. Donate to the Great Lakes Business Network.
DECEMBER 1st
$10,000 to Leelanau Christian Neighbors: Cherry Republic’s first gift of our 31 Days of Giving recognizes this pandemic year of struggle for so many. We are so excited to work with Leelanau Christian Neighbors who will take our $10,000 check to the bank and exchange it for $50 bills, which will be divided among 20 families in need of a little financial support. We feel so fortunate to have overcome the challenges we’ve faced this year. We give this gift with gratitude, knowing others haven’t been so lucky. Donate to Leelanau Christian Neighbors.
