Consumers Energy Foundation Awards Grants Worth $61,950 in Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee Counties to Recognize Volunteerism

Jackson, Mich. Thursday, February 19, 2015

The Consumers Energy Foundation announced today it has awarded 116 volunteer grants worth $61,950 to nonprofit organizations in Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee counties to recognize outstanding volunteerism by Consumers Energy employees and retirees.

The foundation awards Volunteer Investment Program grants to encourage and reward volunteerism by those who work or have worked for Consumers Energy.

The Consumers Energy Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Consumers Energy. It provides funding for a variety of areas including education, community, civic and cultural development, social services, the environment and emerging issues.

Michigan nonprofit organizations received more than $10 million in contributions in 2014 from Consumers Energy, its employees, retirees, its foundation and parent company CMS Energy.

Last year, the Consumers Energy Foundation awarded 233 volunteer grants worth $120,075 to nonprofit organizations across Michigan.

The following is a list of Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee County Volunteer Investment Program grants awarded in the fourth quarter of 2014 and the employee/retiree volunteers:

Hillsdale

• $450 to City of Jonesville Recreation Program: Tammy LoPresto

Jackson

• $275 to Allegiance Health System: Retirees Michael Shore and David Mikelonis
• $200 to Allegiance Hospice: Retiree Kathryn Keersmaekers
• $350 to American Cancer Society Jackson Relay for Life: Patricia Wyble and James Spitler
• $700 to First Church of the Nazarene American Heritage Girls - Troop 3489: Stacie Tello and Laura Houghton
• $275 to AWARE, Inc.: Terry Fietsam
• $550 to Parma Western Region 346 Girls U12 soccer: Cate Poleck and Jennifer Roberts
• $500 to Bean Elementary PTA: Jeffrey Chilson, Angela Adams, Kathy Allen, Laura Kuhl, Don Lynd, Tracy Lynd, Jamie McElhone and Ben Valentine
• $700 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County: Ken Jones, Ronald Kerver, Katherine Allen, Anne Rogus, Carolyn Bloodworth, Don Lemons and retiree Glenda Childs
• $275 to Birthline of Jackson: Retirees Francis Berkemeier and William MacMillan
• $550 to Boy Scouts of America Camp Teetonkah Endowment Fund: Retiree Russ Melville
• $450 to Boy Scouts of America Southern Shores Field Service Council Cascades District: Doug Fink
• $1,000 to Boy Scout Troop 144: Harold Devine and retirees Allen Knack, Jon Pengra and Emil Vredenburg
• $650 to Boy Scout Troop 424: Tom McKown and retiree Russ Melville
• $900 to Boy Scout Troop 4312: Christine Becraft and retiree Edward Stehno
• $550 to Boy Scout Troop 4338: Sean Whittier
• $1,000 to Cascades Humane Society: Maria Raymond, Stephen Hirsch, Nathan Bedore, Michael Gordon and retiree John Fuller
• $375 to Center for Family Health: Retiree Ted Hilleary
• $950 to Center Stage Jackson: Doug Meyers, Sally Johnson and Jamie McElhone
• $225 to City of Zion Ministries Food Pantry: Trisha Overall
• $550 to Columbia Central Girls Softball: David Hatler and Melissa Hatler
• $500 to Columbia Middle School Robotics Team: Lindsey Schiel, Sedrick James and Rose Kallio
• $550 to Concord Middle School Robotics Team: Rick Anuszkiewicz and retiree Samuel Lalomia
• $900 to Cub Scout Pack 309/424: Joseph Ziepiela, Jeremy Willet, Cynthia Ziepiela and Scott Fremeau
• $900 to The Dahlem Conservancy: Wayne Leja, Kurt Rudolph and retirees Paul Brencher, Robert Burger, Mickey Kress, John McLaughlin, Jr., Robert Welsh and Christine Lund-Prokos
• $750 to Daughters of Promise: Trisha Overall, Cecilia Harris and Terence Hawkins
• $600 to East Jackson Band Boosters: Retiree Judy Smith
• $300 to East Jackson Blue OPS Robotics Team: James Chapman
• $400 to East Jackson Middle School Robotics Team: George Mckenzie II, Jerry Fischer and Rose Kallio
• $650 to Fitness Council of Jackson: Paul Bondarenko and retiree Ted Hilleary
• $300 to Friends of the Animals For The Jackson Area: Retirees Sue Fuller, Elaine Stevenson, Donald Stevenson, Rose Sternaman and Donald Sexton
• $300 to Girls on the Run of Southeastern Michigan: Karl Blaszkowski
• $550 to Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan Troop 60068: Cate Poleck
• $550 to Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan Troop 60088: Cate Poleck
• $550 to Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan Troop 60096: Cate Poleck
• $275 to Paragon Charter Academy: Retiree Joan Boldrey
• $550 to Paragon Charter Academy Girls Basketball: Anthony Parker
• $500 to Paragon Charter Academy Middle School Robotics Team: Cynthia Hoxey, Elmer Mueller and Rose Kallio
• $400 to Grass Lake Middle School Robotics Team: Katie Rohde, Theresa Martinez, Rose Kallio and Stella Carroll
• $550 to Great Start Collaborative of Jackson County Imagination Library: Michael Kanser
• $550 to Hanover-Horton 10U Girls Softball: Kevin Watkins
• $600 to Hanover-Horton Boys Soccer Club: Anthony Manarin
• $400 to Hanover-Horton Middle School Robotics Team: Michelle Marion, Tracy Goble and Rose Kallio
• $300 to Hanover-Horton Music Boosters: Carol Rouster
• $300 to The Hive Youth Center – Mentoring Programs: Wayne Leja
• $950 to The Hive Youth Center - Facilities: Kurt Rudolph, and retirees Kenneth Rudolph, Zoe Wilcox and John McLaughlin, Jr.
• $600 to Jackson Area Home Educators Support Group Boys Basketball: Josh Hall
• $550 to Jackson Area Hockey Association: Dave Kloack
• $550 to Jackson Catholic Middle School Raider Club: Maggie LaDuke
• $800 to Jackson Chorale: Bill Reetz, Beth Barna and retirees Robert Miller, William MacMillan, Robert Neustifter, Norbert Mueller, Christine Lund-Prokos and Zoe Wilcox
• $700 to Jackson Christian Middle School Boys Basketball: Rick Blumenstock and William Jarrett
• $225 to Jackson Christian School Board: Rick Blumenstock
• $700 to Jackson Community Concert Band: Thomas McKown and retirees Janet Osborn, Bruce Harshe and Barbara Stanton
• $150 to Jackson Community Food Pantry: Mary Caldwell
• $650 to Jackson County Aquatic Club: William Barton Jr.
• $475 to Jackson County Genealogical Society: Judy Halstead, John Keehn and retirees Richard Cottrell, Geraldine Snitchler and Robert Hoffman
• $900 to Jackson County Master Gardener Association: Nancy Maxson, Terry Christian, Dennis Parshall and retirees Elaine Stevenson, Don Stevenson, Sandra Yeager and John Santini
• $300 to Jackson Friendly Home: Retiree Josephine Neill
• $600 to Jackson High School Swim Boosters: Dean Martin
• $275 to Jackson Junior Welfare League: Josnelly Aponte
• $450 to Jackson Parks and Recreation 4th & 5th Grade Tackle Football: Philip Clifford
• $300 to Jackson Public Schools School Board: Retiree Kathryn Keersmaekers
• $600 to Jackson Makerspace: Brian Soltis
• $1,000 to Jackson Northwest Little League: Michael Clingerman, Dan Weller, James Balogh and Mark Bostwick
• $550 to Jackson United High School Varsity Hockey Team: Dave Kloack
• $250 to Jackson County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Division: Kelli Crawford
• $650 to Jackson Symphony Orchestra: Retiree Joan Boldrey
• $400 to Jackson YMCA Orcas Swim Team: Sally Johnson
• $750 to Junior Achievement of the Michigan Edge: Carrie Schneider, Suzanne McCloskey, Angela Johns, Pat Ferguson and retiree Beverly Burger
• $500 to Jacktown Vectors First Robotics Team 2611: Sue Fouty and Jeff Fouty
• $225 to Legacy Land Conservancy: Adam Smith
• $500 to Lumen Christi Band: Wendy Allen and retiree Francis Berkemeier
• $450 to Lumen Christi Baseball Program - Field Maintenance: Philip Clifford
• $300 to Lumen Christi Boys Basketball: Chip Johnstone
• $500 to Lumen Christi Boys Wrestling: Michelle Savicki, Valerie Bradley and Dale Lucas
• $500 to Lumen Christi Girls Basketball: Chip Johnstone and David Hubert
• $275 to Lumen Christi Policy Board: Kevin Bowman, Jason Shore and retiree David Mikelonis
• $550 to Lumen Christi Raider Club: Beth White, Chip Johnstone and retiree Francis Berkemeier
• $700 to Lumen Christi Tight End Club: Alan Orlowski, Beth White, Shelly Papiersky and Valerie Bradley
• $700 to Lumen Christi Titan Baseball: Steve Schneider, Tim Schonhard and Chip Johnstone
• $650 to Lumen Christi Various School Activities: Beth White, Betsy Domschot, Gloria Ramos-Yother, Kathleen Thomas, Tami O'Dowd-Williams, Valerie Bradley, Cheryl Kelley and retiree Carolyn Bowman
• $225 to Make A Wish Foundation of Michigan: Steven Schenkel
• $650 to Michigan Theatre of Jackson: John Francey and retiree Kathryn Keersmaekers
• $500 to Napoleon Middle School Cross Country: Scott Bradley
• $500 to Napoleon Middle School Track and Field: Scott Bradley
• $550 to Napoleon High School Junior Varsity Football Program: Christopher Niemi
• $650 to Napoleon High School Varsity Football Program: Christopher Niemi
• $450 to Napoleon Thunder Travel Basketball: Martin Darnell
• $350 to Nonprofit Network: Anthony Parker, Michael MacDonald and retirees Ted Hilleary and Michael Shore
• $850 to Northwest Band Boosters: Christine Becraft, Edward Shaughnessy, Janelle Shaughnessy, Herb Kops, Jan Sparks and Susana Ward
• $400 to Northwest Middle School Robotics Team: Jon Roberts, Rose Kallio and Lori Fobes
• $650 to Notre Dame Alumni Club of Jackson: Retirees David Mikelonis and Francis Berkemeier
• $550 to Queen of the Miraculous Medal School First Lego League: David Koerkel
• $500 to Queen of the Miraculous Medal School Various Activities: Beth White, Heather Wilson, Rebecca Kosnik, Kimberly Michner and John McCollum
• $650 to Reading Writing Connection: OnDreana Campbell and Brittney Wright$225 to Second Time Around Nonprofit Resale: Zachary Gillette
• $300 to Sitting Tall 4-H Club: Retiree David Lapinski
• $150 to Society of St Vincent de Paul Jackson: James M. Walker
• $750 to Special Olympics of Michigan Area 19: Randy Coleman, Shaun McCann and retiree Ward Wilson
• $375 to St. John Elementary School Legacy Committee: Steve Schneider and Kevin Bowman
• $300 to St. John Elementary School Various Activities: Megan O'Dowd
• $275 to St. Mary's Star of the Sea School Finance Council/Planning Committee: Retiree Frank Berkemeier
• $500 to St. Mary's Star of the Sea School Various Activities: Retirees Robert Frounfelker and James Kalahar
• $475 to Toastmasters International/Energizers Club 477: Elizabeth (Thick) Barr, Jason Coker, Jennifer Smith, Pamela Horrighs, Angela Noble, Brittney Wright, Timothy Kohlitz, Susie Marker and retiree Michael Butchart
• $650 to United Way of Jackson County: Jason Shore, Mike Kanser, Leslie Youngdahl and Melissa Callison
• $700 to United Way of Jackson County Women's Leadership Council: Melissa Callison and Carrie Schneider
• $700 to West Michigan Assistance Fund for Elite Baseball & Softball Players: David Hatler and Melissa Hatler
• $1,000 to Western Athletic Boosters Club: Barry McCarrell, Sherri McCarrell and retiree Larry VanBlarcum
• $500 to Western Middle School Robotics Team: Sandra Anderson, Wendy Cherette, Nate Washburn, Francis (Fran) Huguet and Rose Kallio
• $450 to Western Youth Tackle Football League: Aaron Kantor
• $850 to Youth for Understanding USA: Linda Uncapher.

Lenawee

• $900 to Adrian Dirtbags 10U Baseball Club: Scott Bradley
• $900 to Adrian Dirtbags 14U Baseball Club: Scott Bradley
• $550 to Blissfield Community Schools Fine Arts Boosters: David Southward
• $550 to Blissfield High School Band Boosters: David Southward
• $450 to Hudson High School Cross Country Team: Roger Clark

Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

Media Contacts: Brian Wheeler, 517-788-2394, or Terry DeDoes, 517-374-2159

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