Irving S. Gilmore Foundation

City of Parchment – Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Performing Arts

Parchment’s Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Performing Arts has a history that is as captivating as the many plays staged in the park over the past 43 years. Events gather neighbors, friends, family and visitors, strengthening community while cultivating an appreciation for music and theatre, and underscoring the importance of local Parchment culture and the arts.

Performances for both youth and general audiences are enjoyed by families who bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnics to Kindleberger Park’s sprawling and manicured 40-acre space.

Saturday events bring people together to enjoy a beloved parade, an arts-and-crafts fair featuring the work of artisans throughout Michigan, a challenging 5k run/walk, family fun such as bounce houses and a dunk tank, and a variety of the area’s favorite food trucks. The library’s book sale and garden club’s plant sale round out the celebration and help strengthen these local organizations.

Community gatherings continue with live music in beautiful Kindleberger Park each Sunday afternoon throughout the summer. The Summer Concert Series is known for its diverse musical genres and family-friendly atmosphere.

The best part? All of this is brought to the Parchment community and its many visitors completely free of charge. The events are produced by the all-volunteer Kindleberger Arts Commission and generously supported by individuals and community partners including the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation.

For more information, visit kindlebergerarts.org.

Arts, Culture & Humanities  Posted by 10 Jun 2026

Kalamazoo Concert Band

The Kalamazoo Concert Band (KCB) is a non-profit musical organization that provides free indoor concerts in Kalamazoo between October and April, and an outdoor summer series, also free to the public, in various locations. KCB consists of musicians ages 19-86 who use this ensemble to express their love of music and dedication to musical excellence, and to bring musical education to the entire community.

Music is an essential element in lifelong learning and mental health, as well as an artistic, creative and inspirational endeavor. Now in its 65th season of concerts, KCB’s goal has been to create excellent musical opportunities for the broader Kalamazoo area. KCB has consistently offered a place for adult amateurs and professionals to hone their instrumental playing, whether intermittently as schedules allow or dedicating their lives to creating music.

Our holiday concert brings to Kalamazoo free public musical performances that would be unattainable to many in our community. Many famous and popular entertainers such as Tony Bennet, Jim Brickman, and The War and Treaty, have graced the Miller Auditorium stage in company with the KCB.

Under the direction of Dr. Thomas Evans for the last 25 years, the KCB has risen to be an important voice in the Kalamazoo community, offering music education in schools through our small groups, scholarships to emerging musicians, and lifelong learning, entertainment, and inspiration through our ongoing musical program.

For more information, visit kalamazooconcertband.org.

Arts, Culture & Humanities  Posted by 10 Jun 2026

Vicksburg Arts

In 2025, Vicksburg Arts celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of bringing creativity, connection and cultural experiences to rural South Kalamazoo County. What began as an art and placemaking initiative has grown into an independent regional organization dedicated to enriching quality of life through accessible arts experiences that inspire and connect the community.

Through its “art without walls” model, Vicksburg Arts brings programming directly to community spaces where people gather. It reduces barriers through pay-what-you-can access and inclusive opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. In 2025, the organization reached more than 10,500 participants through programs, events and partnerships.

Vicksburg Arts also creates a pipeline of arts engagement across generations. Youth explore creativity through summer camps and the Tournament of Writers, which brings together writers of all ages and publishes an annual anthology. Teen camp counselors build leadership and creative skills while pipelining into the Youth Advisory Committee, creating a clear path for deeper engagement and civic involvement. Adults participate in workshops, skill-building classes, and public art experiences, while seniors engage in arts and music programming through a partnership with the South County Senior Center.

Vicksburg Arts also strengthens the regional creative economy by providing paid opportunities for artists to teach and lead projects.

With strong community support and a clear vision, the organization is well positioned to expand access, deepen connection and strengthen the role of the arts across the region.

For more information, visit vicksburgarts.org.

Arts, Culture & Humanities  Posted by 10 Jun 2026

Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services

KNHS Homeownership Services is transforming lives by helping families buy, keep and improve their homes – unlocking opportunity and building stronger neighborhoods in the process. Focused on households earning below 80 percent of area median income (AMI), KNHS delivers safe, sustainable and attainable pathways to homeownership for those who need it most.

In 2025 alone, more than 600 individuals gained the knowledge and coaching needed to become mortgage-ready or remain securely housed, with 148 households directly served.

KNHS is also revitalizing Kalamazoo – one home at a time. Through critical repair programs addressing roofs, windows, siding and lead hazards, 52 homes were repaired or remediated this year, creating healthier living environments for families. Notably, one in four projects helped seniors safely age in place, preserving dignity and stability.

To tackle the housing shortage head-on, KNHS is building the future. Since 2019, the Kalamazoo Attainable Homes Partnership has delivered 39 newly constructed homes, with more on the way through an innovative shared equity model designed for buyers at 55 to70 percent of AMI. At the same time, KNHS has fully rehabilitated 27 homes, primarily on Kalamazoo’s Northside, breathing new life into communities and expanding access to quality housing.

Now entering its 45th year, KNHS is not slowing down. With a deep commitment to innovation and impact, the organization is expanding its capacity to help more families achieve homeownership – and build lasting, generational wealth.

For more information, visit knhs.org.

Human Services  Posted by 10 Jun 2026

Michigan Blind Athletic Association

The Michigan Blind Athletic Association (MBAA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting adaptive sports and empowering blind and low-vision athletes to compete in a wide range of recreational and competitive athletics. We’ve been taking athletes from the sidelines to the goal lines since 1980.

MBAA believes that access to movement and sport builds confidence, fosters independence and creates opportunities for young athletes to develop self-advocacy skills. Too often, visually impaired athletes are separated from physical education classes and competitive opportunities. MBAA works to change that by supporting inclusive athletic environments, assisting athletes in competition, and providing ongoing education for coaches and physical education instructors so they can effectively mentor athletes of all ages who are blind or have low vision.

Over the years, MBAA has supported athletes and programs including the Michigan Sports Education Camp, goalball, cycling, bowling, swimming, track and field, skiing and powerlifting. MBAA has also supported more than 20 Paralympic athletes who have collectively earned 23 Paralympic medals across seven different sports.

Your support allows us to keep showing up – not just for moments of visibility, but for the long-term growth and opportunities that truly make a difference.

For more information, visit miblindsports.org.

Human Services  Posted by 10 Jun 2026

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church – Partners in Housing Transition

Partners in Housing Transition’s mission is to assist formerly homeless families and those living below the poverty line by providing the beds, bedding and essential household furnishings needed to transform empty housing into stable homes.

Founded in 1991 as an outreach ministry of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Partners initially served fewer than 20 families annually through a single agency partnership. Today, the organization collaborates with 21 Kalamazoo County social service agencies. Governance is provided by an independent board of directors representing both parish and community members. The program serves all referred families without proselytizing.

Eligibility requires stable housing, county residency, children under 18 in the home and referral from a partner agency caseworker. To reduce common barriers such as transportation, childcare and work schedules, families complete either in-person or virtual selection appointments.

With a small part-time staff supported by 990 volunteer hours, Partners provided significant community impact in 2025, furnishing homes for 203 families, including 513 children. The organization distributed 481 mattresses, 451 bed frames, 558 blankets, 693 pillows, 605 sheet sets and 549 mattress covers.

Additional furnishings included 89 couches, 51 loveseats, 241 living room tables, 225 lamps, 401 dining chairs, 52 dining tables, 111 dressers and 140 easy chairs, helping families create safe, functional and welcoming homes.

For more information, visit partnersinhousingtransition.com.

Human Services  Posted by 10 Jun 2026

Gryphon Place

Gryphon Place serves as a lifeline for individuals and families navigating crisis and instability across our region. During the 2024-2025 fiscal year, marked by funding losses, housing insecurity, financial strain, and inequities, the need for crisis response and coordinated support intensified.

Our crisis team responded to 65,550 calls, resolving 99 percent without emergency intervention, while 211 services answered 146,556 calls and 1,670 texts, helping meet more than 690,000 needs for food, housing, health care and other essentials.

Prevention efforts also created lasting impact. 2,028 middle and high school students participated in Gatekeeper suicide prevention education, with 89 percent reporting greater willingness to seek help, and 269 community members were trained in suicide prevention and intervention skills, expanding the safety net across our region. Youth in the Justice Lifted Arrest Diversion Program experienced a 96 percent reduction in law enforcement interaction, demonstrating measurable system impact.

Gryphon Place also opened the CORRE Center and launched the Community Information Exchange® in collaboration with community partners. The CIE® strengthens coordination across health and human service organizations, addresses social determinants of health, and advances health equity by ensuring individuals receive timely, connected and person-centered support.

Our committed partners, including Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, helped sustain exceptional service quality during a period of uncertainty and positioned Gryphon Place to regain critical funding and continue meeting rising demand. Together, we are advancing equity, strengthening community resilience and ensuring hope remains accessible to all.

For more information, visit gryphon.org.

Community Development  Posted by 10 Jun 2026

Kalamazoo County Ready 4s

At Kalamazoo County Ready 4s, we believe that where a child begins shouldn’t determine where they can go. Our mission is simple yet transformative: to ensure that every 3- and 4-year-old in Kalamazoo County has access to high-quality pre-kindergarten education – a proven foundation for lifelong learning and success.

We partner with more than 50 local public and private pre-K programs to strengthen early learning across our community. Through targeted tuition assistance, we help eligible families overcome financial barriers so their children can enroll in high-quality programs that meet their needs.

At the same time, we invest directly in classrooms quality. We provide individualized coaching for teachers and leaders, research-based professional development grounded in equity, and specialized supports such as occupational and behavioral consultation. By strengthening both access and quality, we ensure children experience nurturing, engaging environments that prepare them to thrive.

Our impact reaches beyond the classroom. We connect families with community resources, share tools that support learning at home and help children transition confidently into kindergarten. Parents report growth in language, social-emotional skills and independence. Educators see children arrive at kindergarten curious, resilient and ready to learn.

At KC Ready 4s, we are not simply expanding access to pre-K – we are building a stronger foundation for our entire community. When children start school ready, they are more likely to succeed academically, graduate and contribute meaningfully to Kalamazoo’s future.

For more information, visit kcready4s.org.

Education  Posted by 10 Jun 2026

Synergy Health Center

Founded in 2019 in response to the shortage of Black mental health providers and culturally affirming services in Kalamazoo, the Breaking the Stigma: African American Mental Health Symposium is a signature initiative of Synergy Health Center (SHC).

Our mission is to transform lives through equitable behavioral health services and increase access to holistic wellness through culturally responsive care, education, and advocacy. Our vision is a community where Black voices are amplified, stigma is dismantled, and mental health care is accessible, trusted and transformative.

At the heart of the symposium is an intentional focus on culturally affirming mental wellness. Through keynote presentations, peer-led panels and collaborative workshops, participants gain practical tools for emotional resilience, coping strategies rooted in community strengths, and pathways to care that honor Black identity and heritage. The convening creates safe spaces for storytelling, reducing isolation and reshaping cultural narratives around help-seeking.

Outcomes continue to show increased confidence among attendees in engaging with mental health care, , while participating professionals report enhanced cultural competency and expanded partnerships with community organizations, strengthening a regional ecosystem of support for historically underserved populations.

The symposium’s impact extends far beyond a single day. We will host our 7th annual convening in Detroit, Michigan, expanding our statewide reach. With the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation’s investment, we continue building a community where every voice is heard and every person is empowered to pursue whole-health and well-being.

For more information, visit synergykzoo.org/blackwellness/breakingstigma.

Health and Well-Being  Posted by 10 Jun 2026

Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo – Kalamazoo Artistic Development Initiative

The Kalamazoo Artistic Development Initiative (KADI) grant has had a transformative impact on individual artists within the community, serving as a vital source of support and empowerment. It enables artists to focus more fully on their creative practices without the constant pressure of securing income through unrelated jobs. This freedom fosters deeper artistic exploration, experimentation and production, elevating the quality and originality of local art.

Over the past three years, the need for this program has doubled due to dwindling access to other sources of grant income and support. As traditional funding streams have decreased or disappeared, the KADI grant has become increasingly crucial for sustaining artistic careers. It is now one of the only grants available specifically to individual artists in the county, making its presence even more essential.

In the most recent cycle, the program supported 45 individual artists and their projects or professional development opportunities. This allowed recipients to purchase materials, upgrade equipment, rent studio space or invest in training. Such support enhanced their creative work and expanded their reach within the community.

The KADI grant also strengthens the local cultural landscape. By uplifting diverse artistic voices – especially those from underrepresented backgrounds – it enriches the community’s collective narrative. Supported artists often give back through workshops, public art and mentorship, further amplifying the program’s impact.

The ripple effect is clear: when artists thrive, communities grow stronger, more connected and more inspired. The KADI grant remains a crucial investment in the creative future of the region.

To learn more, visit https://kalamazooarts.org/grants/kadi

Arts, Culture & Humanities  Posted by 11 Jun 2025