2024 Grants Awarded to Area Agencies by the Heart of Cook

The Heart of Cook has awarded grants to 24 area nonprofit organizations, totaling $75,00 at a grant reception at Indiana Michigan Power’s Cook Nuclear Plant on September 26. The Heart of Cook is a corporate-advised fund held by Berrien Community Foundation. 

“These nonprofits provide much needed assistance to so many people across our service territory in Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana,” said AEP Executive Vice President & Chief Nuclear Officer Shane Lies. “We are proud to offer The Heart of Cook Grant program so nonprofits can get financial support to continue doing great work that makes life better for those they serve.”

The 2024 Heart of Cook grants will support a wide range of programming with everything from supporting home maintenance projects for low-income families to music scholarships to providing operational cost assistance of several nonprofits. The Heart of Cook focuses on programs that address education, human services and environmental projects, and gives priority to programs that involve a Cook Nuclear Plant employee.

While the Heart of Cook grant program is administered by Berrien Community Foundation, a committee comprised of Cook Nuclear Plant employees review all grant applications and make the decisions. After receiving dozens of applications, the Heart of Cook Grant Committee certainly had its work cut out for them in the decision making process.

This year, the Heart of Cook committee selected the following organizations as winners of the 2024 Heart of Cook Grant: 
•    Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety – Water rescue equipment
•    Berrien Community Foundation – Care Kits for Seniors 
•    Berrien County – Silver Beach County Park Playground Project
•    Chikaming Township Fire Department – Thermal imaging cameras
•    City of St. Joseph Public Safety – Electric vehicle and lithium-ion fire response equipment
•    College Mentors For Kids – Fighting Irish - Building Up Grit, Determination and Tenacity for South Bend Youth program
•    Court Appointed Special Advocates of SW MI – Operational support and mileage reimbursement for volunteers
•    Disability Network Southwest Michigan – Ramp Up program
•    Ducks Unlimited – Wood duck nest box project
•    Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana – Girl Scout Leadership Experience for Berrien County youth
•    Grace Christian School – Keep Cold and Cook Well program
•    LOGAN Community Resources – Life-enriching field trips for clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities
•    Mosaic CCDA – Financial assistance to Jobs For Life students and coaches
•    Neighbor by Neighbor – A Roof Over Their Heads program
•    New Heights CCDA – Purchase of automated external defibrillators (AED’s)
•    Paws of Hope – Funding for critical medical expenses of fostered animals
•    Present Pillars Foundation – 3rd Annual Shop With A Pillar event
•    Roosevelt PTO – Book vending machine
•    School of American Music – Scholarships
•    Servants at Work – Building wheelchair ramps in St. Joseph County
•    Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra – Symphony: Unexpected
•    St. Joseph Charter Township Fire Station #2 – Public safety initiative
•    St. Joseph Parish Conference, Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Paying for transportation needs of low-income neighbors
•    Tri-County Council for Child Development – Purchase of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) manikin

Cook Nuclear Plant is owned and operated by Indiana Michigan Power, an AEP company, headquartered in Fort Wayne, IN. At full capacity, the 1,084-net MW Unit 1, and 1,194-net MW Unit 2 combined produce enough emission-free electricity for more than one and one half million average homes. Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its approximately 2,000 employees serve more than 600,000 customers. More than 85% of its energy delivered in 2023 was emission-free. I&M has at its availability various sources of generation including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, more than 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 35 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company’s generation portfolio also includes 1,497 MW of coal-fueled generation. For more information visit www.indianamichiganpower.com or www.cookinfo.com.

The goal of the Berrien Community Foundation is to connect needs with resources in our community. Working with individuals, corporations and other foundations, BCF creates endowments and other funds that support the ever-changing needs of Berrien County now and into the future. BCF’s Community Endowment and field of interest funds, and its donor advised funds have provided funding to support a wide variety of services and agencies for over 65 years. For more information on Berrien Community Foundation and how you can create your own legacy of giving, visit our website at www.BerrienCommunity.org or call (269) 983-3304.