When a credit union’s philanthropic foundation cuts checks totaling $30,000, you know some good stuff is about to happen in the community.
That’s exactly what went down recently when the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation — the giving arm of MSU Federal Credit Union — awarded grants to four organizations doing meaningful work across Michigan and Illinois.
“These grants reflect the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation’s focus on strengthening the communities where Credit Union members live and work,” said Rebecca Surian, who runs the Foundation as its Executive Director.
Here’s the thing about the Desk Drawer Foundation: it’s not just throwing money at random causes and hoping something sticks. Since launching in 2019, the Foundation has zeroed in on five specific areas where they believe they can make the biggest impact — The Arts, Entrepreneurship, Financial Education, Stable Housing, and Youth Empowerment. Think of these as their philanthropic playbook.
The Foundation’s Board of Directors greenlit four grants in the second quarter of 2026, and each one tackles a different community need in a pretty interesting way. Let’s break them down.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northwest Suburbs: $10,000 for Teen Programming
This grant falls under Youth Empowerment and heads to Northern Illinois, where it’ll support the Woodlands Teen Impact Center. We’re talking about a facility that serves up to 550 middle and high school students annually — that’s a lot of teenagers in one place, which is either inspiring or terrifying depending on your perspective.
The money will keep daily after-school programs running and stock lab supplies for STEAM, culinary, technology, and creative learning spaces. Translation: kids get hands-on experience with the kinds of skills that’ll actually help them land jobs down the road, all while staying engaged after the final school bell rings.
“BGCNWS is grateful to the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation for investing in opportunities that help our teens learn, grow, and prepare for their futures,” said Amanda Schleede, the organization’s CEO. “This funding will allow us to expand hands-on STEAM, culinary, technical, and career-readiness programming at the new Woodlands Teen Impact Center while ensuring students have access to the tools and resources they need to succeed academically, socially, and professionally.”
The program specifically targets youth in communities dealing with economic hardship, giving them access to resources and mentorship they might not otherwise get.
Grand Traverse Industries: $10,000 for an Accessible Greenhouse
Up in Northern Michigan, Grand Traverse Industries is getting $10,000 to support something genuinely cool — the Friendship Community Garden & Greenhouse Initiative. The centerpiece? A universally accessible greenhouse that’ll bear the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation’s name once it’s completed later this year.
This project lives in the Entrepreneurship pillar, and here’s why: it’s designed to give individuals with disabilities year-round opportunities to learn production, packaging, and sales skills by growing and selling goods through local markets. It’s about building real-world business skills while creating an inclusive space where everyone can contribute.
“We are incredibly thankful to the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation for believing in this project and the people we serve,” said Cindy Evans, Executive Director. “The Friendship Community Garden & Greenhouse Initiative is about so much more than building a greenhouse. It’s about creating a space where people can connect, learn new skills, build friendships, and experience the joy that comes from being part of something meaningful.”
Evans emphasized that the greenhouse will be a community asset where people of all abilities can grow, contribute, and — perhaps most importantly — feel like they belong.
MyPlace Inc.: $5,000 for Financial Literacy and Tech Access
MyPlace Inc. in Mid-Michigan received $5,000 to support young people ages 16-24 who are experiencing homelessness, transitioning out of foster care, or living in unsafe situations. That’s a vulnerable population that often falls through the cracks, so this grant addresses a critical need.
The funding will purchase four laptops and expand access to financial literacy programming. We’re talking about the practical stuff that somehow doesn’t get taught enough in school — budgeting, banking, credit management, and long-term financial planning. The kind of knowledge that can mean the difference between stability and chaos when you’re trying to make it on your own.
“MyPlace is thrilled to receive this grant that will help us to further enable our residents, especially in the area of financial literacy,” said Amber McKee, Executive Director. “MyPlace equips young adults with the skills needed for independent living, including employment readiness, financial literacy, and daily life skills.”
McKee noted that with the Foundation’s support, they’re helping young adults build long-term stability and move forward with confidence and community connection — which is exactly what this population needs to break cycles of instability.
Riverwalk Theatre: $5,000 to Keep Live Theatre Accessible
Last but definitely not least, Riverwalk Theatre in Mid-Michigan scored $5,000 for its October production of “Come From Away” — that critically acclaimed musical about compassion and community that’s been wowing audiences for years.
The grant supports The Arts pillar and tackles a practical problem: rising production costs that can price out both performers and audiences. The funding will help offset those costs while keeping ticket prices low, making live theatre accessible to more people in the community.
“Since opening in 1989, Riverwalk Theatre has been a place where volunteer artists and audiences come together to experience the power of live, human art,” said Abbie Tykocki, Business Operations Manager. “In a time of digital isolation and artificially generated content, spaces like Riverwalk matter more than ever.”
She’s got a point. In an era when we’re all staring at screens most of the day, gathering in a room to watch real humans perform live theatre hits different. It’s community building in its most literal form.
Tykocki expressed gratitude to the Foundation for recognizing how the creative economy contributes to quality of life across mid-Michigan, especially as Riverwalk heads into its 38th season.
What ties all four of these grants together? They’re not just band-aids on problems — they’re investments in building stronger, more connected communities where people have real opportunities to grow, contribute, and belong. And honestly, that’s the kind of philanthropy worth paying attention to.