It all began in 1995 when the Captain of the Westland Salvation Army at the time came to Glenn Shaw, Jr. with a dream…to have enough funds to send needy kids to a summer camp program. That was the beginning of the Christmas in July event, where through the community's generosity, we raised $40,000 for kids in the Norwayne area so they could go to summer camp; something they would not have had an opportunity to do without the community's help.
In 1996, the Westland Community Foundation was founded to continue the Salvation Army's dream and enhance Westland's civic, educational, and cultural communities.
To date, the Westland Community Foundation has distributed over $1,000,000 in funds (includes matching funds) to organizations in Westland such as:
- Family Resource Center Empty Bowls Program to feed the needy
- Lincoln-Jefferson School Health Clinic which provides basic health services to underprivileged students and their families
- Respite Relief who provides short-term care to families of autistic adults and children
- Wayne Westland Salvation Army summer camp program, food bank and toys at Christmas time
- Westland Community Foundation scholarship program for Westland students with a financial need
- Inspire Theatre which provides culture to the young and adults in the community
- John Glenn High School Planetarium renovations
- Champions of John Glenn which is a program that encourages student to improve their grade point average and in return they will receive $200 per semester for their achievement if it is made
The Westland Community Foundation has touched many other programs and it could not be possible without the help and generosity of Westland residents, friends, volunteers, business leaders, and businesses within our community.
Meet the Westland Community Foundation Advisory Board
