Connect. Invest. Grow.
The organizations of the Local Impact Alliance are working hard for all of the communities of Western Wayne County. Below is just a sampling of the latest news from the nonprofits and groups under the LIA umbrella.
We're proud to support our community's students and their educational endeavors by offering numerous scholarships. Our program includes financial aid opportunities for students of all ages who are at different stages in their educational pursuits, as well as a number of different areas of study.
| Scholarship | Winner |
| Erin Ryan/ Kiwanis Scholarship | Sailsh Saravanan |
| Community Foundation Credit Union/George Lawton Scholarship | Kavya Keshavamurthy |
| Evan Adamski | |
| John Buss | |
| Paolo Belleza | |
| Issac Hopp | |
| Lucas Ealy | |
| Simon Bloomfield | |
| Sarah Cromwell | |
| Brody Appelgren | |
| Grace Koski | |
| Aryan Shah | |
| John Leyden | |
| Nicole Variot | |
| Community Financial Credit Union/Margaret Dunning | Dora Koski |
| Sophie Aheimer | |
| Grace Fernandes | |
| Jacob Book | |
| Jayden Joy | |
| Community Financial Credit Union/Trade | Nathan Baker |
| Brenna Laing | |
| Sean Lake | |
| Community Foundation Credit Union/Ron Carlson | Ariel Ooms |
| Jack Riordan | |
| Dul Foundation Scholarship | Alexandra Clemens |
| Marwa Dalmi | |
| Catelyn Grenke | |
| Michael Snow | |
We're proud to support our community's students and their educational endeavors by offering numerous scholarships. Our program includes financial aid opportunities for students of all ages who are at different stages in their educational pursuits, as well as a number of different areas of study.
Our online scholarship application opens in early January and remains open until mid-March. Scholarships recipients are notified in late April; and funds are sent directly to schools for the fall semester.
| Scholarship | Winner |
| Barbara Church Rodenberg Scholarship |
Paolo Belleza |
| Barbara Ann Romano |
Jibraan Rehman |
| Canton Soccer Club |
Rohan Parikh |
| Yara El-Sheikh | |
| Rory Brown | |
| Trevor Hammond | |
| Zoe Rumphr | |
| Lindsay Allen | |
| Fred Thomann Memorial Scholarship |
Grace Koski |
| Elizabeth Durack Scholarship | Audrey Monroy |
| Coryn Smith | |
| Marvin Schulz Memorial Scholarship - U/M |
Mariella Ma |
| Marvin Schulz Memorial Scholarship - EMU |
Ariel Ooms |
| Meredith Whalen Memorial Scholarship |
Alayna Barritt |
| Jack Demmer Ford Scholarship |
Lindsy Springer |
| Jack Demmer Ford - "Trade" |
Austin Carpenter |
| CCF/Penelope Hope Klei |
Perrin Renaldi |
| Heather Nicole Hill Memorial Scholarship | Eden Ericson |
| Canton Police Benevolence Scholarship Fund | Lucas Ealy |
| Canton Historical Society | Kavya Keshavamurthy |
| R K Bhama MD Memorial Scholarship |
Julia Salloum |
| Bonnie Berg Memorail Scholarship |
Jeremiah Waldorn |
| Hagbard Berg Memorial Scholarship |
Jibraan Rahman |
| John Kelly Wheately Scholarship |
Delaney Morrin |
| Robert Loyd Memorial Scholarship | Estrella Flores |
|
Ryan Cox |
|
| Livonia Firefighters Scholarship | Emma Apap |
| Ryland Hughes | |
| Eve Grigg Memorial Scholarship | Callie Engler |
| Katelyn Meinhold | |
| Marjorie & Doanld Treadwell Scholarship | Reagan Quinn |
| Lead Like a Girl Scholarship | Cecilia Bermudez |
| Linda Hutchinson Memorial Scholarship Fund | Alex Kravetz |
| Waltonwood - Cherry Hill Scholarship Fund | Renee Burgess |
| Madeline Finamore |
Patricia Maurer created this scholarship fund in memory of her son, Jason Russell Maurer. These scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors and those who just completed their freshman year of college and who attend Woodside Bible Church - Troy Campus. This scholarship requires that the applicant attend Woodside Bible Church regularly and have documented community service. Scholarships may be awarded to those attending any college, university or trade school.
The list of awardees is below
| Jason Russell Maurer Memorial Scholarship | Madelyn Axe |
| Carson Bendert | |
| Asa Cengeri | |
| Alexis Donnan | |
| Annie Fisher | |
| Kyler Gerrard | |
| Ian Hamminga | |
| Lauren Head | |
| Kirsten Hewines | |
| Grant Jeffires | |
| Caitlin Luca | |
| Hailey Nichols | |
| Paige Perry | |
| Gracelyn Philip | |
| Chole Putnam | |
| Emma Sawdon | |
| Andrew Schmidt | |
| Olivia Seventko | |
| Miranda Solecki | |
| Mason Solecki | |
| Miranda Solecki | |
| Luke Sumner | |
| Lilian Tasich | |
| Taylor Trenta | |
| Lordina Twum | |
| Sophia Walker | |
| Olivia Weaver | |
| Kaitlyn Weiss |
Spring had a perfect day in store for Westland Community Foundation's 1st charity golf outing.
The outing was held on May 18th 2023 at Fox Hills Golf and Banquet center. The golfers enjoyed smooth check in and breakfast with Jim Godbout, Chair Westland Community Foundation and other trustees. President/CEO of Westland Community Foundation, part of Local Impact Alliance and Kiersten Beckwith, President Westland Chamber of Commerce welcomed the golfers. After a good day of Golf, golfers enjoyed the dinner and awards presentation.
Picture credits - Kiersten Beckwith & Mili Tandon
Giving Hope; Women’s Giving Circle
Vol.17 3rd edition
Hello Members and Friends! I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I write to you today! I want to express my most sincere thanks to everyone who attended our Bubbly, Bingo and Bling event supporting MOD Market on March 22!
We had 72 ladies register to attend and join us in our efforts to continue to “Give Hope” to this wondeful organization! The night was filled with fun: shopping, sipping and socializing! And what a treat for all of us to see our Giving Hope; Women’s Giving Circle Grant funds put into action in the soap making shop!! The MOD Market shop made almost $2,000 in sales that evening and there were additional donations made through Pass the Purse! If you missed the opportunity to donate during all the fun, the link to make a donation through Pass the Purse will remain active until Friday, March 31st.
We were also honored to welcome 3 new members to the Circle: Carole Allard, Jackie Jossey and Janet Brady. We are so glad you are part of our community of women philantropists!! If any other of you are interested in joining Giving Hope; Women’s Giving Circle or would just like more information, you may use the second code below to become a member or get better acquainted with our organization and mission!!
Planning ahead- we invite you to save the date for our next big event: A Red, White, Blue and YOU inside Summer Social picnic – June 14th at Spoons in Canton! Our event special guest speaker will be Retired Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone and GH;WGC will be accepting Pass the Purse donations to support a Women’s Veterans program. Please watch for additional details coming by invitation in May!
Lastly, many Thanks to our Special Events Committee- Raeann Neil Chairwoman, for their tremendous efforts in coordinating our Bubbly, Bingo and Bling event- Red, White, Blue and You is sure to be as much fun!!
My sincere thanks again and very best wishes for warmer and many happy days this Spring!!
Linda Demmer
Giving Hope; Women’s Giving Circle Advisory Board Chairwoman
Fundraiser For The Canton Cares Fund Load up the car and solve the puzzles, riddles, and clues that will take you all around town!
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Canton Cares Fund, which assists Canton residents in need, including but not limited to, at-risk youth, seniors, those with disabilities, or individuals who are struggling after a natural disaster or significant personal loss. The Canton Cares Fund, part of the Canton Community Foundation since 2018, has distributed over $30,000 to those in need. Funds are raised exclusively from individual and business donations.
WHEN: Saturday, May 20 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Start & Finish at the Summit on the Park 46000 Summit Parkway in Canton
REGISTRATION: $20 per person or $100 per car (5 or more players) Includes a pizza, salad, bread sticks dinner. Registration begins April 1 online at www.localimpactalliance.org
Fundraiser For The Canton Cares Fund Load up the car and solve the puzzles, riddles, and clues that will take you all around town!
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Canton Cares Fund, which assists Canton residents in need, including but not limited to, at-risk youth, seniors, those with disabilities, or individuals who are struggling after a natural disaster or significant personal loss. The Canton Cares Fund, part of the Canton Community Foundation since 2018, has distributed over $30,000 to those in need. Funds are raised exclusively from individual and business donations.
WHEN: Saturday, May 20 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Start & Finish at the Summit on the Park 46000 Summit Parkway in Canton
REGISTRATION: $20 per person or $100 per car (5 or more players) Includes a pizza, salad, bread sticks dinner. Registration begins April 1 online at www.localimpactalliance.org
Canton's Youth Advisory Council (YAC) continues to assert itself as an influential group of students that truly make a difference in their community by particpating in service projects, special events, local decision making, and more. The YAC Fund is used to make grants to area nonprofit organizations that support families and youth. YAC solicits grant requests, evaluates the grants, and selects the grantees.
Youth Advisory Council of Canton, MI (YAC) is designed instill philanthropy in the community's youth. Members of Canton's YAC have worked hard over the past year to raise funds to contribute to their endowment fund, and now they would like to return some of those proceeds to their fellow youth by offering mini-grants for youth-driven projects.
These grant opportunities are catered to classroom projects or community youth groups and provide a valuable lesson to those students who participate in the grant application and writing process. Below is an outline of key information for you to share:
▪ Suggested grant request is $100 to $1,000.
▪ Beneficiaries of grant funds must be 19 years or younger.
▪ Program must serve youth in the Plymouth-Canton area.
▪ Each application will be thoroughly reviewed by Canton’s YAC, made up of Canton Community High School students.
▪ All applicants will be notified of the Youth Advisory Council’s decisions.
Applications are due no later than 5:00pm on Friday, March 31, 2023.
For questions or more information, contact Chelsea Straub at 734-394-5361.
The Canton Community Foundation is dedicated to enriching the quality of life in Western Wayne County and beyond by providing grants to organizations that support our mission.
In 2000, as a result of a national tobacco settlement, Canton Community Foundation was among 65 community foundations in Michigan to receive an allocation of funds to aid community efforts that support healthy youth and healthy seniors.
Past grants include support for conflict resolution and anti-bullying for youth, exercise for seniors, grief counseling, and work skills development for special needs youth.
These organizations must be 501(c) public charities.
If you have questions with application process please contact Beth at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 734-495-1200.
