The Bay Area Community Foundation was able to award $9000 in grants to eleven different local organizations due to the generosity of the Elizabeth Husband Endowment Fund.  The grant awards were made to support food baskets, clothing and children’s toys during the holiday season. Mrs. Husband, a lifelong resident of Bay County, passed away in 2005.  She established the endowment at the Bay Area Community Foundation through her estate. During her lifetime, Mrs. Husband enjoyed working with local nonprofit organizations to distribute gift baskets to children. “The Bay Area Community Foundation was selected to carry on Mrs. Husband’s legacy by supporting organizations that help make children’s holiday wishes come true” said Eileen Curtis, President and CEO of the Foundation.  “Our community is very fortunate to have Mrs. Husband’s gift which will provide for our area residents well in to the future.”

 Awards from the Elizabeth Husband Fund were made to the Santa House, United Way of Bay County, Do-All Inc., Wenona Center, American Red Cross East Shoreline Chapter, Boys & Girls Clubs of Bay County, Bay County Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, Pinconning Area Emergency Food Pantry, Bay County Emergency Food Pantry Network, and Santa’s Cupboard. 

 “We are grateful to the Bay Area Community Foundation for their support” said Ron Doddy, Development Director of Santa’s Cupboard. During the holidays, Santa’s Cupboard distributes gifts to children at Bay Regional Medical Center and the Bay Area Women’s Center. The goal of Santa’s Cupboard is to make sure every hospitalized or displaced child receives a holiday gift. Mr. Doddy stated, “Children at Bay Area Women’s Center will have gifts with their name on it and children at Bay Regional Medical Center will have gifts in their rooms when they wake up on Christmas morning.”