Emerald Elementary School receives grant

Tim Gerou, Senior Resource Forester with Plum Creek was in Manistique on November 16, 2012 to award a $2,000 grant to Emerald Elementary School to help fund an ongoing project to create a new ball and activity field in an open lot behind the school. According to Erik Mason, Principal at Emerald, when the ball field project is completed, the play area will increase physical activity opportunities not just for students of Manistique Area Schools, but for all residents in the Manistique area.

“We recognize the need to provide safe and accessible play areas for all children and families in Manistique,” Mason said. “Thanks to the help of the Plum Creek Foundation, we are getting closer to the completion of this new play area.” Since 2009, the Manistique Area Schools – Coordinated School Health Team has been utilizing various grants to complete additional stages of the ball/activity field. So far the School Health Team has been able to install the backstop and sections of fencing along the first and third baselines.

The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Strategic Alliance for Health Project provided a grant in 2010 which paid $2387 to install the backstop fencing on the field. In 2011, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan – Building Healthy Communities program provided another $2390 for additional fencing and to install a gate (for mowing purposes) along the first and third baselines.

In 2012, a Healthy People 2020 grant provided another $1500 for 70 additional feet of fence along the first baseline (street side). With the Plum Creek Foundation grant, the school needs another $3700 to finish the play area. The Mission of Manistique Area Schools is to assure maximum learning opportunities for all students of the district. Educational excellence is the number one priority of our schools. We are committed to empowering all students to become productive citizens in an ever-changing and diverse global society.

The mission of the Plum Creek Foundation is to provide philanthropic contributions to support and improve the general welfare of life in the communities that Plum Creek serves. The Foundation board meets quarterly to review applications submitted from organizations in the company’s operating communities. Visit the Community Involvement page on Plum Creek’s website at www.plumcreek.com to download an application.