The “Heart of Cook” Earth Day Environmental Grant for 2022 took a turn toward family with Present Pillars’ project to foster the environment while also fostering relationships between dads and their kids. Present Pillars is the recipient of the third annual $5,000 Earth Day Environmental Grant Award awarded by Indiana Michigan Power’s Cook Nuclear Plant.
Present Pillars is a Benton Harbor organization focusing on helping to support fatherhood and highlighting the importance of fathers in the lives of their children. In their “Summer with Dad” program, the organization will collaborate with Sarett Nature Center’s Earth Day project to have fathers work with their children to help plant trees and learn about water conservation and environmental stewardship.
Dads and their kids will do a conservation project that they can take home. They will also work together to learn about plant and animal species to look for while they enjoy the great outdoors. The program will end on a weekend camping trip where they will hike, fish and explore what Michigan’s outdoors has to offer.
“I think the ‘Summer with Dad’ idea sounded great,” said Tim Ott, Cook Plant environmental specialist and Environmental Grant Committee member. “Some of my fondest memories are those camping with my dad in Cub Scouts learning about nature and the importance of taking care of our environment. These types of interactive, memorable experiences can help shape young peoples’ minds in a way of living for a sustainable future.”
James Gunter, co-founder of Present Pillars, is excited about what this grant will offer to local dads and their kids. “Typically, in our society we don’t value fatherhood like we should,” Gunter said. “We are changing the narrative and going in our own way of approaching families by supporting the father. We’ve seen firsthand in Benton Harbor how hard it is when water isn’t as readily available as it used to be. It’s vital to us to reinforce the importance of water. This grant is allowing us to be out in nature to see how water and our environment are affected by humans when we don’t recycle or dispose of waste properly.”
Present Pillars was founded by Gunter and John Sams IV to provide resources and services for fathers in the areas of health, finance, education, advocacy and fellowship. Their goal is to provide fellowship activities and build lasting rapport with dads with affordable, constant, and enjoyable opportunities for them to bond with their families.
Each year, a group of Cook employees review grant applications to select a $5,000 Heart of Cook Earth Day Environmental Grant recipient. Other nonprofit organizations who want to make a positive impact on our environment are eligible to apply. The grant application will be available through the Berrien Community Foundation website www.berriencommunity.org in early 2023.
Successful applicants will demonstrate how they can use the $5,000 grant to benefit the environment or raise environmental awareness. Projects that have STEM involvement and can demonstrate a lasting sustainability component will get special consideration. The grant will be available to organizations in all of the Indiana Michigan Power service territory with preference given to Berrien County, MI.
Photo: Susan Matheny, Berrien Community Foundation Blair Zordell, Cook Nuclear Plant Johnny Singer, Cook Nuclear Plant James Gunter, Present Pillars John Sams, Present Pillars Kayla Hurse, Present Pillars
Cook Nuclear Plant is owned and operated by Indiana Michigan Power, an AEP company, headquartered in Fort Wayne, IN.
