Program areas at Local Impact Alliance
The Canton Community Foundation in doing business as the Local Impact Alliance (lia) serves the Canton, plymouth, westland, and surrounding communities. Lia recognizes the unique functions of each initiative with each initiative's interests made prominent. The Community Foundation of plymouth and the westland Community foundations focus on the needs in their respective communities. The giving hope, womens' giving circle seeks to educate women about philanthropy while focusing on the needs of women and families in the region. Eagles for children focuses on children's charities in the region. Lia serves as a convener for Community discussions; identifies grant-making opportunities; assists small, regional nonprofits in their mission; and hosts nonprofit agency funds to assure continued sources of income to those agencies.
The Canton Community Foundation has been a long-time partner in constructing and maintaining the plymouth Community veterans memorial park in downtown plymouth Michigan. This past year, the Foundation secured funding to replace worn pavers that honor area veterans and provided technical assistance in the replacement process.
The Canton Community Foundation, the Community Foundation of plymouth and the westland Community Foundation provide scholarships to college or trade school bound students. A scholarship at ccf, cfp, and wcf empowrs the donor to help Local students achieve their academic and career dreams. Our cutting-edge application process makes the process easy for students and reviewers to use. Our scholarship donors consist of organizations and individuals who are albe to design their unique criteria for their scholarship. Since 1989, over 1.7 million in scholarships have been awarded to over 1450 students.
The Local Impact Alliance hosts the lunch and learn series in the Canton, plymouth, and westland communities. Topics are suggested by the Community and through Community engagement by the lia staff, board of directors, and volunteers. Recent topics have included firearm safety, long covid, protection of the Local watershed, planting pollinator gardens, and programming for developmentally disabled adults. The flagship topic is information and assistance to veterans. Veterans are invited to hear speakers about health care and other benefits and discuss individual concerns with advocates.