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Over $680,000 Awarded to Early Childhood Partners in Central Lake

Families and young children gather around picnic tables at an outdoor community event supported through Central Lake Early Opportunities (CLEO).

Photo credit: Central Lake Early Opportunities

Throughout this year, the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation has awarded $684,028 to early childhood partners in Central Lake through its Cleo M. Purdy Endowment.

“These awards represent our continuing commitment to supporting young children and their parents in the Central Lake community, with immense thanks to the generosity of our late donor partner, Cleo M. Purdy,” said Alison Metvia, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “Her legacy gift of $14 million created the Purdy Endowment in 2013. Since then, it has served as a permanent funding resource for early childhood education, programs, and opportunities in Central Lake.”

This year’s grant awards continue ongoing relationships with several partners, including Central Lake Public Schools, Charlevoix Emmet Intermediate School District/Help Me Grow Char-Em, Dollywood Foundation, Communities in Schools of Northwest Michigan, and Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency.

The Community Foundation collaborates with program partners through Central Lake Early Opportunities (CLEO), which the Foundation created in 2015 to steward Purdy’s gift and to support a comprehensive, high-quality approach to early childhood services. Through CLEO, community partners unite to provide early childhood activities, programs, and resources for Central Lake’s young children and their families.

“Years ago, a parent shared, ‘Central Lake is the best place to raise a young child,’ referring to all the opportunities available. The partnership with the Community Foundation and funding from the Cleo Purdy Endowment provide stability for all those opportunities,” said Kate Essenberg, Director of CLEO. “From pregnancy through preschool and beyond, families have access to a menu of options that fit their needs and interests.”