- James Townsend
2018 Portland Beacon Giving Guide
The Portland Beacon is proud to present our second annual giving guide. This guide is a detailed list of local non-profit organizations operating right here in Portland. It includes a description of the organization, contact information for the group, and instructions on how you can make a charitable donation to the organization.
Research shows that individuals often do up to 25% of their charitable giving between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and we hope to publish this guide each year around Thanksgiving.
To be included in this guide, organizations had to be located in or have operations in Portland or neighboring communities. Organizations also had to be legally registered non-profit organization in the state of Michigan. While we appreciate that there are many very deserving regional, national and international charities, this guide is intended to focus only on local organizations.
Everyone’s financial situation is different. While there are several free guides available online covering year end giving, like Charity Navigator, Fidelity, and Liberty Tax Service, it may be advisable to discuss your charitable giving intentions with a financial professional.
If you should have any questions about one of the organizations listed, please contact that organization directly.
Legal name:
Friends of the Red Mill
Mailing address:
858 Maynard Road, Portland, MI 48875
Facebook:
Friends of the Red Mill
Contact Person name:
Noreen Logel
Contact Person phone number:
517-743-1830
Email address:
Brief description:
We are a non-profit, 501c3 organization dedicated to building a pavilion for the betterment and benefit of the City of Portland and the surrounding areas. While the pavilion has been done and turned over to the City in September 2015, we continue to be actively involved with its maintenance (we have volunteers who clean the bathrooms, plant flowers, sweep the floor, stain the wood, etc.) and continue to raise money for a boiler to operate the tubing that was put in the floor for an ice melt system at the time the pavilion was built. Our organization is very community-oriented, offering fundraisers and activities at minimal prices thus allowing most everyone in the community to participate. we are partnering with several other organizations in the area to promote community events.
Instructions on how someone could make an end of year contribution to your organization:
Send a tax-deductible check (you will receive a receipt with our tax number). Anytime anyone has bottles/cans to donate they can bring them down to our receptacles at the area where the recycling center used to be at the Portland DPW. Also by supporting our fund raisers which are always posted on our Facebook page.
Legal Name:
HeavenSent Farm
Mailing address:
3313 York Rd, Portland MI 48875
Facebook:
Contact person name:
Todd or Dawna Dylewski
Contact Person phone number:
517-230-4920 or 616-262-4257
Email address:
Brief description of the organization and its activities:
HeavenSent Farm is a registered 501c3 which exists to show and model Christian principles to students, teaching the value of Godly and personal relationships, teamwork and individual character by building confidence, teaching leadership skills and assist each student with any needs in reaching their full potential through interaction and therapy with horses
Instructions on how someone could make an end of year contribution to your organization:
Donations can be made through our website: Heavensentfarm.org or by visiting us for a vision tour (call to make arrangements)
Legal name:
Portland Area Service Group
Other name the organization may be known as:
Formerly known as the Portland Senior Center
Mailing address:
144 Kent Street, Portland, MI 48875
Contact Person name:
Beckie Bates, PASG Director
Contact Person phone number:
517-647-4004
Brief description:
The Portland Area Service Group has served the Portland residents and the local community for over 40 years. PASG offers daily activities, houses a food bank and meeting space with kitchen facilities. The center also serves as a collection and distribution point for seasonal clothing and excess medical equipment such as bath seats, walkers and wheelchairs.
Instructions on how someone could make an end of year contribution to your organization:
Monetary donations are welcome as are donations of new unopened items for our annual fundraising event.
Legal name:
Portland Athletic Association
Mailing address:
1100 Ionia Rd., Portland, Michigan 48875
Web site:
Facebook:
Portland Athletic Association
Contact Person name:
Sarah Townsend, President
Contact Person phone number:
517-647-4243
Email address:
Brief description:
The Portland Athletic Association has two goals: 1) raise funds to support Portland High School athletic programs; and 2) promote the Portland Raider athletic programs.
Instructions on how someone could make an end of year contribution to your organization:
The Portland Athletic Association is a 503 C non-profit organization. Donations can be sent to the above address with checks payable to the Portland Athletic Association or go to the web page and use PayPal.
Legal Name:
Portland Civic Players
Mailing address:
PO Box 344 Portland MI 48875
Facebook:
"Portland Civic Players"
Contact person name:
Mary Teachout
Contact Person phone number:
517-527-3258
Email address:
Brief description of the organization and its activities:
The Portland Civic Players was started by a small group of people in 1955. The group has been providing quality, family oriented live theater for the Portland community ever since. The produce 2 plays a year and have a very unique 6-week youth summer theater program. In 2018 this program had 103 participants! Our fall 2018 production of Beauty and the Beast sold out 7 performances. Our building was built in 1948 as a Sun Theater movie house and is in desperate need of TLC. We are currently fundraising for a redone all digital marquee.
Instructions on how someone could make an end of year contribution to your organization:
Checks (payable to PCP) can be mailed to the PO Box or made online at www.portlandcivicplayers.com .
Legal Name:
Portland Community Fund Association
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 524, Portland, MI, 48875
Web site:
Facebook:
Portland Community Fund Association
Contact person name:
Sandy Olson, Board Member
Contact person phone number:
(517)647-6306
Email address:
Brief description of the organization and its activities:
For over 40 years our mission of the Portland Community Fund is to enhance the quality of life for all citizens, now and for generations to come. Our big 4 events to make a difference: 1) Every October a coat drive is held. Each year 100s of people receive coats on our distribution day. 2) In 2017 our Annual Christmas Giving program provided a dinner, socks, hats, gloves to individuals and over 135 families with 320 children in the Portland School District. In addition, children received gifts and a shoebox filled with goodies. Residents of local nursing homes received personal care items. 3) When requested, assistance is provided to families in need due to fire or special circumstances. Funds are available for local emergencies. 4) Part of the mission of the Portland Community Fund is to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that serve those who live in the Portland School District. This funding allows exceptional groups to continue providing much needed support to our neighbors.
Instruction on how someone could make an end of year contribution to your organization:
Portland Community Fund Association is accepting donations—send tax deductible donations payable to “PCFA” P.O. Box 524, Portland MI 48875, or online at our website or Facebook page via PayPal.
Legal name:
Portland Garden Club
Mailing address:
2357 S. Pline Rd., Pewamo, MI 48873
Facebook:
Portland Garden Club of Michigan
Contact Person name:
Barbara Betzing
Contact Person phone number:
517-349-4841
Email address:
Brief description:
The objectives of this club shall be to stimulate the love of gardening, encourage home and community beautification, promote better horticultural practices, and encourage all forms of conservation.
Instructions on how someone could make an end of year contribution to your organization:
Donations for Portland community beautification may be written to Portland Garden Club and sent to Barbara Betzing. (See address above)
Legal Name:
Portland Tackle Football Association, Inc.
Other name the organization may be known as:
Portland Junior Raiders
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 288, Portland, MI 48875
Web site:
Facebook:
Portland Jr. Raiders
Contact person name:
Kim Hoppes, Vice President
Email address:
Brief description of the organization and its activities:
Founded in 1982, PTFA has been serving local youth for 35 years. The program offers tackle football and cheer leading programs fourth through eighth grade boys and girls. The organization is 100% volunteer based, and is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization. During the 2017 season, we had approximately 200 participants. We hold many fundraisers throughout the year so that we can provide all necessary equipment to participants at no additional charge, while keeping our registration fees as low as possible.
Prior to the start of the 2018 season, the association purchased a new scoreboard at a cost of over $10,000. At this time, we are seeking a sponsor or sponsors to help offset the impact of that large purchase.
Instructions on how someone could make an end of year contribution to your organization:
Checks can be made payable to "PTFA" and mailed to P.O. Box 288, Portland, MI 48875
Legal Name:
PPS Raider Music Program
Other name the organization may be known as:
Raider Bands/Choirs
Mailing address:
1100 Ionia Road, Portland MI 48875
Web site:
Contact person name:
Mike Sulecki, Band/Choir Director
Contact person phone number:
517-647-2981
Email address:
Brief description of the organization and its activities:
Middle School Band performs at the fall, winter, and spring concerts as well as the annual day of music and arts in march. High School Band performs at all home football games, select home basketball games, numerous parades, festivals and competitions. This is in addition to the four school concerts every year and MSBOA Band festival.
The choirs are still in their infancy, and we can use all the help we can get establishing a strong vocal music program here at Portland.
Instruction on how someone could make an end of year contribution to your organization:
To donate, please email Mike Sulecki (msulecki@portlandk12.org), make checks payable to Portland Public Schools and put music in the notes.
Legal Name:
The Portland Area Historical Society
Mailing address:
334 Kent Street (Mailing Address)
Facebook:
The Portland Area Historical Society
Contact person name:
Margaret Sheffer, President
Email address:
Brief description of the organization and its activities:
The aim of the Society is: to research and preserve the past and present for the future; to inform the public of the Portland area historical heritage; to mark and preserve historical sites in the Portland area.
Instruction on how someone could make an end of year contribution to your organization:
Contributions can be made by mail at 334 Kent Street or by contacting our president to make other arrangements. We meet the 4th Tuesdays of the month, except for July and December, at 144 Kent Street at 6:30.
