Community Foundation Donates $100,000 To Rooted Safe House
By: Mike Stiles -
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
(left to right) Jim Stuck, Fibre Converters, Lindsay Aguilar, SACF Executive Director, Ron Buckhold, Three Rivers Area Community Foundation President, Karen Millikan, ROOTED, Tiffany Wagler, Executive Director of ROOTED, Kathy Messner, Constantine Area Community Foundation President, Erin Melchi-Baker, Sturgis Area Community Foundation Board Chair (photo courtesy of Sturgis Area Community Foundation)
(STURGIS) – A donation has been made to an organization to help children.
The Sturgis Area Community Foundation, in collaboration with its affiliates, the Three Rivers Area Community Foundation, White Pigeon Area Community Foundation and Constantine Area Community Foundation is proud to announce a collective donation of $100,000 to ROOTED of St. Joseph County's Safe House Capital Campaign. This significant contribution brings ROOTED closer to its $300,000 fundraising goal, aimed at constructing a transitional safe house for children in crisis entering the foster care system within St. Joseph County.
Community Foundation funds contributing to the Safehouse Project include: $50,000 from the Three Rivers Area Community Foundation Special Projects Fund; $40,000 from the Sturgis Area Community Foundation Fund for Sturgis; and $5,000 each from the White Pigeon and Constantine Community Foundation Funds.
Three Rivers’ $50,000 grant also qualifies for a dollar-for-dollar matching grant offered by the Fibre Converters Foundation of Constantine.
Since 2019, ROOTED has supported children during their most vulnerable times, providing essential necessities as they transition from unsafe environments to foster care. The envisioned Safe House will address a critical gap: the temporary need for a secure and nurturing space when long-term placements are not immediately available.
The Safe House is slated to break ground this year, with local contractors generously donating their labor to bring this vision to life. Community Foundation grants will help cover material costs, ensuring that the facility is equipped to provide a peaceful and comforting environment for children during tumultuous times. Agency workers will have on-site workspaces, and ROOTED volunteers will be on hand to lend support, facilitating a smoother transition.
Community members and organizations are encouraged to join in supporting the Safe House Capital Campaign to ensure that every child entering foster care in St. Joseph County has a safe haven during their time of need.
