Michigan Consolidated Gas Company
(MichCon) has completed its Legacy Grant Program, in which the MichCon
Foundation contributed $1.75 million to nonprofit organizations throughout
Michigan in honor of MichCon’s 150th birthday.
The program had two objectives. The first was to honor its long history
of commitment to and involvement with the state of Michigan, its communities,
its residents, its businesses and its institutions. The second was to lend
support to projects with an impact that would be felt for the next 150 years.
Alfred R. Glancy III, chairman and CEO of MichCon’s parent company, MCN
Energy, sums up the program, “The best way to celebrate our history is by
investing in the future of our customers and the communities in which they
live and work.”
One statewide grant and seven regional grants were awarded throughout the
state. The Detroit Zoo, a gem appreciated by citizens in every area of the
state, received a grant for $750,000 to help build the National Amphibian
Conservation Center (NACC), the first of its kind in the world.
The seven regional grants were:
* $250,000 to Focus: HOPE in Detroit, established the MichCon Legacy
Fund, a revolving loan fund for tuition for the “fast track” program,
* $150,000 to the Leslie Science Center in Ann Arbor, which helped build
the MichCon Nature House, a new classroom facility to aid in the environmental
education of area children.
* $75,000 to build the Grand Traverse Children’s Garden at the Traverse
Area District Library.
* $50,000 to the Osceloa-Mecosta United Way to establish the MichCon
Legacy Fund at the Mecosta County Community Foundation.
* $100,000 to help build the Water Resources Institute of Grand Valley
State University in Muskegon.
* $250,000 to Grand Rapids Community College to help build the new
Michigan Technical Education Center. MichCon also donated land valued at $1
million upon which the center will be constructed.
* $50,000 to Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, to help
build the new Fine and Performing Arts Center.
The remaining $25,000 was set aside to fund the company’s enhanced
employee matching gift program. Employee contributions to higher education,
cultural and arts organizations were matched at 150 percent by the MichCon
Foundation, instead of the normal dollar-for-dollar match.
MichCon was founded as the City of Detroit Gas Company in 1849. Since
then many things have changed, but MichCon’s philosophy of being a good
neighbor in the 550 plus communities its serves has not wavered.
The MichCon Foundation was established in 1984 and annually contributes
$1.3 million to a variety of charitable organizations across the state. The
Legacy Grant program was in addition to the normal giving program.
MichCon is one of the nation’s largest natural gas distributors, with 1.2
million Michigan families and businesses relying on MichCon for their energy
needs. MichCon is a wholly owned subsidiary of MCN Energy Group Inc.
(NYSE: MCN). Visit MichCon’s Web site at http://www.michcon.com .
