Empowered communities are healthy communities.

CCD has been on the ground, staying true to its grassroots mission, since Dr. Doris Rucks founded the non-profit organization in 2004. Working alongside friends and neighbors in Muskegon Heights, we seek to build relationships and to empower one another.

Together, we've built community and school gardens, revived school libraries and continue to provide programs for students, organize beautification efforts throughout the city, support the local branch library, and create and participate in opportunities where neighbors get to know one another better. These things bring us together, where we all become a stronger voice in advocating for the health, prosperity, and well-being of our community.

We've come far, but the effects of Covid-19 are a stark reminder of just how much work is still to be done. The virus hits hardest where communities face systemic issues affecting access to opportunity, which in turn affects health and environment. This only serves to make our resolve stronger in the work we do to empower one another, we continue to find ways to safely connect and move positively forward through this pandemic and beyond.

We are grateful that the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, United Way of the Lakeshore, and others have recognized the important work of CCD and understand the impact Covid-19 has on non-profit organizations such as ours. They have invited us to participate in Match Day 2020.

They are offering this Match Day on June 3, where they've built a large pool of match dollars to be awarded proportionally to participating non-profits. Every gift you give to CCD will be matched on some level - help us maximize our match! 

Donations will be accepted online (you specify the organization you choose to receive your gift/match dollars on the Foundation website) on June 3, from 12:01am to 11:59pm.

More details can be found at www.muskegonfoundation.org/MatchDayInfo

Giving online on June 3 is strongly encouraged, but if a donor prefers to pay by check that is acceptable too - it just needs to arrive to us no later than June 2 at P.O. Box 4618, Muskegon Heights, 49444 so we can log it in and submit on Match Day.

Lastly, thank YOU for your ongoing interest in the mission of CCD - to our friends and neighbors who believe in and support the work in many different ways - volunteering, donating, collaborating, and more. We are most grateful for all of you.

Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or feedback.

And remember, save the date: June 3, 2020!