Grant donation to help transport local students to the 2019 Thunder Bay International Film Festival

Alpena — First Federal and the mBank combined community foundation awarded a $1,000 grant to the nonprofit Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary to help transport local school children to the student portion of the 2019 Thunder Bay International Film Festival.

First Federal/mBank Community Foundation Board Member Martin Thomson presented the check to President of Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Chuck Wiesen. All of the funding will go into busing transportation fees for teachers in the area who would like to expose their classes to some of the environmental films as well as the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center.

“It’s great to be able to support something like that in our community, and we all realize what a huge impact this facility has on our communities,” said Thomson.

In years past, students have made their way to the sanctuary for the film fest, or grants have been used to bring films to the student’s areas. Films are selected for students ahead of time, so teachers can preview some of the topics being covered. There is also a student film festival competition where middle school and high school students (grade 8-12) submit a film based on the environment.

“Our objective is that when you leave here, you leave here smarter,” said Wiesen. “You leave here a little more aware of the history and lore of the Great Lakes. You leave here a little more sensitive to the environment and how delicate it is.”

The First Federal/mBank Community Foundation is offering more grant donations for nonprofit organizations. To find out how to apply for a grant, visit their website page https://www.bankmbank.com/First-Federal-mBank-Community-Foundation.aspx

For more information on transporting students to the film fest, reach out to Director of Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Katie Wolf at (989) 884-6210 or email her at kwolf@thunderbayfriends.org.

For more on Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, visit thunderbayfriends.org.