A STAR is Born: 2022 STAR Awards

United Way of South Central Michigan (Battle Creek Kalamazoo Region) and Gryphon Place are honored to recognize 19 individuals or groups of volunteers who were nominated for the 2022 STAR Awards. The STAR (Sharing Time and Resources) Celebration and Community Volunteer Awards have long been a time to volunteers for their contributions of time, talent,…

Read More

Behind The Scenes: Ready When Disaster Strikes

Tragic events don’t always happen somewhere else. Sometimes they happen right here in our community—be it natural disasters, violence, or a piece of a global pandemic. What we’ve learned is the value of approaching the next crisis in a more powerful, collective way. United Way BCKR and its community partners have a solid track record…

Read More

2-1-1 Answers The Call During Pandemic

Mention “frontline workers,” and you probably think about doctors and nurses, first responders, grocery store workers, and delivery staff. Yet there’s another crucial role to keep in mind: the call center staff at Gryphon Place 2-1-1. Maricela Alcala, CEO of Gryphon Place, said the team has been fielding calls from home since Michigan’s stay-at-home order…

Read More

People Get Ready: Helping Prepare for Disaster

A community-wide disaster seems doubtful—until it isn’t. That’s why preparation before a disaster strikes, and a robust response after, makes all the difference. Adam Castle, the new Community Resilience Program Manager at Gryphon Place, leads a regional effort that’s making sure every community is ready to deal with any crisis. This role is made possible…

Read More

Fund to Support Kalamazoo Flood Relief

A new fund will support flood relief efforts across Kalamazoo County. United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region (UWBCKR) and the Kalamazoo Community Foundation (KZCF) started the Kalamazoo Flood Relief Fund together with lead contributions of $10,000 each, for a total of $20,000. The public can add tax-deductible donations to the fund through…

Read More