Nonprofit Receives More Than $35,000 in Funding Since 2020
HOLLAND, Mich. Sept. 20, 2023 – I AM Academy, a local non-profit organization empowering Black and Brown youth, was highlighted at the Holland/Zeeland Community Foundation’s Celebration of Philanthropy on September 14, 2023.
This annual event honors the Holland/Zeeland area’s giving spirit and recognizes three incredible Lakeshore leaders who are turning their charitable passions into legacies; I AM Academy was included in this year’s lineup of forward-thinking community members.
Using their several years working in education, Lindsay and Henry Cherry founded I AM Academy to uplift Black and Brown students through hands-on after-school programming led by local mentors. In 2020, four days after I AM’s first-ever Unity March, the Community Foundation offered the Cherrys a grant of $20,000, allowing them to launch I AM Academy as an official nonprofit. The organization has since built programming in two school districts across two Lakeshore counties.
“We wouldn’t be in the position we are now without CFHZ. The Foundation gave us a boost in visibility and lent us some credibility as we solicited donors and made connections,” said Lindsay Cherry, co-founder and co-executive director. “The Community Foundation has been an instrumental piece to I AM Academy. It is in our foundation and our roots. We are so grateful to them for the partnership, the wisdom, the wealth of knowledge and skills, and the support.”
The Community Foundation has continued championing I AM Academy’s mission through grants and donations. In addition to the several micro-grants CFHZ has donated throughout 2023, the organization has also been a major sponsor of I AM’s S.T.E.A.M Summer Camp, donating $15K to support this year’s swim lessons teaching Black youth water safety.
“Our programs aren’t just impacting our Black and Brown students; they’re impacting ALL of our students,” said Henry Cherry, co-founder and co-executive director. “Our white students are seeing Black leaders in their school, and our teachers are seeing Black leaders come in as partners making a difference in their kids.”
“We feel that we’re crafting a world that we wish we had growing up in the Holland/Zeeland area,” added Lindsay. “We hope that our legacy is that we have helped create a community that is more welcoming and inclusive for all people.”
To learn more about how you can get involved in I AM Academy’s programming, visit www.iamacademymi.org.
ABOUT I AM ACADEMY
A local non-profit organization empowering Black and Brown youth to achieve their full potential by centering their identity, cultivating relationships, supporting educational success, providing college experiences, facilitating job readiness ultimately changing the narrative and trajectory of their community. For more information visit: www.iamacademymi.org.
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