Honoring Area Nonprofit Organizations

Banksgiving

First State Bank is committed to honoring the non-profit organizations that positively impact the lives of people living in Macomb and Oakland Counties and supporting their efforts with charitable contributions. FSB Banksgiving was established to shine a spotlight on these organizations, as well as provide funding to help them in their efforts.

While we give throughout the year, Banksgiving is now an annunal tradion., FSB awards $30,000 in Banksgiving grants: $10,000 to one Grand Gift Winner, and $5,000 to each of four winners in the following categories: Human Supportive Services Services, Arts & Education, Children & Families, and Environment & Community Improvement.

Organizations are nominated by you – the public – and the winners are also determined by public vote. Since its inception, First State Bank has had the privilege of being a part of the story for a broad range of organizations – from providing clothing for children in foster care to groups that help unhoused Veterans buy their own homes. We are touched by the dedication of our local non-profit community, and their efforts to change lives here at home.

PUBLIC VOTING IS NOW OPEN: November 10 - 21, 2025. Vote today!

Meet the Finalists: Arts/Education/Culture

CONNECTIONS LEARNING LAB
Connections Learning Lab’s core mission is to empower children of all abilities through individualized learning experiences that nurture academic growth, social development, and confidence. By fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates diverse ways of learning and thinking, CLL provides families in the community with access to innovative programs, enrichment opportunities, and social-emotional support. Through this whole-child approach, CLL helps students thrive both in and beyond the classroom, building a stronger, more connected community of lifelong learners.

KNOWRESOLVE
KnowResolve is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting mental health and preventing youth suicides through outreach, advocacy and education. Their mission is to break down the silence, shame, and stigma surrounding mental health by providing adults and teens with tools and skills to help improve their overall well-being.

MEADOWBROOK CENTER FOR LEARNING DIFFERENCES
Meadowbrook Center for Learning Differences (MCLD) is a nonprofit educational organization in Rochester, Michigan, dedicated to supporting students with diverse learning needs. Its core mission is to remove barriers to learning, foster life success for all individuals, and promote community awareness and understanding of learning differences. 

OAKLAND YOUTH ORCHESTRAS
The mission of Oakland Youth Orchestras (OYO) is to inspire young people, through the power of music, to become outstanding musicians, individuals, and leaders. Each year, OYO, an educational nonprofit, gives nearly 350 elementary through high school student musicians across seven counties, including Oakland and Macomb, in southeast Michigan, of all backgrounds and abilities, the chance to perform in an orchestra, and to nurture their passions for music. OYO is made up of a four-tiered orchestra system: Studio String (grades 1-7), String (grades 5-9), Philharmonia (grades 6-12), and Symphony (grades 9-12). 

ST. CLAIR SHORES COMMUNITY CHORUS, ING.
The mission of the St. Clair Shores Community Chorus is to engage and inspire participants and audiences through musical performances featuring choral, solo and ensemble singing within the City of St. Clair Shores and surrounding communities.  Their vision is to build a community who is passionate about music and strives for excellence; to continually grow and build upon our existing structure and support the community through events and sponsorships, as well as to provide scholarships to local graduating high school seniors in support of furthering their education. 

Meet the Finalists: Children & Families

PERFECTING CDC - AMELIA AGNES HOMELESS SHELTER
Perfecting Community Development Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization of the community.  Its goal is to ignite economic growth, provide quality education, offer transitional housing for women & men and provide recreational activities for youth. Realizing the blight in the inner city, homelessness has become a capital concern in every major city in America.  Perfecting Community Development Corporation devised a plan to combat this growing dilemma.  The Amelia Agnes Transitional Home is the first of several transitional homes to offer women (with or without children) a clean and safe environment to begin again with dignity and respect.  In addition to housing, residents continue their educational goals, secure employment and become productive citizens.

R & E FAMILY FOUNDATION
R & E Family Foundation’s mission is to create a brighter future for children within Southeast Michigan. Through funding, partnerships and community involvement, they support the education, health and wellness of children throughout SE Michigan. 

RAINBOW CONNECTION
The Rainbow Connection grants wishes and provides support services to Michigan children battling life-threatening illnesses. They strive to bring joy, happiness, and hope to families during an unimaginable time.

SAMARITAN HOUSE
As a primary food pantry serving Northwestern Macomb County since 1995, Samaritan House fills a vital role. They supply fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, personal hygiene products, and cleaning supplies to low-income food-insecure local residents. Their pantry is a client choice pantry, meaning clients choose the items they would like to receive and come in once a month. They also provide home delivery for homebound clients once a month. Their core mission is to serving individuals and families within the community by recognizing their needs and mobilizing the means for dealing with those needs so that suffering can be relieved, dignity preserved, and love shared.

SUSIE Q'S KIDS
Susie Q’s Kids addresses the mental health and well-being of kids in the community, advocates for suicide awareness and prevention, works with individuals with disabilities to create kits, works with business and youth groups in creating comfort bags, and engages “Kids in Helping Kids” through self-awareness, philanthropy, and service. It provides smiles, hope, and healing.

Meet the Finalists: Environment/Community Improvement

CLINTON RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL
The Clinton River Watershed Council (CRWC) works to protect, enhance, and celebrate the Clinton River, its watershed, and Lake St. Clair for the benefit of communities, the environment, and our future. Established in 1972, CRWC has been serving the Clinton River, its watershed, and Lake St. Clair for over 50 years and provides services to communities in Oakland and Macomb counties. CRWC provides educational programming to communities, students, and the public to engage them in monitoring and stewarding the health of water resources within CRWC’s service area and enhancing recreational use and access. Municipalities rely on CRWC for assistance with maintaining regulatory compliance for stormwater permits and administering the Public Advisory Council for the Clinton River Area of Concern. CRWC is a leader in green stormwater infrastructure, using science-driven techniques to restore and improve water quality throughout the watershed. Clean water and a healthy environment are essential to a strong economy and a high quality of life within this diverse watershed. These values drive CRWC’s work to engage and educate individuals in order to create a foundation for positive change and a commitment to a clean, healthy, and thriving watershed.

DINOSAUR HILL NATURE PRESERVE
Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve is a 501(c)(3) non-profit institution the encompasses 16 acres of land located in Rochester, MI. The preserve offers environmental education to children, adults and families through programs and classes, both on site and in school classrooms, public libraries and private education facilities, and are the stewards of the land under their leadership.  They  provide environmental and science education to the community to further their knowledge of the natural world.

LIVE RITE STRUCTURED RECOVERY CORPORATION
LiveRite Structured Recovery Corporation’s mission is to reduce the stigma and provide resources, education, and funding to the person and their families seeking recovery from substance use disorder and Mental Illness, saving one more life, so that they may easily transition from the life of substance use and mental illness into a lifestyle free from substances and destructive behavior. Building a foundation to become a productive citizen in society. Over 90,000 community members have received help at our recovery resource center.

NEIGHBORS UNITED - WALK FOR THE RED 
Neighbors United is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization made up of volunteers with one goal: to make a difference in the lives of families in need—one at a time. Their mission is to financially assist firefighters who are battling cancer.  Firefighters facewww.savingdestiny.org a significantly elevated risk of cancer compared to the general public. 

SAVING DESTINY ANIMAL RESCUE
Saving Destiny is a foster-based rescue with its main location on East China Twp, but its fosters are located throughout Macomb, Oakland, Genesee and other counties in SE Michigan. A high percentage of the animals the organization has cared for and has found homes for come out of Detroit Animal Care and Control, the City of Detroit shelter.  

Meet the Finalists: Human Supportive Services

INTERFAITH VOLUNTEER CAREGIVER PROGRAM
The Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers (IVC) program provides a wide variety of support to older and disabled adults who are struggling to remain safe and independent in their own homes.  IVC works throughout Macomb, Oakland & St. Clair Counties in Michigan to recruit, support and train volunteers who share their time and skills with neighbors in need. 

LAUNDROMAT LOVE
Laundromat Love is dedicated to bringing hope and help to those they serve in the laundromats. Leaving individuals with clean clothes, essential hygiene products and a renewed spirit. They remove barriers individuals face in accessing basic hygiene needs.  They pay for an individual’s laundry, and they distribute laundry detergent and hygiene bags with 27 different products in them.  

RSA FOUNDATION
The RSA Foundation helps intellectually and developmentally disabled adults develop the necessary skills to participate within the community at their full potential. Their dynamic programs make an impact through education, community and service. They are a job-skill training and supported employment program with a mission to have their adults fully participating in their communities.

TURNING POINT
Turning Point, Inc. is Macomb County’s only comprehensive service agency for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking. For more than 45 years, we have been a lifeline for individuals and families escaping abuse, empowering survivors through safety, advocacy, and healing. Their mission is to empower survivors through compassionate, comprehensive services while advocating for community action to end oppression and violence.

WOMEN HEALING ETERNALLY AND TRANSFORMING (WHEAT INC)

WHEAT provides trauma-informed, survivor-centered wraparound services for families experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and homelessness in Macomb and surrounding areas. Funds will support their Phoenix Project emergency assistance for families, including short-term shelter support, transportation, and critical basics that stabilize survivors and kids.