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 annual 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, 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.

2025 Banksgiving – $10,000 Grand Gift Winner

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.

How They Will Use the Banksgiving Gift: Turning Point will use the funds to support their Forensic Nurse Examiner Program (TP FNEP), which provides FREE comprehensive care for domestic and sexual violence survivors. TP FNEP services include collecting the medical history of assault, physical assessment, injury identification, photo-documentation, and DNA collection. The careful and professional collection and documentation of this information can be used to prosecute predators. TP FNEP provides free medication administration, discharge education, safety planning, and follow-up referrals. 

$5,000 Winner – Arts/Education/Culture

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). 

How They Will Use the Banksgiving Gift: Oakland Youth Orchestras will utilize the funds to enrich and increase accessibility to its chamber ensembles program. In addition to their orchestra participation, OYO students may elect to participate in the 8-10 week-long chamber ensembles program which introduces students to this genre and is a great opportunity for them to build skills of individual responsibility, confidence, and teamwork through music in a friendly, supportive environment. All ages and skill levels are welcome to participate.  

$5,000 Winner – Children & Families

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.

How They Will Use the Banksgiving Gift:  Through their Special Response Program, Rainbow Connection addresses the unexpected financial needs families are facing and provide IMMEDIATE assistance in the areas of groceries, gas, car repairs, rent/mortgage, utilities, furniture, clothing, etc. These families are struggling to pay the basic living expenses we take for granted and/or are finding themselves dealing with an urgent need because of a loss of income, financial crisis or other problems related to caring for a child with a life threatening medical condition.  

$5,000 Winner – 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.

How They Will Use the Banksgiving Gift: The funds would be used to fulfill a critical scientific equipment need for the organization to support CRWC’s water quality monitoring and habitat restoration programs. Specifically, CRWC is in need of a new and more accurate & reliable flow meter, as their current flow meter is outdated, not working properly, and not able to be fixed.  A flow meter is a scientific instrument that measures the speed of water (or flow) passing through a given point. Flow meters can be used to measure water velocity, as well as to measure the volume of water (or discharge) passing through a given area at a specific point in time. The flow meter that CRWC is looking to purchase is portable, allowing CRWC staff to take measurements in any wadeable stream at any point in time. With a 760 square mile watershed to serve, having a portable and reliable flow meter is critical to the success of CRWC’s water quality monitoring and habitat restoration work. Flow and discharge data provide valuable data on water levels, helping to assess habitat conditions, evaluate watershed projects, and assess problem areas. These data are also critical to calculating sediment and/or pollutant loads in a surface water body.

$5,000 Winner – Human Supportive Services

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.  

How They Will Use the Banksgiving Gift: The funds would be used to purchase their reusable hygiene bags that they distribute.  The need is so great, they are not only distributing in the laundromats, but have started to distribute in schools to those at greatest risk of hygiene.  1 out of 5 children will go to school without proper hygiene leading to bullying, low self-esteem, higher rate of missing school, etc.