The Berrien Community Foundation has announced $270,000 in grants to community organizations throughout the county as it held its 73rd Annual Meeting and Celebration on Thursday night.

BCF President Lisa Cripps-Downey tells us the event is a way for volunteers from throughout the community to celebrate their achievements and look ahead to the year ahead.

Five major awards were announced Thursday, including the $75,000 Alamar Nonprofit Sustainability Grant, which this year went to Rising Kites. It’s a group that seeks to celebrate the gift of Down syndrome with encouragement, resources, inclusion, and support. It runs Rising Kites Coffee shop in Bridgman.

“ It started as a small coffee shop, and now they are including some other work opportunities for

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