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    • Home
    • About Us
      • Mission & Values
      • Staff
      • Board Members
      • Become A Member
      • Cekola Memorial Fund
      • Privacy Policy
    • Events
      • Annual Meeting
      • Arctoberfest
      • Inclusion Conference
      • Journey of Hope
      • Maple Hill BBQ Bash
    • Our Services
      • Core Pillars of Service
      • Educational Advocacy
      • Family Advocacy
      • Systems Advocacy
    • Recent News
    • Donate Now
    • Now Hiring
    • Subscribe

(269) 342-9801


  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission & Values
    • Staff
    • Board Members
    • Become A Member
    • Cekola Memorial Fund
    • Privacy Policy
  • Events
    • Annual Meeting
    • Arctoberfest
    • Inclusion Conference
    • Journey of Hope
    • Maple Hill BBQ Bash
  • Our Services
    • Core Pillars of Service
    • Educational Advocacy
    • Family Advocacy
    • Systems Advocacy
  • Recent News
  • Donate Now
  • Now Hiring
  • Subscribe

Site Content

The Joseph A. Cekola Memorial Fund

 The Joseph A. Cekola Memorial Fund Mission:

To provide financial assistance for the families with permanently disabled children who desire to maintain the family unit by caring for the child in their home.


CONTACT US

Email: lconant@communityadvocates.org


Grants

The Joseph A. Cekola Memorial Endowment Fund issues grants to nonprofit organizations supporting families with permanently disabled children living at home. Grant requests are reviewed quarterly. For more information please contact The Arc Community Advocates.


About the Memorial Fund

Joseph A. Cekola was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was always known as generous. He would give readily to those in need, donated to churches and schools, and always put others ahead of himself.


In 1959, Joe & Dolores Cekola welcomed their first son Nick into the world. Nick was diagnosed with Down Syndrome and it changed the family’s life forever. As was common at the time, the family was encouraged to institutionalize Nick. But the Cekolas envisioned something different for Nick. A life where Nick was surrounded by a loving family and would be connected to a community where he could make a contribution. Though the financial, physical and emotional demands were great at times, every single member of the family would attest that the rewards far outweighed them.

When Joe Cekola passed away in the mid-90’s, a memorial foundation was established. This endowment was meant to provide assistance to other families and their children in order to afford them the same opportunities that Nick had. All of the money raised through the foundation is distributed back to the community that Joe Cekola loved and supported during his lifetime.

OTHER RESOURCES

Lori's Voice

Lori's Voice provides financial assistance for families with children under the age of 21 who are unable to afford adaptive equipment, travel, therapy and other items that are not fully covered by insurance or other organizations. 

Learn More

Children's with Special Needs Fund (CSN)

CSN helps families with children with special needs obtain equipment and services not covered by insurance or other programs.

Learn More

V&B Kalamazoo - The MSDHA Investing in Community Housing

The MSDHA Investing in Community Housing (MICH) Phase 2 program helps homeowners and renters to make their homes more ADA accessible and energy efficient. This program is funded through a federally funded grant issued by MSHDA.

Learn More

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