Consumers Energy Foundation Awards $150,000 to Kalamazoo Nonprofit for 2025 People Awards

KALAMAZOO, Mich., July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Consumers Energy Foundation unveiled Community Homeworks in Kalamazoo as one of its 2025 People Award winners today, distributing $150,000 to the area nonprofit to help empower its neighbors to maintain safe, stable and sustainable homes.

"The dedication of Community Homeworks to provide access to safe and sustainable living conditions is crucial in preventing displacement and preserving homeownerships," said Brandon Hofmeister, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. "We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with them to fund essential repairs and mitigate environmental hazards, helping to create a safer and healthier environment for families in need."

Community Homeworks will use the grant to offer critical home repairs, educational workshops and a tool library all in support of its mission to prevent displacement, preserve homeownership and ensure homes are safe and dignified.

"Through the partnership support from the Consumers Energy Foundation, we will be able to directly strengthen our Safe Start Home Repair Program," said Chris Praedel, Executive Director of Community Homeworks. "This program was created with the specific goal of reducing barriers to critical home repairs for families with expectant mothers and young children—particularly vulnerable households with health and safety concerns. This grant will provide much needed stability to local families, often when they have nowhere else to turn for help. Thanks to this support, we will be able to step in to prevent displacement, address serious health and safety concerns, and, in some cases, even prevent families from being separated. We are grateful to the Consumers Energy Foundation for their investment in our mission to create safer, healthier home environments for families in need in Kalamazoo County."

The People Awards are the second of three signature grant allocations in 2025 totaling $1.5 million. The Foundation previously awarded the Planet Awards in April, and will present the Prosperity Awards this fall to support nonprofit efforts that support economic development.

The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest energy provider. The Foundation contributes to the growth and strengthening of Michigan communities by investing in what's most important — our people, our planet and Michigan's prosperity. In 2024, the Consumers Energy Foundation, CMS Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy, its employees and retirees contributed more than $15 million in support of Michigan nonprofits and communities. For more information, visit consumersenergy.com/foundation.

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SOURCE Consumers Energy