Austin Nominates Eau Claire Public Schools for ACF Grant

Eau Claire Public Schools was recently awarded a grant to fight childhood food insecurity by the Michigan Farm Bureau Family of Companies (MFBFoC) and Michigan Farm Bureau Agent Charitable Fund (ACF). Grant funds will be used to purchase food for the district’s weekend Food Bag Program. 

Agents for Change Grants are awarded to Michigan school districts every other month. Schools are nominated by a local Farm Bureau Insurance agent and selected by a committee of ACF donors based on the need of the school and overall goal of the program. School districts can utilize Michigan Farm Bureau’s Find an Agent tool to locate an agent in their area. 

Austin Batalis nominated Eau Claire Public Schools for the grant and is excited to come alongside the district and support their hunger-relief efforts. As Batalis says, “The Friday Food Bag Program helps feed children after school hours that are not receiving adequate food at home. This program gave away 6,720 pounds of food in 2024 to help fight childhood food insecurity, and the financial need is increasing annually.”

The ACF, whose mission is to end hunger in Michigan, is a donor-designated fund administered through the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture. The Michigan Foundation for Agriculture, a 501(c)(3) governed by the MFBFoC’s board of directors, positively contributes to the future of Michigan agriculture through leadership and educational programming.

Operating at the intersection of market and moral missions, the MFBFoC has a powerful vision: a Michigan where no child goes to bed hungry. MFBFoC is reinvesting their proceeds back into their local communities and identifying effective programs, policies and practices designed to directly reduce childhood hunger.

If you would like more information about the MFBFoC childhood hunger relief efforts, please contact Audrey Carey at acarey@michfb.com.