The Sanilac Women Who Care (SWWC) awarded $10,000 to Sleep in Heavenly Peace – MI-Caro at its annual giving event, bringing local women together to support organizations making a difference in Sanilac County. A total of $8,650 was raised through the event for the main grant, with the Goodtimer’s generously contributing an additional $1,350 to bring the award to $10,000.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing beds to children who do not have one of their own. The local MI-Caro chapter serves the Tuscola, Sanilac and Huron communities with a simple mission: NO KID SLEEPS ON THE FLOOR IN OUR TOWN! Through the help of community volunteers, the organization builds and delivers beds at no cost to children ages 3–17 who are sleeping on floors, couches or air mattresses, or sharing beds with parents or siblings. Each bed, delivered by volunteers, comes fully furnished with a frame, mattress, sheets, pillows and blankets.
The $10,000 grant will help fund the construction of approximately 50 beds that will be built and delivered by the end of 2026, allowing the organization to continue its mission of helping children in need throughout the community.
In addition to the main community grant, SWWC awarded two $1,500 mini grants to Great Start Collaborative Sanilac – Sanilac Rx Kids and Warriors Hope. Each mini grant was originally set at $500, but an additional contribution from the Goodtimer’s increased both awards to $1,500.
The annual event, which was held on October 1st, 2026, at the Lexington Village Theatre, brought together more than 20 nonprofit organizations and over 80 local women dedicated to making a difference in Sanilac County. Guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres provided by Lexington Village Pub while listening to live entertainment by GlenBrooke Music. The Roudy Redhead Photography also joined the event to capture special moments throughout the evening.
During the annual event, nonprofit representatives and guests have the opportunity to mingle, connect and learn more about each organization’s mission and impact in the community, giving nonprofits a chance to share their work and encourage guests to vote for their organization. Three attendees are then randomly selected to nominate a nonprofit to give a brief presentation about its mission and have a chance to receive the main grant. Attendees who represent a nonprofit may choose their own organization, while others may nominate a nonprofit of their choice. At the end of the night, guests cast their votes using a token they received at check-in, and the winning nonprofit receives a grant funded by the combined contributions from the event.
A special thank-you goes to the committee members who put so much time and heart into bringing this event together—Kelly Gerstenberger, Tammy Williford, Jessica Washe, Jennifer Parker, and Virginia “Ginny” McNabb. Their hard work, enthusiasm and dedication helped make the evening a success and continue to make a difference for local nonprofits and the communities they serve.
“The Community Foundation is excited to see all the work the Sanilac Women Who Care Committee put into this event come to fruition,” said Joshua Robinson, Executive Director of the Sanilac County Community Foundation. “We’re even more excited to award a grant to Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization that may be national in structure but is ran by local, hardworking individuals right here in the Thumb. We’re also pleased to support both the new Sanilac Rx Kids initiative and our local veterans through Warriors Hope.
I’d like to give special recognition to the Goodtimers for their excellent demonstration of philanthropy not just this year but every year. They surprised us this year and stepped up to increase the grants awarded in 2026, but every year they demonstrate the importance of time, one of the Five Ts of Philanthropy, by volunteering to serve food and help wherever they’re needed at Sanilac Women Who Care event without fail. So, thank you!”
Since its inception in 2013, Sanilac Women Who Care has granted over $100,000 to local nonprofit organizations, making a meaningful difference throughout the county. It’s an initiative of the Sanilac County Community Foundation that brings local women together through collective giving to support nonprofit organizations serving Sanilac County.
For more information about Sanilac Women Who Care or the Sanilac County Community Foundation, including ways to get involved or support local nonprofits, visit SanilacFoundation.org or contact the Foundation at (810) 648-3634.
