AEP, I&M and the Cook Nuclear Plant take a great deal of pride in our community. From corporate sponsorships to employee volunteering, we strive to be good stewards of our neighborhoods and our environment. Below are just a few ways our corporation and employees support Southwest Michigan.

The Heart of Cook Grant Program provides an opportunity for local non-profit organizations to submit applications for mini grants of $500, or large grants up to $10,000. This program is managed and available through Berrien Community Foundation with the support of a Cook Plant employee lead committee. This committee reviews all the grant applications collected by the BCF and awards area non-profits more than $70,000 annually.

In 2020, the Heart of Cook Grant Program implemented a new Earth Day Environmental Grant. Unlike the Heart of Cook grants mentioned above, this grant is a single $5,000 award set aside to help fund a program or special project that promotes environmental science, education and sustainability. Successful applicants demonstrate how they can use the $5,000 grant to benefit the environment or raise environmental awareness. Projects that have STEM involvement and can demonstrate a lasting sustainability component get special consideration.

All Heart of Cook grants are available to organizations in all of the Indiana Michigan Power service territory with high preference given to Berrien County, MI, home of the Cook Plant.

Additional large contributions include a company 50 percent match of employee contributions to the United Way, the local Red Cross Chapter, the Lake Michigan College Veterans Assistance Fund, Cornerstone Alliance and Lakeland Regional Medical Foundation. Cook is also a major partner providing both dollars and volunteers to Harbor Habitat for Humanity to help build homes for deserving families in need.

Beyond the major contributions listed above, our employees are passionate in a variety of ways about supporting and participating in their communities. Many volunteer at their children’s schools, serve on local community boards of directors, coach little league teams, and more. Almost anywhere you look, you will find someone from Cook Plant lending a hand to make the community a better place to live, work and play.

• Acorn Center for the Performing Arts
• The Avenue Family Network, Inc
• Benton Harbor Public Library
• Berrien Conservation District
• Berrien County Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
• Berrien County Youth Fair Association
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor
• Bridgman Public Library
• CASA of SW Michigan, Inc
• Cass County Council on Aging
• Children's Music Workshop
• Chikaming Open Lands
• Christ Lutheran School
• Coloma Township Police
• Community Healing Centers
• Disability Network SW Michigan
• Dunebrook, Inc.
• Fernwood Botanical Gardens
• Girl Scouts of Northern IN-Michigan
• Green Bridge Growers
• Hidden Acres Safe Haven
• Lest We Forget
• Living Epistle Fellowship
• LOGAN Community Resources, Inc
• Paris' Purse
• Paws of Hope
• Rotary Club of BH Sunrise Foundation
• Servants at Work, Inc
• St. Margaret's House
• St. Paul's Lutheran School
• St. Joseph Parish Conference
• STEM 4 Them
• Therapeutic Equestrian Center
• Watervliet Public Schools
• Well of Grace Ministries
• Youth Development Co/PAL