To Lansing residents, Common Ground may just be a popular music festival that happens every summer. To Local Lansing businesses, Common Ground is a help to their organization. Since its start in the year 2000, Common Ground has grown to become much more than a local festival.
“Common Ground began as a community festival to fill the void of the Michigan festival that ended,” Jenna Meyer, Common Ground marketing chair said. “Since then it has become something bigger and is now an economic impact.”
Common Ground is an independent non-profit agency, that is able to help local businesses through their work. This festival has been able to raise and contribute over $500,000 for numerous non-profit, educational, social and sports organizations in the years they’ve been active.
“Over the years, we’ve worked with the same groups and developed great relationships,” Meyer said. “Now we have a waiting list of organizations who want to work with us and out movement.”
Common Ground has a long list of organizations that they donate to in the Lansing community. In return these organizations help Common Ground with preparing for the festival.
“These organizations contribute in what we like to call a community share, they contribute to helping with the festival and in exchange we donate to them,” Meyer said.
Money isn’t always what is donated to these organizations. It’s really up to the organization to decide what they need or want and common ground supplies that request.
“When it comes to the donation it depends on the organization and their greatest area of need,” Meyer said.
Tammy Lemmer, an employee at Meals on Wheels speaks about how Common Ground has helped her organization. She also tells that Meals on Wheels is a non-profit organization that promotes the dignity of older adults. They also provide and deliver nutritious meals to older adults who may not be able to afford them or don’t have a way to get them.
“This year isn’t the first time Common Ground has donated to us, this year they donated passes for the festival to our auction,” Lemmer said.
Lemmer goes on to talk about the donations given to Meals on Wheels from Common Ground, and how they help the organization even if they’re not financial donations.
“It’s always what we like to call an in kind contribution meaning when they help us it’s not financial but they’re giving us something to help generate funds,” Lemmer said.
The Children’s Trust fund is another organization that receives donations from the Common Ground Organization. Common Ground has donated to this organization for several years according to a source at the Children’s Trust Fund.
To view more organizations that Common Ground donates to or look more into what Common Ground is as a whole, visit their website.
