5HT funds the Manchester Farmers Market which runs May through October, offering fresh, local produce, baked goods and crafts right here inside the Village limits.

This year the Governor’s Fitness Council selected 5 Healthy Towns Foundation (5HF) as its 2016 “Promoting Active Community” Award winner. The award recognizes work in promoting infrastructure improvements, policies and programs that encourage active lifestyles. 5 Healthy Towns is the first Foundation to be honored with a Promoting Active Community Award.

Five communities make up 5HF–Manchester, Chelsea, Dexter, Stockbridge and Grass Lake. In each of these communities, a Wellness Coalition made up of stake holders and representatives from community organizations oversee grant requests for interventions in their community. These grant proposals, which should incite residents to eat better, move more, avoid unhealthy substances, and/or make healthy connections with others, are passed on to the 5HT boards who ultimately decide whether or not to approve and fund them. Last year, Manchester received approval for $100,000 in funding. Manchester just received approval for $75,000 for the coming year.

In Manchester, 5HT has partially or completely funded the Manchester Farmers Market, gazebo concerts, the Community Garden, the Multi-Use Trail, Dance! Manchester, Kirk Park renovations, the creation of the Youth Football and Cheerleading program, Safe Routes to School, Run Manchester and the Street Festival, Community Read, Math and Science Night at Klager, the Leader-in-Me Program at Klager, SRSLY Manchester, the Big Red Barrel, stress reduction training, and more.  In addition, they fund the Manchester Wellness Center.

According to Amy Heydlauff, CEO of 5HF, “This is a result of everyone in our community working toward shared goals. Wellness Coalitions in all five towns list sidewalks, trails or playgrounds among their accomplishments. All five communities have a Safe Routes to School plan. There are walking groups in each of the five communities and Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative is working on non‐motorized pathways connecting the communities. Everyone is all in.”

The Governor’s Fitness Council is part of the Michigan Fitness Foundation. Michigan Fitness Foundation continues to partner with 5HF and other 5 Healthy Town community organizations like schools, trail initiatives and local municipalities in projects from Safe Routes to School to trail development efforts.

J.J. Tighe, President and CEO of the Michigan Fitness Foundation, praised 5HF, saying: “The 5 Healthy Towns Foundation has been a catalyst to help communities think differently about how to create intentional policies and programs, and design for active living. In addition, they have supported foundational initiatives through community collaboration. Their strategic efforts will contribute to the long‐term health of communities and their residents, and serve as a model for other communities to emulate.”

The Foundation is only the most recent local winner or honoree of a Governor’s Fitness Award. Others include Charles T. Kuntzleman in 2013, Sophie Lash in 2014 and Bryce Hotaling and Jacob Nelson in 2015.

5HF will be honored at an award banquet in Detroit on April 21st. They will be in good company. During the same award ceremony, Gordie Howe will accept the Vern Seefeldt Lifetime Achievement Award and Dave Bing will be awarded the Governor’s Fitness Council Award for Outstanding Public Official.

The Manchester Wellness Coalition meets the 4th Tuesday of the month, at noon in the Village Room on the lower level of the library, 912 City Road. Meeting are open to the public and everyone  is invited to come participate in the decision making processes.

The 5 Healthy Towns Foundation is a tax‐exempt private foundation governed by a volunteer board of directors. The foundation serves the populations included in the school districts of Chelsea, Dexter, Grass Lake, Manchester and Stockbridge. 5HF will grant funds for projects dedicated to creating a culture of wellness and sustainable improvements in health.