The Worthington Family Foundation 2017 distribution was divided among the following organizations:

The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra has a long history of providing music performance and education programs to preschool through Middle School students throughout Southeast Michigan, with a focus on Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and western Wayne counties. They attract, inspire, and educate the most diverse audience possible, foster a growing appreciation for excellent music and regional talent, and provide imaginative programming through community involvement. The Worthington Family Foundation awarded $15,000 to support:

• Instrument Petting Zoos
• KinderConcerts
• Classroom Concerts
• Youth Concerts
• Conductor Visits
• School Visits by musicians

The Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies has offered environmental education to K-12th grade students in the Grand Traverse Bay region for 39 years. The Environmental Education Program uses field courses to help students develop the knowledge, skills, and character they need to be effective environmental stewards. They are awarded $19,460.00 to expand their environmental education program to Grand Traverse Bay region school children. This will fund a new program, Restoration Ecology, for Young Students (REYS), a year-long study designed to introduce students to the science and practice of ecological restoration.

Camp Westminster on Higgins Lake in Roscommon, MI and and Camp Greenwood in Gowen, Mi. The disbursement of $25,000 will be used to expand and enhance both camps curriculum relative to environmental education.

The Inland Seas Education Association in Suttons Bay, MI mission is to inspire Great Lakes curiosity , stewardship, and passion in people of all ages. Through hands−on experimental learning activities aboard a traditionally rigged tall ship schooner, participants gain the knowledge to understand the commitment for the long−term stewardship for the great lakes. The $20,000 award to Inland Seas Education Assocication is to support their scholarship program so classrooms can attend this program.

The Leslie Science and Nature Center in Ann Arbor, MI enables individuals and communities throughout Southeastern Michigan to establish lifelong connections with the natural world and encourages efforts to support and protect it for future generations. $10,000 is awarded to the Leslie Science and Nature Center for their need–based Adopt–A–Class Scholarship Program. This scholarship fund allows schools from across Southeast Michigan to take part in a LSNC field trip or Outreach Program.

Michigan Opera Theater in Detroit, MI provides students opportunities for exploring the arts through a variety of high quality and affordable education and outreach programs. Each year, thousands of elementary school students experience opera and the arts through programming that Michigan Opera Theater designs specifically for young children. Michigan Opera Theater was awarded $30,000 to:

• Provide tickets and transportation for hundreds of low−income students to come see the MOTCC production of HMS Pinafore at the Opera House.
• Provide touring children's operas and workshops to reach students in low−income schools and under−served communities.
• Underwrite the cost of creating and updating educational materials and presentations in relation to these youth performances.
• Underwrite the cost of marketing materials dedicated to reaching more teachers and schools with comprehensive information on MOT's children's opera programs.

Michigan State University Opera TheaterThe MSU Opera Theatre is an ensemble of the Michigan State University College of Music, designed to provide vocal music students with high−level educational training through varied performing experiences. MSU Opera Theater was awarded $30,000 to support costumes, musical support, marketing, and their outreach program for their two production’s: Humperdinck’s children’s classic Hansel and Gretel and Kurt Weill’s musical Street Scene.

The Old Town Playhouse Children's Theater in Traverse City, Michigan, is a volunteer based organization promoting quality community theatre experiences for the people of Northwest Michigan by providing educational opportunities and entertainment in the theatrical arts. They were awarded $40,330 which will be used to:

• Continue their current program that includes
  • classes and camps
  • a ticket discount for families of students in their programs
  • scholarships
• Purchase gym style floor mats
• Continue to help schools bus students to specially planned daytime performances of youth shows
• Continue a spring break one week intensive camp that results in a show
• Continue after school transportation to make classes more accessible
• Continue their branding and marketing campaign

Pewabic Pottery was founded by Michigan artist Mary Chase Perry Stratton in 1903 during the arts and crafts movement, is a National Historic Landmark, non−profit ceramic arts education organization, a historic working pottery and an American heritage site. Pewabic Pottery is dedicated to supporting and promoting ceramic art and artists, as well as preserving Pewabic Pottery's century−old heritage. Pewabic Pottery was awarded $50,000 to provide art and culture experiences to Detroit′s underserved children and youth through productive and long−term collaborations with Detroit Public Schools and community centers. These funds allow Pewabic to maintain the equipment, staff, and resources needed to successfully inspire children to see the world in new ways through the medium of clay.

SEEDS of Traverse City, MI was established to foster local solutions to global issues. They bring a holistic perspective, making connections between ecology and social justice. SEEDS was awarded $13,000 to fund The Art of Stewardship a project that gives SEEDS the opportunity to combine both art and environmental stewardship in a Place−Based Education model.