The W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek is funding a nationwide program to fight "institutional" racism. The $75-million initiative is called America Healing. It focuses on eliminating barriers for minority children and their families.

Kellogg Foundation spokeswoman Joanne Krell says it received applications from a thousand groups around the country. She says that was a lot more than expected.

Krell says 119 groups won funding in the first round of the five-year program, including the Kalamazoo Community Foundation and the Kalamazoo YWCA which both got $400,000 for educational programs.

Other grant winners in southwest Michigan were:

Albion Community Fund ($370,000)

Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance, Holland ($375,000)

National Resource Center for Healing of Racism, Battle Creek ($400,000)

First United Methodist Church, Battle Creek ($100,000)