News Release

Spring Lake High School Senior Named to State Youth Committee 9/3/10

The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce that Molly Moore, Spring Lake High School senior and Youth Advisory Council co-chair has been appointed to a three-year term on the Michigan Community Foundation's Youth Project Committee (MCFYP). This permanent standing committee of the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF) has 15 members from across the state, 12 of whom are youth under the age of 21, who work to promote youth philanthropy and assist Youth Advisory Councils (YACs) throughout Michigan and the country.

During their time on the committee, members coordinate several trainings for YAC members, including the Summer Leadership Conference, Fall Regional Trainings, and Advisor Roundtables. The committee also sets the agenda for state-wide YAC initiatives.

"I am thrilled that Molly has been selected for this state leadership position," said Carol Bedient, Grants & Program Director and YAC Advisor of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. "I have watched Molly develop her leadership skills over the past four years as a YAC member, and could not be more pleased that she has an opportunity to further youth philanthropy in Michigan."

The Youth Advisory Council is a grantmaking committee of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, awarding approximately $75,000 in grants annually to programs and projects benefiting the youth of the Tri-Cities. In 2009, the YAC was recognized with one of five Great Grant & Community Initiative awards at MCFYP's annual Youth Leadership Conference.

Molly is the daughter of Dr. James Moore and Patti Eddington and lives in Spring Lake.

THE GRAND HAVEN AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION RECENTLY RANKED AS A TOP PERFORMER IN THE UNITED STATES

We often boast about how generous our community is, and a recent study confirmed that people in the Tri-Cities are very charitable.

CF Insights, a national data resource for Community Foundations, has recently announced its list of the top 100 community foundations. Of the more than 700 community foundations in the United States, Grand Haven Area Community Foundation ranked 63rd in total activity and 4th in terms of gifts per capita.

Total activity is based on the number of gifts in and grants out. The GHACF had 4,344 charitable transactions in 2009 putting them in 63rd place. Gifts per capita are based on the total dollar amount of gifts received, $4.6 million in 2009, and comparing that to the population of our community, places us near the top at #4.

"Certainly there are community foundations that raised much more than we did across the country, but what sets us apart is that we raised $4.6 million in a very small community. That 4.6 million number was achieved because of many annual givers but also because of the generous planned gifts individuals made in their estate plans. Typically families and individuals are able to make a much larger gift at their death than they are able to do while living. We are grateful for our community members who have plans to support our community foundation at their death." Says Holly Johnson, Development Director.

"We have long known that we live in one of the most generous communities in the nation. This new data is a great compliment to our community - but not totally surprising…. It goes to show that we have a great deal of heart and that we truly care about our neighbors and the place that we call home." Says, Ann Tabor, President, Grand Haven Area Community Foundation.

The GHACF has been a force for improving lives and promoting philanthropy in Northern Ottawa County for almost 40 years.

 

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