Making a Positive Impact in Our Community
Every contribution to the Greatest Needs Fund—whether it’s $5 or $5,000—means one more program can increase self-esteem in young girls, or combat invasive species that threaten our trees, or help update zoning ordinances to allow more affordable housing to be built in our community.
–> Your contributions make a difference – right here in Northwest Ottawa County <-- As our community’s needs evolve, we remain committed to improving the quality of life for all, because we all benefit from a healthy and vibrant community. Your gift to the Greatest Needs Fund makes this possible.
How Will You Give Back?
Today is Giving Tuesday, a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving.
Recent Grants Support Teen Center, Books for Students
We are pleased to announce thirteen third-round grant awards, totaling $450,085, in support of Northwest Ottawa County and our surrounding communities. This includes a $75,000 grant to Momentum Center for their Teen/Pre-Teen program, which provides community and support to area youth and focuses on positive relationships, mental health, and wellbeing, with the goal of reducing mental health crises in the youth population.
This is Community Foundation Week
There’s a quote you hear a lot in the world of community foundations: “If you’ve seen one community foundation, you’ve seen one community foundation.” What that means is while at our core each foundation is here to impact lives, solve problems, and improve futures, each foundation reflects its community and therefore is unique.
Inspiring Philanthropy
We’re redefining philanthropy to include time, talent, treasure, and ties, because it’s not about how much you give, but how deeply you care.
Why We Give: Joyce & Andy Cawthon
Andy and Joyce Cawthon chose to open a named greatest needs fund because “there is great value in pooling resources with other people of a similar mind,” said Andy. “My individual giving might not have an impact on a pressing community need, and if I’m picking the beneficiary, how do I know if I’m picking the best thing? We trust the foundation to make that decision for us.” By making an unrestricted contribution to the foundation, the Cawthons can rest assured that today, tomorrow, and forever those resources will be invested wisely and with a focus on impact.
Expanding the Definition of Diversity
Many people’s first thought when they hear the word diversity has something to do with race. With race relations as a constant nationwide conversation and at the forefront of our education, and therefore our understanding, it’s no wonder diversity and race tend to be synonymous within ourselves and popular culture.
Diversity can come from any part of a person’s identity. Race, gender, sexuality, socio-economic status, age, religion, education, disability, and so many others influence who we are and how others interact with us.
Youth Are Changemakers
Our overall goal remains is to empower youth to be changemakers, give them the tangible skills to make sound decisions, become critically aware of some of the issues their peers face, and provide them with platforms to be community advocates.
GHACF Affiliates: Allendale Community Foundation
Did you know that the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation has two affiliate community foundations, each of which serves other communities in Northern Ottawa County? Both Allendale and the Coopersville Area are home to their own foundations, and we’d like to spotlight them in a two-part blog series. Now featuring the Allendale Community Foundation…
GHACF Affiliates: Coopersville Area Community Foundation
Did you know that the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation has two affiliate community foundations, each of which serves other communities in Northern Ottawa County? Both Allendale and the Coopersville Area are home to their own foundations, and we’d like to spotlight them in a two-part blog series. First, the Coopersville Area Community Foundation…
“The foundation for a brighter future”
“Our role as a community foundation is to support our students and continue to explore ways to lift them up,” said Lauren Grevel, Education and Youth Initiatives Officer at the GHACF. “There is a growing, nationwide conversation among scholarship providers on how to best support and engage first-generation college students, and our scholarship committee and team are no different.”
Leaving a Legacy
While legacy can be defined in many different ways, the Legacy Society at the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation recognizes individuals and couples who have named the Foundation as the beneficiary of any type of planned or deferred gift. The purpose of the group is to acknowledge and thank those who have planned for these gifts and to inspire other individuals to do the same.
Welcome New Board Members
We recently welcomed two new members to the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees: Keith Konarska and Shirley Woodruff.
Recent Grants Focus on Youth, Wellness
At the end of May, our board, together with the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), announced nine second-round grant awards, totaling $203,015 in support of Northwest Ottawa County and our surrounding communities. This includes a $25,000 grant to the City of Ferrysburg for a new playground at Fire Barn Park at the intersection of 174th Avenue and North Shore Road.