Trustees Emeritus
In 1971, twelve visionary community leaders each gave $100 to launch the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. Their dream was to create a permanent community endowment—one that would be built over time by gifts and bequests from individuals, families and organizations. Now, almost 50 years later, that dream is still being realized.
Today, it is our continuing mission to provide funding to programs that support every corner of Northwest Ottawa County, and make life in our community better for all. Our priorities are threefold: to help our donors realize their philanthropic goals; to better our community with grants for meaningful, necessary projects; and to collaborate with other regional partners to create overall community good and expand our philanthropic reach.
The first meeting of the Foundation’s incorporators was held on June 3, 1971. The incorporators—Paul Johnson, Miller Sherwood, Gene Olsen, Ed Baas, Edgar Garrison, Gene Rothi, and Jacob Ponstein—asked local governing officials, bank trust officers, judges, and school superintendents to appoint the first Foundation Trustees.
They appointed the following individuals:
Vin Erickson, President
Miller Sherwood, Vice-President
John Carlyle, Secretary/Treasurer
Dottie Johnson
Ruben Sturkol
Ida Mae Schaafsma
Moira Allen
William Van Slooten
John Montgomery
Ed Dahlstrom
The GHACF is where it is today because of the men and women who’ve served on our board. We’re thankful for their passion, dedication, and service. The following list represents individuals who have served on the GHACF board.
Moira Allen*
Donald R. Anderson
Leonard Anderson
Gary Baas
Jeff Beswick
Calvin Bosman
Paul J. Boyink*
Richard Briegel
Melinda Brink
John C. Carlyle
Carol Cousineau
Kennard Creason
William M. Creason*
Tom Creswell
Edward Dahlstrom*
Dennis Dornbush
James Doss
Mary Eagin
E.V. Erickson*
Mary Jane Evink
Kenneth Formsma
Edward Hanenburg
Nancy Hanenburg
Kenneth Harestad*
Bud Hoffman
George A. Jackoboice*
Lana Jacobson
Mary Jacobson
Dorothy Johnson
F. Martin Johnson*
Holly Johnson
Susan Jonas
James MacLachlan
Peter G. Manting*
Mike McKeough
Donna B. Meeusen*
Donnell Mersereau
John M. Montgomery*
Darell Moreland
Steve Moreland
George Pardee*
Tim Parker
Ted Parker
Edward R. Post
Shirley Poulton
John Randall*
Aileen Redeker
Thomas R. Reinsma
Gerald V. Retzlaff
Gail Ringelberg
Charles Rycenga, Jr.*
James C. Sawyer*
Ida Mae Schaafsma*
David H. Seibold
Helene D. Sherwood*
Lynne Sherwood*
Marion A. Sherwood*
Miller G. Sherwood*
Sheila Steffel
Ruben W. Sturkol
Bonnie Suchecki
Robert N. Swart
Kenneth D. Terpstra
Paul M. Trap
Doris Van Dam*
William VanSlooten*
Gary L. Verplank
L.J. “Midge” Verplank
Monica Verplank
Michael A. Volkema
Ronald R. Whitehouse
Marcia Witherell
Kim Zevalkink
*notes deceased