The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation Board
Board of Trustees
The Governing Board of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation is made up of local leaders from diverse backgrounds. Our trustees provide invaluable guidance and vision for all areas of our work. These individuals donate their time, energy, and expertise to help us identify opportunities for long-term community impact, respond swiftly and appropriately when unforeseen challenges arise, and address our community’s ever-changing social, cultural, educational, and greatest needs.
Chad Bush
Chair
US Retail, Inc.
Barb VanHeest
Vice Chair
Chase Bank
Anil Mandala
Secretary
V Solutions Global
Mark Pereira
Treasurer
Brilliance Publishing/Amazon
Cindy Anderson
Retired Educator
Mary Carole Cotter
Attorney/NOCH VolunteerServices Dept.
Nelson Jacobson
JSJ Corporation
Keith Konarska
Retired Superintendent
David Swain
Dentist
Pat VerDuin
Workforce development
Shirley Woodruff
Heritage Property Management
Recent Blog Posts
Learn from the top thought leaders in the industry.
Foundation Grants Additional $223,927 for COVID-19 Relief
“Winter always brings a higher level of need in our community, and the pandemic has only amplified that. Many of our partners are striving to simply maintain operations, while others have been required to greatly expand their capacity, all while complying with critical health and safety standards that have unfortunately limited their opportunities to generate revenue and fundraise.” – Holly Cole, Vice President of Grants and Program
YAC Continues to Support Area Youth
With the first half of our Youth Advisory Council (YAC) year underway, the committee has adapted to a virtual meeting format while still working towards empowering and supporting youth in Northwest Ottawa County. We’ve used this time to pause and pivot our work, leaning into the data that shows what our youth need.
Grant Helps Support Innovative Food Industry
The Board of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation (GHACF) is pleased to announce eight third-round Community Impact grant awards, totaling $204,720, in support of Northwest Ottawa County and our surrounding communities. This includes a $75,000 grant to Muskegon Area First for the West Michigan Food Processing Association’s (WMFPA) FutureFood21 program: “Healthy Food & Sustainability through Increased Education.”