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
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Youth Philanthropy & Empowerment in 2020
At the foundation, we’ve adapted and adjusted, and are remaining flexible not only in how we deliver programming to our YAC, but in how we plan to spread philanthropy and our work to the youth in our community. We continue to focus on youth empowerment—specifically through mental & emotional, physical, and community & cultural wellbeing.
Over $620,000 Awarded in Scholarships
This spring, we awarded $621,140 in scholarships to 220 area students. The GHACF holds over 125 scholarship funds with varying criteria, such as financial need, academic achievements, and field of study. Another factor our scholarship committee considers is if a student would be among the first in their family in their generation to continue their education after high school. This year, we were able to award scholarships to 32 first generation students.
Recent Grant Helps Digitize Local History
We are pleased to announce fifteen second-round grant awards, totaling $225,923, in support of Northwest Ottawa County and our surrounding communities. This includes $40,000 to the Tri-Cities Historical Museum for their three-part capital improvement project at the Community Archive and Research Center (CARC), located at 14100 172nd Avenue in Grand Haven.