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.
Barb VanHeest
Chair
Chase Bank
Mark Pereira
Vice Chair
Brilliance Publishing/Amazon
Keith Konarska
Secretary
Retired Superintendent
Anil Mandala
Treasurer
V Solutions Global
Cindy Anderson
Retired Educator
Mary Carole Cotter
Attorney/NOCH VolunteerServices Dept.
Nelson Jacobson
JSJ Corporation
Natalia Kovicak
Economic Club of Grand Rapids
David Swain
Dentist
Pat VerDuin
Workforce development
Shirley Woodruff
Heritage Property Management
Recent Blog Posts
Learn from the top thought leaders in the industry.
Leaving a legacy, one student at a time
Education affordability is a significant issue for our local graduates. Improving the accessibility of post-secondary opportunities is a priority for the foundation. This year, we awarded scholarships to 224 students in the Northwest Ottawa County area, providing a total of $655,095 worth of assistance.
Enriching our Community through Arts and Culture
We also understand that celebrating art begins with investing in programs that make it accessible—and enjoyable—in our community. Because of this, we dedicate grants and resources to programs that bring regional and national art and cultural experiences into the community while also supporting the growth of local organizations.
Changes to the Board
As a community foundation, we rely on the wisdom and guidance of our Board of Trustees as we work to carry out the mission of our organization. This year our board members donated their time, energy, and expertise to help us best respond to our community’s needs during a particularly unprecedented time. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing board member and to welcome our new member. This year, Chad Bush has reached the end of his term and we welcome Natalia Kovicak to the board.