Autumn is upon us! Thank you to the many people and organizations who have given us feedback as we engage in strategic planning. Trustees and staff are listening to the community and finding innovative ways to enhance our philanthropy. The Community Foundation belongs to Newaygo County, and we are very cognizant of the legacy we hold and the future we can impact.
A hallmark of the Community Foundation is being a trusted steward of community funds. We value that trust, and we are thoroughly examining what we’ve done well in grantmaking and convening and seeking to enhance our role in a more innovative way in coming years. We’ve learned that grantees appreciate when we are flexible and able to address community needs quickly. We also know that the pandemic changed our perspective on how to attain real and lasting positive change.
We plan to wrap up our strategic planning process and have new goals to share by year’s end. Please look for further information about this unfolding process coming soon.
This summer, we were pleased to welcome Todd DeKryger, Ken DeLaat, and Julie Tatko to our Board of Trustees. You can read more about them here. We are delighted to have their collective wealth of experience join our board.
On another note, we were excited to once again partner on College and Career Night Out at the end of September. Our trustees and staff are so proud of our commitment to educational success. Another example of this commitment is our scholarship program. The online application for high school seniors opened October 1. To learn more, please visit our website or call us at 231.924.5350.
My first year as president and CEO has been the most rewarding of my career. My family has fallen in love with Newaygo County. Thank you for making us feel welcomed as community members, and for the joy and privilege of serving as president and CEO of your Community Foundation.
