The Roberson Family

Isabelle Roberson loves the color red, the Detroit Tigers, and telling knock-knock jokes. When you ask how her day is going, she always gives the same answer: “it’s the best day ever.”

“Sometimes I have a hard day at school, but it doesn’t stay that way,” said Isabelle. “You can turn it around.”

When Isabelle’s parents, Joe and Amy Roberson, created a fund at the Community Foundation, it was wholly inspired by their daughter and her steadfast positivity. They set up the Isabelle Roberson “Best Day Ever” Fund to support activities for people with disabilities. The Robersons wanted to help other kids have some of the same great experiences that Isabelle—who lives with a rare genetic condition—has had. They also wanted to encourage other families.

“Having our family when we did in Newaygo County, we had so much support,” said Amy. “I’m so grateful. We didn’t feel isolated.”

“We would love to recreate our experience for others,” added Joe, who is a former Community Foundation trustee. “Every little bit helps. Every time you find another resource, you think ‘I can do this. I’m not alone.’ We hope people will see this fund and know there are others who understand. That can soothe anxiety and drive hope.”

Vera’s House

The red door on Justice Street in Newaygo is no accident. In the Episcopal tradition, a red door is a sign of welcome. Behind this door, next to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, anyone in need can find soup and a loaf of bread. It’s part of the mission of Vera’s House, a ministry of St. Mark’s.

“Our vision is for Vera’s House to be a place of healing and wholeness for the community,” said Mother BJ Heyboer, rector of St. Mark’s. “Our programs have been described as lifelines for people.”

Vera’s House is home to the Women in Transition support group and connects people to counseling through Project Illuminate. They also offer food through their Justice Street Pantry programs. In addition to the soup and bread, dedicated volunteers run Groceries to Go. On Friday afternoons, people can pick up a bag of meal ingredients and a recipe card. Each program has received grant support from the Community Foundation.

“There’s no one person who makes all this happen,” said Mother BJ. “It takes the efforts of many: the people who volunteer and the program participants. Each one is important. We tell everyone who comes that we’re grateful to be in community with them. We want this to be a place of gratitude for each other.”

Jim and Jan Tuman

Jim Tuman spent years traveling as a motivational speaker in schools. Even when he returned home to the Detroit area, he kept working to help kids. The organization he created—Jimmy’s Kids—has gathered school supplies, food, Christmas gifts, and more for children and families since 1988.

“Jim experienced a lot of trauma as a young person,” Jan Tuman, Jim’s wife, shared. “He felt like he could reach kids in those situations because he had been there.”

After Jan and Jim married, they divided their time between Detroit and White Cloud, Jan’s hometown. While they had their work with Jimmy’s Kids in Detroit, they also wanted a way to help students here. “Jim knew I loved the kids here,” said Jan, who worked for White Cloud Public Schools for more than 30 years.

The Tumans decided to create a scholarship at the Community Foundation for White Cloud graduates. Tragically, Jim passed away in 2025, before the first scholarship could be awarded. The scholarship will now be part of the legacy of kindness Jim worked to build in Michigan and beyond.

“It can live on for him,” Jan said. “If you can be kind, if you can help, why wouldn’t you? That was Jim. We both had a heart for young people, and there’s nothing better than seeing them succeed.”

Newaygo County Environmental Coalition

Whether you’re new to the area or have lived here all your life, the Newaygo County Environmental Coalition (NCEC) wants to make sure you understand how special our corner of
Michigan is.

“We’re lucky to have really unique ecosystems,” said Sarah Pregitzer, NCEC board chair. “It’s one of the most diverse areas in Michigan.”

These unique ecosystems deserve protection, so NCEC works with other groups and passionate volunteers to generate a robust calendar of opportunities for learning and action. Offerings include youth programming, vernal pool mapping, a new pollinator pathways initiative, and more. Their healthy habitat project received a grant from the Community Foundation.

“I love the spaces we have and the land that’s been protected here,” said Sarah. “We want people to understand not only how it all works, but how to help it work.”

In addition to teaching people how to care for our exceptional ecosystems, Sarah hopes more people realize connecting to nature can be an important form of self-care.

“If you’re feeling anxiety and stress about what’s going on in the world, take a break and learn more about the natural world,” she said. “When you know even a little bit, you start to recognize things when you walk in the woods. It’s something familiar. It feels like a friend.”

Richard and Sherrie Harris

While Fred Harris’s life was tragically short, it was also incredibly full. Fred was a talented artist and musician with perfect pitch. He liked to paint with his grandmother, tell jokes, and be on stage at the cystic fibrosis camp he attended in the summer.

“He was kind of a ham,” said Richard Harris, Fred’s father. “In the hospital, the nurses and therapists would come and banter with him. He was just a delightful child.”

As a way to honor Fred, Richard and his wife Sherrie created two funds at the Community Foundation to support things Fred loved. “We knew we wanted to honor Fred and his accomplishments where he spent many of his 13 years,” said Sherrie. “We also wanted to highlight his love for music, art, and theater.”

Sherrie and Richard created the Frederick Harris Memorial Funds for the Dogwood Center and the Newaygo County Council for the Arts. The funds are especially focused on supporting youth programming. “The arts are so important, and that’s what Fred loved,” said Sherrie. “The arts enriched his life, and it is important to us that other young people experience its magic.”

“It’s part of Fred’s legacy,” added Richard. “He loved life, and he made mine so special. I was privileged to be his father.”

Newaygo County Career-Tech Center

The 2025-2026 school year saw the end of an era at the Newaygo County Career-Tech Center (NCCTC). For over a decade, students in the construction program have built camping cabins for Newaygo County parks. But with the last two cabins set for completion this spring, NCCTC received a grant from the Community Foundation to start something new.

Beginning this fall, they’re partnering with Hope 101 and Love INC to build tiny homes for local people facing housing insecurity. The collaboration will help more families find shelter while continuing to provide invaluable experience for NCCTC students.

“We’ve used mock-ups to fill in gaps of what the cabins didn’t give us, like drywall and cabinets,” said instructor Chris Aebig. “Now with the tiny homes, students will get to do it all for real. It’s more of what they’ll see in the residential construction world.”

The new partnership is the next chapter of NCCTC’s mission to not only teach students technical skills, but to build durable skills like perseverance and communication along with a greater connection to community.

“We embed service throughout our curriculum,” said Andy Melius, NCCTC principal. “Certainly the technical skills are important, but students are also learning skills like leadership and adaptability and providing a service to their community. They’re making a meaningful impact.”

Alex and Carole Mintzer

Carole Mintzer’s parents, Dorsey and Sally Leckrone, were both teachers in Fremont. They also had eight children to support, “so there were a lot of side hustles,” remembered Carole’s husband, Alex. Dorsey raised cows, kept bees, and sold encyclopedias. “We didn’t have much growing up,” said Carole. “But we had just enough.”

The Leckrone legacy of education and hard work passed to their children. Among the eight siblings are college graduates, educators, business owners, consultants, and more. Sally taught Carole to read around the age of three and encouraged growing a good vocabulary.

“My parents believed in public education and they lived their commitment,” said Carole. To honor that commitment, the family created a scholarship named for Dorsey and Sally. Carole and Alex also joined the Our Next 75 donor group by including the Community Foundation in their estate plan.

“We have the resources, and we’re at a point in life where we’re thinking about what we’re going to do with them,” said Carole. “It feels good to support things and give to a good cause.”

Joan Richards

Joan Johnson Richards grew up in White Cloud, where her grandparents had once settled to work first in the lumber industry and then for the railroad. College and a career as an art teacher took Joan away from her hometown—Joan taught near Lansing for many years—but she has always felt a deep connection to White Cloud.

“I have a close feeling for White Cloud,” said Joan. “It was a fine place to grow up, and I would like to see the town thrive and people being proud of their town.”

To give back, Joan first created a scholarship at the Community Foundation for White Cloud graduates. She has gone on to create funds to support White Cloud, the environment and animal welfare, and White Cloud’s library, as well as a donor advised fund.

“I have what I need, I can do what I like, and I won’t be able to spend it all,” said Joan. “I want to give where it’s needed and to something that can make good use of it.”

Chris and Elizabeth Wren

Chris and Elizabeth Wren moved to Newaygo County from the east side of the state nearly a decade ago. While their move was prompted by Chris’s job as county administrator, they have embraced the sense of community, slower pace, and outdoor opportunities they found here. “We’re very fortunate to be in Newaygo County,” said Chris. “It was a big change for us, but the more we’re here, the more we appreciate what it has to offer.”

As part of their commitment to this community, Chris—who serves on our board—and Elizabeth joined Our Next 75. “We know that through the Community Foundation a little can go a long way,” said Elizabeth. “We want to set an example for our son so he can learn the importance of giving too.”

“It’s all about being part of a community,” said Chris. “We’re invested in this community. We chose to raise our son here. We want to see this community grow and thrive.”

Camp Sunshine

Since 1983, Camp Sunshine has given adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities a traditional summer camp experience. But the true magic of Camp Sunshine goes beyond archery, crafts, and capture the flag.

“We try to meet campers’ recreational, relational, physical, and spiritual needs,” said Executive Director Kathy Rohlman. “Our population is often socially isolated. We want to do all we can to ensure opportunities for them.”

At two locations each summer, campers are matched with a volunteer counselor who is there not only to help address a camper’s needs but to be a friend. The experience is deeply impactful for both groups.

“For our counselors, some of them will tell you this is the one place they can come and truly be themselves,” said Kathy. “For our campers, they can come here and experience joy and delight without judgment.”

A typical day at camp is “just a whole lot of fun,” noted Kathy. There are songs, water activities, dance parties, and more. Sessions hosted locally at Camp Henry are funded in part by a grant from the Amazing X Charitable Fund.

Largely staffed by volunteers, Camp Sunshine also has relationships with schools like Davenport University. The camp serves as a Level I field placement for their master’s level occupational therapy students.

Kathy herself began as a volunteer. When the organization expanded to Camp Henry in 2014, she was invited to join the leadership team. “I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world,” she said. “This has shaped me in a way I never thought possible.”

For 2026, Kathy is excited about the camp theme, “we belong.” She would also love to see more local people get involved. “We would love to have people from Newaygo County volunteer,” she said. “There are lots of ways to help. It can be hard to find the goodness in the world sometimes, but you can find it here.”

John and Colleen Buckley

For John and Colleen Buckley, the draw of Newaygo County always comes back to one thing: the people.

“It’s all about the people,” said John, who is president and CEO of Gerber Federal Credit Union. “There’s an energy here from people wanting to make things a little better than they were yesterday. There are things going on here. Local people get it.”

John grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and Colleen is from Holton where both of her parents were teachers. “I never imagined I would be back,” she shared with a smile. However, she and John were living in Cadillac when the career opportunity at the Credit Union came along. They have been here ever since.

“For me, it’s home,” said Colleen. “It’s a great place to be from.”

The Buckleys love their peaceful community, its caring people, and the beauty of nature all around them. They also like that it has been easy to pursue their interests and get involved here.

“It’s easy to plug in and get involved in what we like to do,” said John, who is a longtime Rotarian. Both he and Colleen also serve on local boards.

Being involved and giving back comes naturally. “It’s how we were raised,” said John. “Our parents showed us that this is how you act in community.”

“It’s not a question of if we give, but how we give,” added Colleen. “And when we looked for a way to give locally, there was no question we would partner with the Community Foundation. They make it easy.”

The Buckleys have included the Community Foundation in their estate plan as one more way to do their part in supporting the community they love.

“Everybody has the opportunity to make a difference,” said John. “And it doesn’t have to be a big thing. Every little bit moves us one step farther.”

DuWayne and Jean Schuler

Sadly, Jean passed away in August shortly after we interviewed her and DuWayne for this story. She was a gracious, generous person, and she is deeply missed.

DuWayne and Jean Schuler have floated down the Amazon River, hunted roe deer at Balmoral, and visited former exchange students in Japan. But for all their travels, it’s their home on Ryerson Lake that the Schulers describe as their piece of heaven on Earth.

After decades in Kent County—where Jean was a teacher and DuWayne owned a wine shop—the Schulers were introduced to Ryerson Lake by friends who invited them to visit. “We thought it was terrific and kept coming back,” said DuWayne. They eventually began renting a cottage and then bought property of their own. They have now lived here full-time for more than 20 years.

This community, said DuWayne, “has a certain Currier and Ives feel to it.” The Schulers enjoy the rural setting with impressive amenities like Tamarac, the Dogwood Center, and a great library. They also like that local people are quick to give back.

“We’re thankful that so many people have put their resources back into the town,” said Jean. “You can see the difference it makes.”

DuWayne and Jean share the same commitment. DuWayne has served on the library board and volunteered with the Friends of the Library, an organization Jean led for years. Jean has also enjoyed volunteering at Camp Newaygo and being part of the Fremont Garden Club and Quilter’s Guild. When friends introduced them to the Community Foundation, it felt like another natural fit. They decided to create the Jean Schuler Education Fund here in honor of Jean’s career as an educator.

“I wanted something that would reflect what Jean had been involved in,” said DuWayne. “She was an extraordinary teacher and had a profound influence on many young lives.”

Huntey’s Clubhouse

Tyler Huntey’s mother, Christine Huntey, provided in-home daycare from the time Tyler was in preschool. She built her first Huntey’s Clubhouse childcare center in 2008.

Tyler went on to earn a business management degree from Central Michigan University and lived and worked in Detroit after college. When he came back to West Michigan, he got involved with the family business and is now its co-CEO.

“When I moved back from Detroit, we just had the Big Rapids and Morley childcare centers,” he said. Today, there are Huntey’s Clubhouses in seven communities, including Newaygo and Hesperia. They employ nearly 200 staff and care for more than 750 children.

“We’re providing a Grand Rapids level of childcare here in our rural area,” said Tyler.

Huntey’s Clubhouses are bright and inviting, with outside play areas and walls decorated with children’s artwork. They care for children from six weeks to 12 years old and offer preschool and pre-K through Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Program.

As Huntey’s Clubhouse expanded into Newaygo County, they moved into a building in Hesperia near downtown and next to Hesperia Community Schools. However, the interior needed some work. Using a program-related investment from the Community Foundation, Huntey’s Clubhouse was able to more quickly make the updates needed to open their new center. Funds helped with new paint, flooring, storage, appliances, updated security, and more.

Recently, Hesperia’s Huntey’s Clubhouse achieved the highest quality rating a licensed childcare
provider can receive from the State of Michigan.

“It’s a lot of responsibility when you make a commitment to a community,” said Tyler. “We’re incredibly proud of this accomplishment and want to thank the Community Foundation for its support, which played a key role in helping our program reach this outstanding level of quality.”

Fremont Middle School

In Fremont Middle School’s life skills class, seventh graders learn about budgeting, basic sewing, and etiquette for weddings and funerals. “But cooking is the favorite,” said teacher Heidi Bonnema. “They take pride in what they make. I have a lot of photos of kids holding their perfect pancakes.”

One of Heidi’s goals is to help students become a little less dependent on adults. In class, they cook in small groups, with everyone assigned a role. They celebrate successes and failures, because everything is an opportunity to learn and problem-solve.

“Kids who struggle with traditional seatwork absolutely thrive in here,” said Heidi. “It’s hands-on and they work as a team. It’s fun to watch kids come to life and enjoy themselves at school.”

While donations help the school navigate rising food costs, the classroom itself needed a major refresh. “I had parents and grandparents of students say they remembered this room looking exactly the same when they attended school here,” said Heidi.

Hard work and collaborations—including a grant from the Community Foundation—gave the class a boost to start the 2024-2025 school year. Students were welcomed into a renovated space with bright, modern kitchens.

“The kids take a lot of ownership; they make sure the room is kept clean,” said Heidi. “This is my eleventh year at Fremont, and it has really put energy into my teaching to have this new space.”

Judy Chesley

Owning a business began as a practical matter for Judy Chesley and her late husband, Dick Chesley. They were expecting their first child when they opened their store, figuring they could keep the baby right there with them during the day. Dick, Judy, and later their son, ran Hilltop Shopping Center near Hardy Dam for almost 50 years.

“I loved watching it grow and seeing the customers come back year after year,” said Judy. “People feel you’re their friend when you have a mom-and-pop store. You get to know them.”

Over the years, Judy made thousands of the huge cinnamon rolls Hilltop was known for. She also helped introduce many young adults to the workforce. “We had so many nice young people who worked for us,” she said. “I taught them how to make change and interact with customers.”

Today, Judy and her family are still helping students prepare for jobs, just in a different way. Judy created the Chesley Family Scholarship for Grant and Newaygo graduates planning to study entrepreneurship or small business. It was awarded for the first time in 2024.

“School is so expensive and you need all the help you can get,” said Judy. “I’m just one of hundreds who have created scholarships, but I hope that kids who receive it feel proud that someone believes in them.”

Woodland Park

During the era of Jim Crow segregation, Woodland Park was a haven for Black vacationers and travelers. In the summer, every cottage, resort rental, and room at the Kelsonia Inn and other hotels was booked.

As new opportunities opened for Black travelers in the mid-1960s, Woodland Park and nearby Idlewild saw a steady decline in traffic. Landmarks like the Royal Breeze Hotel exist now only in memory. However, a local group is dedicated to reviving and sharing those memories.

“We were inspired by a desire to preserve the work done by the founders of this historically Black resort community,” wrote members of the community group. “We feared our history would be lost.”

The committee works with partners like The Right Place and MSU Extension, and in 2024, the Community Foundation awarded a grant for historic signage.

“We felt many driving nearby wouldn’t even know they were in Woodland Park or why it was so special,” said Julie Burrell of The Right Place. “We wanted to change that in a visible way, and a collection of interpretive signs was the answer.” It’s a big step in a plan to preserve and celebrate the significance of this treasured area.

“We look forward to visitors learning more about Woodland Park,” wrote members of the committee. “Woodland Park is not only a local treasure, it is a national treasure.”

Pictured: Patricia Plaut-Payne, Venola Walton-Stanciel, Harvey Sanders, Debbie Jones, and Julie Burrell. The committee also includes Ziyadah Shakir, Carol Vandyke, Stephen Jones Jr., Leslie Woods, and David Woods.

Isaac Frisbie

As a student at Newaygo High School, Isaac Frisbie was a member of our Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). “YAC provided the opportunity for youth in the community to help others and make an impact,” said Isaac. “I liked meeting students from other schools and the community service we did.”

After graduation, Isaac received a scholarship from the Community Foundation and attended Northern Michigan University. “I wanted to do something in the trades, but I wasn’t sure what that could be,” said Isaac. He talked to another student who was planning to be a shop teacher and it sparked a new idea.

Isaac is now an industrial arts teacher at Reed City High School, where he works with eighth through 12th graders. He enjoys watching students develop their skills, progressing from learning about tools and safety basics to planning and executing their own projects.

He has also found a way to build on his philanthropy experience as an advisor for Osceola County Community Foundation’s YAC.

“It has been cool to help students realize the value in service and giving back,” said Isaac. “I hope they take away that you don’t have to have money to give. Find an organization you’re passionate about and volunteer. You always have an opportunity to help.”

Charles Chandler and Dianne Taylor

Charles Chandler and Dianne Taylor traded corporate airline jobs and the hustle of the Dallas-Fort Worth area for the rural living and outdoor adventures of White Cloud.

“Fly fishing brought us here,” said Dianne. “We had already been coming here to fish, so we decided we wanted to retire up here.”

Dianne and Charles quickly immersed themselves in the community. Their interest in fly fishing led to kayaking, hiking, and a love of the North Country Trail. “We got involved early on when we came here and through that we developed a community of friends,” said Charles.

As they got involved in different local projects, Charles shared, “everywhere I turned, I saw these little signs: ‘donated by Fremont Area Community Foundation.’” Charles learned more about the Community Foundation, joined our community development committee, and now serves on our Board of Trustees.

He and Dianne also decided to create a fund here centered on natural resources and the environment.

“I don’t think there’s a better place to put our money,” said Charles. “The Community Foundation is a place that allows us to be our better selves. We know that when we’re not here, the Community Foundation will still be here and continuing to grow. This is a legacy investment we’re making.”

Hope 101

Hope 101 was created to help people achieve stable housing. It’s still the heart of their mission. Unfortunately, food insecurity often goes hand-in-hand with housing insecurity.

“A lot of our participants use food pantries,” said Julie Vitale, executive director. “But it can be hard to get protein there, or the protein that is offered may be disconnected from the other items they receive.”

As Hope 101 thought about ways to help, they realized that many churches have commercial kitchens that often go unused during the week. This inspired the creation of The Cookery, which was supported by a Community Foundation grant in 2024.

Team members—often Hope 101 housing participants—prepare hearty entrees and soups in licensed church kitchens. Frozen meals are available on a “pay what you can” basis and stocked at partner sites. The program also provides job experience and income for those on the cooking team. A newly-renovated building in downtown White Cloud will expand their reach and allow for serving hot meals.

“Homelessness and hunger don’t just happen to someone else. It could be you, it could be your child,” said Julie. “One of the most rewarding moments was when a participant said, ‘Thank you for seeing me when I couldn’t see myself.’ These are people who work hard and have dreams, but life has been unkind. They need someone to see them.”

Price Family

While Orville and Wanda Price didn’t push their three children toward specific careers, they did communicate the value of skilled trades. “They told us that skilled trades had been really good paths for them,” said their son Dan Price. “Even if we didn’t pursue it as a career, it would give us good experience to fall back on.”

Beyond their own family, Orville and Wanda worked hard to bring training opportunities to all local students. They were both active in the creation of the Newaygo County Career-Tech Center. Orville, a diesel mechanic, took a leave of absence from his job to help set up the automotive program. Wanda set up and taught the culinary program.

After Orville passed away in 2024, the family created two funds at the Community Foundation to support the Career-Tech Center—one in Orville’s name and one in Wanda’s. “I had a good mom and dad,” said Dan. “Their motto was you might not have a lot of money, but there are still a lot of things you can do. Whatever level you’re at, you can help somebody.”

“Giving through the Community Foundation is one of the ways a person can come from limited means and make a big difference,” Dan continued. “We’re tickled to death to be a small part, because we know that big things start small.”

Pictured: Mat Emerick, Kathy Price, Dan Price, Andrea Price, and Terry Price

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