As we’re nearing the end of our 75th anniversary year, I’d like to share some of the history highlights that make Fremont Area Community Foundation so special.
Did you know:
In 1951
- Fremont attorney William J. Branstrom—along with Frank Gerber, Horace Loomis, Dick Pikaart, Herman Schuiteman, and Bessie Slautterback—created a new private foundation called the Fremont Foundation. They gathered charitable funds established by Harry Williams, J. Andrew and Mattie Gerber, and others to benefit the community. Bessie Slautterback, a Fremont teacher, was hired as the foundation’s first employee and leader. She led our work for the next two decades until retiring in 1971.
In 1972
- The Fremont Foundation reorganized to become a public charity and community foundation. Our name was changed to The Fremont Area Foundation.
- The service arm of the former private foundation was separated to create a new nonprofit organization named Newaygo County Community Services. It would later become TrueNorth Community Services.
In 1976
- Assets reached $8,828,042.
In 1977
- We achieved a milestone with grants topping the $1 million mark for the first time in our history. At the time, grants were awarded in six categories, including education, arts and culture, and health/hospitals.
In 1990
- To support the expansion of philanthropy in Michigan, we partnered with emerging community foundations in two neighboring counties. The Big Rapids Area Community Foundation—now called Mecosta County Community Foundation—and Osceola County Community Foundation became our geographic affiliate foundations. Through this partnership, we have provided services like investment management, administrative oversight, financial management, and public reporting to our affiliates. Lake County Community Foundation became our third affiliate in 1992.
In 1992
- We formed a Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) in response to a challenge grant by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Originally called the YEAR Committee, the group was made up of Newaygo County high school students and given the responsibility for overseeing the newly-created Youth Endowment Fund and advising the board on matters impacting local youth. Since 1992, more than 250 students have served on our YAC.
In 1994
- Gerber Products, Inc. was sold to Sandoz of Switzerland. At the time, we owned 1.8 million shares of Gerber stock and saw our assets grow from $65 million to $109 million virtually overnight. We grew from a staff of three to a staff of 10 within a year.
In 1998
- On June 4, we dedicated our new office building on West 48th Street—where we are still located today. Our new eight-acre property allowed for the construction of a 9,400-square foot building to house our growing staff. The architectural design was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous prairie style.
In 2002
- We created the Bessie Slautterback Bequest Society, now called the Slautterback Legacy Society. Named for the organization’s first leader, the society recognizes all those who have included the Community Foundation in their estate plans.
In 2018
- YAC reaches $1 million in total grants awarded since 1995.
In 2021
- Total assets topped $300 million for the first time.
In 2025
- As of the end of 2025, our assets had reached $342.5 million and we awarded $9.8 million in grants and $859,705 in scholarships throughout the year.
And, in 2026
- We are now home to 827 funds and have the highest assets in our history. We remain the largest rural community foundation in Michigan.
Because of your generosity, we can invest in our community. Forever. And we can’t thank you enough. What amazing things will we do together in the next 75 years?
