Community Stories

Annual Report, Giving, , Scholarships
Annual report highlight: Making giving a habit
July 2022
David and Rhonda Byrne
Hope College has always been an important part of David and Rhonda Byrne's story. They met there and were even married by the school's chaplain, who offered advice they have followed ever since: start giving together and make it a habit.

Annual Report, Community, Giving, Scholarships
Annual report highlight: Four generations of generosity
July 2022
Crandell Family
The Crandell family has been a fixture in Newaygo County for 120 years. They have always made community a priority, through their work, volunteerism, and with a scholarship they created for Fremont and White Cloud graduates.

Annual Report, Giving
Annual report highlight: Protecting local lakes
July 2022
Bill Alsover
Every summer since 1949, Bill Alsover’s family relocated from their East Grand Rapids home to a cottage on Pickerel Lake. When Bill moved to the area full-time over a decade ago, he began to notice changes in the lake.

Annual Report, Community
Annual report highlight: Saving for the future
July 2022
Kickstart to Career
While the class of 2030’s graduation may seem far off, Kickstart to Career Newaygo County has been planning for it since before those students started kindergarten in 2018. The kids in this inaugural Kickstart class were the first to receive savings accounts seeded with $50 from the Community Foundation.

Annual Report, Giving
Annual report highlight: Meeting local needs
July 2022
Jeanne Leaver
Jeanne Leaver and her husband Bill created a donor advised fund at the Community Foundation because they wanted a sustainable way to support the area they were born in and returned to as adults. It was here they learned the importance of giving back through the example of their families and neighbors.

Annual Report, Grants
Annual report highlight: Helping people get to work
July 2022
Fremont Service Committee
Transportation is one of our area’s biggest barriers to employment. Classis Muskegon’s Fremont Service Committee helps fill the need by providing cars and repairs to local people trying to get to work.

Community, Grants
A safe space for healing
April 2022
Center for Hope and Healing
The new Center for Hope and Healing is the joint vision of Newaygo County Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and Open Arms Child Advocacy Center. Together, the organizations provide an array of services to build stronger families and prevent abuse while also supporting children who have experienced abuse.

Annual Report, Community, Giving,
Annual report highlight: Give
July 2021
Roger and Becky Tuuk
Roger and Becky Tuuk have grown to love many things about Newaygo County in their 40 years here. Through service and their donor advised fund, they find ways to give back to the causes and organizations close to their hearts.

Annual Report, Community, Grants
Annual report highlight: Nurture
July 2021
TrueNorth Community Services
As the pandemic started to take hold in March 2020, the staff at TrueNorth Community Services was sure of at least one thing: "As soon as schools closed, we knew it would have serious repercussions," said Mike Voyt, director of hunger prevention programs.

Annual Report, Community, Giving
Annual report highlight: Appreciate
July 2021
Art Sanders
In the early 1960s, a phone call from Bessie Slautterback—the Community Foundation’s first executive director—with news of a scholarship helped clear the way for Art Sanders to start dental school. It also inspired a deep desire to give back.

Giving
Philanthropy at work
May 2021
James and Jamie King
From family dinners in his childhood to his career as a museum director, James King has seen philanthropy at work throughout his life. The generosity they've witnessed has inspired James and his wife Jamie to find ways to give back to the places that are important to them.

Annual Report, Giving, , Scholarships
Where connection happens
October 2020
Bill and Judy Johnson
When Bill and Judy Johnson designed their scholarship fund, they got creative. Instead of helping a student with just the first semester or year of college, they worked with the Community Foundation to set up a scholarship that follows one student all the way through.

Annual Report, Community, Grants
Where innovation happens
October 2020
Grow North
Entrepreneurs in rural areas face unique challenges, including difficulty connecting with others who are going through the same thing. To foster greater connection, The Right Place partnered with the Community Foundation and Northern Initiatives to create the Grow North series.

Annual Report, Community, Giving,
Where generosity happens
October 2020
John and Ailene Pugno
Despite chapters in their lives lived in other cities, John and Ailene Pugno always felt the pull of their hometowns. Now the couple is creating two funds through their estate plan to permanently support the community that holds their hearts.

Annual Report, Grants
Where healing happens
October 2020
Open Arms Child Advocacy Center
Until recently, local children who experienced abuse often had to face telling their story over and over to police, lawyers, investigators, and others. Now, at Open Arms Child Advocacy Center, children tell their story just once to a specially-trained interviewer in a child-friendly setting and have access to an array of supportive services.

Community, Grants
Support during a pandemic
September 2020
Women’s Information Service, Inc (WISE)
Imagine navigating a pandemic and stay-at-home orders when home is a dangerous place. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, WISE has continued serving local survivors of domestic and sexual violence, even as the organization quickly adjusted to new safety guidelines and contended with budget limitations.

Community, Giving, Grants
Dignity at the end
January 2020
Newaygo County Compassion Home
In the middle of a blizzard on icy roads, three local nurses drove to Lansing to tour a hospice home. They knew instantly they had to bring the concept back to Newaygo County. The Newaygo County Compassion Home was born in that blizzard, a dream of a warm home where people could complete their lives in dignity, comfort, and love.

Giving, Scholarships
Helping students get ahead
January 2020
Don and Sue Farmer
Don and Sue Farmer believe in the power of scholarships, so they created one at the Community Foundation. It's a way for them to help local students get ahead and a reflection of the couple's gratitude for the ways the Newaygo County community has impacted their lives.

Giving, , Scholarships
Starting now
December 2019
Tom and Char TenBrink
Tom and Char TenBrink talked about creating a scholarship someday through their estate plan. However, after learning about the Community Foundation's build-a-fund program, the adventure-loving couple decided to use it to start their scholarship now.

Giving,
Supporting scholar athletes
September 2019
Randy and Shari Paulsen
Randy and Shari Paulsen and their two sons all attended Fremont High School. Both boys were also involved in athletics, so Randy and Shari know first-hand how important sports can be to students. That's why they created a fund to support their alma mater and its athletics programs.

Giving,
Everyday philanthropists
September 2019
Mark Ramsey and Lola Harmon-Ramsey
Mark Ramsey and Lola Harmon-Ramsey are passionate about being involved in the community where they live, own a business, and raise a family. The Our Next 75 donor group at the Community Foundation gave them a simple, accessible way to invest in their community's future. "When I heard about it, I thought 'We can do that,'" said Lola. "For the first time, I thought maybe I can be a philanthropist."

Giving,
Giving back to those starting out
September 2019
Dawn Williams
In recognition of the community's support of her salon and knowing how difficult it can be to start out as a stylist, Dawn Williams created the Hair Station Fund at the Community Foundation. The fund supports an annual award that will help graduating cosmetologists from the Newaygo County Career-Tech Center get their start.

Annual Report, Giving, Scholarships
Annual report highlight: A heart for compassion
June 2019
Nicole Klomp and Mike Slaughter
Mike Slaughter, along with family and friends, created a scholarship in memory of his son Tyler. It was recently awarded for the first time to Nicole Klomp, a local social worker who shares Tyler's passion for being an advocate for people in crisis.

Annual Report, Giving
Annual report highlight: A heart for family legacy
June 2019
The Branstrom Family
Margaret Branstrom was not as public a figure as her husband, William Branstrom, but she was very much his partner in philanthropy. In addition to carrying on a family legacy of giving, the couple's grandchildren want to ensure Margaret's name is remembered alongside William's.

Annual Report, Giving,
Annual Report Highlight: A heart for generosity
June 2019
Bob and Susanne Jordan
Early experiences watching their parents give deeply influenced both Susanne and Bob Jordan. They continued that mission in their lives together. "We've always had a heart for people who needed a helping hand," said Susanne.

Annual Report, Community, Giving
Annual report highlight: A heart for connection
June 2019
Dave and Lynne Robinson
Dave and Lynne Robinson have translated their deep connection to the community into volunteerism, board service, giving through the Community Foundation, and teaching the next generation about the power of philanthropy.

Annual Report, Community
Annual report highlight: A heart for people in crisis
June 2019
Newaygo County Central Dispatch
Thanks to local voters' approval of the 911 surcharge reinstatement and a program-related investment from the Community Foundation, Newaygo County Central Dispatch is looking forward to some much-needed technology upgrades.

Scholarships
Back to school for a better future
June 2019
Angie Bradley
When Angie Bradley was passed over for her dream job because it required a bachelor's degree, she knew she needed to make a change. An adult student scholarship from the Community Foundation is helping her go back to school to finish her degree.

Community, Giving
Making a lasting change
June 2019
Bill and Jeanne Leaver
Their careers took them around the country, but Bill and Jeanne Leaver always knew they would come back home to Newaygo County. Through volunteerism, community involvement, and their donor advised fund, the Leavers are committed to strengthening their community and giving back.

Giving, Grants
Filling the gaps
November 2018
MYOI and June Britt
Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative provides support, education, and training to current and former foster care youth as they transition to adulthood. But a gap in funding meant older participants, like Luke, would lose access to important resources. That’s where June Britt stepped in.

Giving, Scholarships
A family business giving back
November 2018
Pat and Kim Brown
As owners of Mighty Lube Systematic Lubrication, Pat and Kim Brown wanted to give back to the community that has been home to their family and business. They also wanted to encourage more local graduates to consider careers in vocational and skilled trades. With the scholarship they created, they’re doing just that.

Giving, , Scholarships
Making a difference
November 2018
Stuart and Kay Stone
When a band teacher took Stuart Stone under his wing, it helped foster a love of the arts that Stuart now shares with his wife Kay, their children, and their grandchildren. Stuart and Kay’s scholarship for other Grant graduates who have been involved in the arts is a way to celebrate a shared family interest, help local students achieve their goals, and give back to their community.

Annual Report, Grants
Annual report highlight: Flexible jobs for busy lives
July 2018
Digital Works
As a mom of three very busy girls, Dawn Ausema dreamed for years of finding a good job with plenty of flexibility. The Digital Works program helped Dawn achieve that dream with training for customer service jobs that can be done from home.

Annual Report, Grants
Annual report highlight: Getting students world-ready
July 2018
Quest Career Coach
Staff at Quest Educational Programs in Fremont work hard to help their alternative and adult education students complete high school and plan for what comes next. With support from a Community Foundation grant, Quest hired a career coach to provide extra support and help students apply for financial aid, college, trade schools, and jobs.

Annual Report, Community, Grants
Annual report highlight: Safe homes for local families
June 2018
Center for Nonprofit Housing
For many families, a major unplanned home repair can lead to financial hardship or even unsafe living conditions. That’s why the Center for Nonprofit Housing is committed to helping local people obtain and maintain safe housing through foreclosure prevention, counseling, and home repair assistance.

Annual Report, Giving, Trustees
Annual report highlight: A responsibility to the next generation
June 2018
Mike and Carolyn Hummel
During their careers as educators, Mike and Carolyn Hummel had a front-row seat to the impact that grants and scholarships can have. When Carolyn joined the Board of Trustees, the idea to create a fund of their own began to grow.

Annual Report, Giving, Scholarships
Annual report highlight: A place in the world
June 2018
Marcia and Gary Woods
Gary Woods loved maps. He began each year in his Hesperia classroom by drawing colorful world maps across the blackboard. Former students who went abroad often wrote to say that, thanks to him, they always knew exactly where they were in the world.

Annual Report, Community, Giving
Giving out of gratitude
February 2018
Bob and Bonnie Erber
After more than 40 years, Bob and Bonnie Erber are still full of enthusiasm for Fremont, the town that won them over with its safe neighborhoods and friendliness. Moved by gratitude, they have worked to give back through service, volunteerism, and a scholarship fund at the Community Foundation.

Community, Giving, Scholarships
A bright future
February 2018
Newaygo County Area Promise Zone
Last year, as Dr. Lori Tubbergen Clark talked about the Promise Zone at a parent meeting, she noticed a woman in the front row who seemed concerned. Lori paused for questions and the woman raised her hand. “It sounds too good to be true,” she said, struggling to believe someone was simply going to pay for her child’s college education. Assured there was no catch, the mother in the front row began to cry.

Community, Giving
Giving back
February 2018
Ben and Linda Landheer
Ben and Linda Landheer have both “been involved in an awful lot of things,” Ben said with a smile. Giving back was something he learned by watching his parents’ example as he grew up on a dairy and vegetable farm in Grant. "I was raised that way," he said. "I learned we need to share with others.

Giving, Scholarships
Honoring a son
January 2018
Mike and Tyler Slaughter
Tyler Slaughter was known for his bright smile, compassion, and whole-hearted dedication to the work he was doing at Newaygo County Mental Health. His father Mike–along with family, friends, and Tyler’s coworkers–created a scholarship for adult students to honor his life and legacy.

Annual Report, Community, Giving
Giving others an opportunity
July 2017
Julee Tellkamp
When someone thinks of a donor at a community foundation, a teenager starting college is probably not the picture that comes to mind. But while Julee Tellkamp was packing to move into a college dorm last fall, she was also preparing to create a fund at the Community Foundation.

Annual Report, Grants
Predicting floods before they happen
July 2017
Newaygo County Emergency Services
In 2014, the Muskegon River swelled to one of its highest levels on record, damaging hundreds of local homes. The remarkable speed at which the water rose revealed the vital importance of quick warnings.

Annual Report, Grants
Connecting art and literacy
July 2017
Newaygo Public Schools
Last spring, third and fourth graders from Velma Matson Upper Elementary in Newaygo excitedly welcomed a crowd of parents and grandparents to their very own book release party. It was the culmination of an innovative program incorporating drawing, reading, writing, and history.

Community, Giving, Scholarships
Blessed to be a blessing
June 2017
Brian and Diane Karsten
Although they live in Grand Rapids now, Brian and Diane Karsten have a special place in their hearts for Fremont. They created a scholarship to support deserving Fremont graduates as a way to give back to a community they feel blessed to have been a part of.

Scholarships
When possibility becomes reality
June 2017
Alyssa Greene
In 2013, Alyssa Greene of Hesperia received the Possibility! Scholarship, a special full, four-year scholarship from the Community Foundation. In May 2017, Alyssa graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and a bright future full of opportunity ahead of her.

Giving, Scholarships
Art and generosity
March 2017
Helen Myers
Helen Myers studied art in college and while she went on to a career in business, she is remembered as someone whose artistry showed through in everything she did. Now a scholarship fund created by Helen’s family in her memory supports young women who plan to study art and design.

Community, Giving
A good place to be from
March 2017
Charles and Marilee Whitman
Charles and Marilee Whitman came to Michigan from Ohio, ultimately adopting Fremont as home. Their service in the community, as well as the fund they created at the Community Foundation, are examples of their belief in the importance of giving back more than you take.

Giving, Scholarships
A sister act
November 2016
Sarah Coville and Emily Zoulek
Sisters Sarah Coville and Emily Zoulek both received Community Foundation scholarships and went into careers in healthcare. They created the Coville Scholarship to give back to future students from their hometown entering the medical field.

Community, Grants
Getting back on the water
September 2016
Bridgeton Township Boat Launch
Susan Reagan knew what it was like to be stuck on shore when she really wanted to be in her kayak. Along with a group of dedicated friends and neighbors, she found a way to make sure more local people can get back out on the water.

Community, Giving
A responsibility to give back
July 2016
Woody and Sue Bowman
Woody Bowman has spent 25 years in White Cloud, and he and his wife, Sue, are always on the lookout for ways to get involved and make a difference. Because for Woody, when a place becomes home, it becomes your responsibility to take care of it.

Annual Report, Community, Giving
Creating family legacy
December 2015
Stan and Joyce Beckman
Stan and Joyce Beckman remember Joyce’s parents, Reo and Bessie McMillen, as generous people who lived with integrity and faith. Now Stan and Joyce are passing down those values through the generations of their family.

Annual Report, Community, Grants
Celebrating hardworking families
June 2015
Farmworker Appreciation Day
It has all the elements of a great celebration, but Farmworker Appreciation Day is more than just a party. Held each summer in Grant, the event is also an expression of gratitude to the migrant and seasonal workers in Newaygo County whose hard work is critical to local farmers and to the economy.

Community, Giving
Building a lasting legacy
April 2014
Maggie Bailey and Hesperia Community Library
Maggie Bailey loves her family, pets, flower gardens, and the Hesperia Community Library. Although she is in her 80s and no longer a regular physical presence at the library, she has made a donation every month for the last 10 years.

Annual Report, Giving, Scholarships
Determined to give back
April 2014
Joe and Abby Berger
Joe Berger is an offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings and in his tenth season in the NFL. But he’s also a Newaygo High School graduate who has not forgotten the important role his family and home community played in his success.