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.

The “Author Celebration” was the culmination of an innovative program to incorporate drawing, reading, writing, and history. It was funded by a grant from the Community Foundation.

From October to March, children’s book illustrator Lori Eslick visited two classrooms each
week armed with art supplies and brimming with creativity. She helped students create sketches based on local history. Then, with help from Lori and their teachers, students wrote and illustrated their own books. The process gave students the opportunity to explore new skills and gain confidence in reading and writing.

“My favorite part is seeing kids who love to write,” said teacher Jill Young. “It’s given them a lot more confidence. I’m seeing more detail, complexity, and length in their writing now. Everything about it was positive.”

Randi Koogler

When Randi Koogler’s job was downsized, instead of focusing on the problem, she recognized a chance for a new start.

“It was the perfect opportunity to go back to school,” said Randi. “So often you think that it’s just not the right time, but this was it.”

Randi applied for and received an adult student scholarship from the Community Foundation, which helped her take the next step. Now she is completing her associate degree at Davenport University and plans to obtain a bachelor’s in finance. She has discovered a passion for training and development and is active in Business Professionals of America. In 2015, Randi was part of the first-place financial analyst team at their national conference.

“When you’re excited and passionate about  what you’re doing at work it carries over to  your home life,” said Randi, who has also seen her journey positively impact the way her family views education.

“No one else in my family has a degree,” she said. “This helps them see the value in education. I’ve seen the impact on my oldest daughter, and my second daughter is already talking about where she wants to go to college.”

“People are afraid to go for their dreams because it doesn’t seem practical,” Randi continued. “But if you have the passion, the rest will follow. Keep taking the next step.”

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. Reo was a quiet man who enjoyed building and woodworking. Bessie was a teacher who loved being surrounded by family. Both knew what it was like to overcome adversity.

“They came up through all the tough stuff,” said daughter Joyce. “They lived through the Depression and World Wars. They knew poverty and hunger.”

Because of the struggles her father faced as a young man, he was deeply concerned with leaving enough behind for his children. “But we told him, ‘Dad, you are our legacy,’” said Joyce.

Joyce and Stan have been hard at work sharing that legacy. They established the Reo and Bessie McMillen Memorial Fund, knowing Joyce’s parents would be delighted at the thought of helping the community.

They are also passing down the values Reo and Bessie held dear through the generations of their family. Grandson Reo Heinzman served as president of the Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee from 2014-2015. Reo not only shares his great-grandfather’s name but also his enthusiasm for helping others.

“He has a great name to live up to,” said Joyce, smiling at Reo. “And he already is.”

Farmworker Appreciation Day

It has all the elements of a great celebration—games, music, food, and fun—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.

“These individuals work hard to put food on our tables,” said Mary Rangel, one of the event’s organizers and Community Foundation trustee. She understands firsthand many of the challenges the workers face. She has clear memories of carrying a change of clothes to school so that she could head right out to the fields when the final bell rang.

“You don’t truly appreciate what they do until you get out there in the field yourself,” said Mary. “They sacrifice so much and their work makes life easier for the rest of us.”

Sponsored in part by a grant from the Community Foundation, Farmworker Appreciation Day features a host of free resources, activities, and services like blood pressure checks. Families enjoy a cookout and children can get ready for the school year with haircuts, school supplies, and new shoes.

“I love seeing the families come in and feel good about the day,” said Mary. “They know we see how hard they work.”

Newt Dilley and the White River

Newt Dilley’s family shares a passion for enjoying the outdoors and protecting natural resources. As Newt’s son, Cameron, recalled, “We were taught to always leave a camp site cleaner than we found it.” Daughter Abby described carrying potato sacks on hikes so they could pick up trash along the way.

They are a family concerned with protecting the environment, and they have a special love for the White River that stretches back four generations.

Newt’s father bought property along the White River in 1931. The family built a cabin and spent nearly every summer weekend there. Newt and his wife, Ann, continued the tradition with their own children. Now their grandchildren learn to fly fish in the river.

At 91-years-old, Newt still makes regular trips out to the White Cloud cabin. Even in winter, he often spends an afternoon working on projects along the river. “There’s always work to do,” said Newt. “Rivers need our help—they’ve been abused for so long.”

In celebration of Newt’s birthday in 2013, Abby and the family started the A. Newton Dilley White River Fund at the Community Foundation. “He’s always been so dedicated to the White River,” said Abby of her father. “I thought this would be a great way to commemorate his 90th birthday.”

Newt hopes that grants from the fund will help to target erosion and stabilize riverbanks, ensuring that many more generations will come to love the river as he has. “People know the White River is here, but they don’t realize how much it contributes to our quality of life,” said Newt. “It is a very treasured resource.”

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.

“I walked on in college, I didn’t have a football scholarship,” Joe said. “My whole family has a part in where I ended up. So does this community. I received three scholarships from the Community Foundation and I know how important they were to my future.”

In addition to his career in the NFL, Joe holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan Tech.

Determined to give back and to demonstrate the importance of giving to their three young children, Joe and Abby (Murray) Berger created the Berger Family Scholarship at Fremont Area Community Foundation. It is awarded to two scholar-athletes each year—one from Newaygo High School and one from Grant High School, Abby’s alma mater.

“We set up this scholarship to give someone else a chance to get to school,” said Joe. “Since the Community Foundation helped me, I wanted to help someone else persevere and have a chance to succeed.”

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Story Category: Annual Report