In the heart of Ludington, Michigan, a tradition rooted in friendship and music blossomed years ago. What started as a gathering of Ludington High School graduates and self-proclaimed "misfits" playing music in the City Park over the Fourth of July flourished into an annual celebration known as Ludrock. The group held its last concert in 2023 and created a committee-advised fund with the Community Foundation to support youth-related projects. Click to read more about Ludrock's community impact.

The Scottville Clown Band is known across Michigan for its zany costumes, comedic antics, and powerful musical sound. But what many may not know about the band is its philanthropic mission to support youth who have an interest in the performing arts.  In 2015, the Clown Band started the George F. Wilson Memorial Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation for Mason County. The fund was named after “Big George,” who served as the band’s street leader for over 65 years and also served for several years as the band’s secretary. Click to learn more about the Scottville Clown Band and its philanthropy.

The Ludington Coats and Boots for Kids program began 13 years ago when a Ludington mom purchased a pair of winter boots for a student attending school with her son. That first pair of boots inspired the collection of other boots for kids who were without and, eventually, all kinds of cold-weather necessities for school-aged children of families in need throughout Mason County. Click to read more about how a grant from the Foundation helped keep local students warm.

For rescue missions on the water, time is crucial—every second counts towards saving a life. Riverton Fire Department first responders are now prepared with a fully outfitted, reliable watercraft thanks to a 2023 grant from the Community Foundation for Mason County provided by the Good Neighbor Fund, private donations, and grants from other community partners. Click to read more about this grant and its impact.

Kathleen “Kat” Wang, a 2023 Community Foundation for Mason County scholarship recipient, was reminded of how much her world had expanded when she marched into “The Big House” for the first time as a member of the University of Michigan Color Guard. She recalled, “It was unreal. There were so many people. I looked up, and I was on the big screen!” Click to read more about Kat's scholarship awards and her experiences as a student at the University of Michigan.

Bob and Kay Neal’s many accomplishments, dedication to community development, and faith have led them to name the Community Foundation for Mason County as a beneficiary of a charitable account. Bob and Kay's gift will create an unrestricted fund to support the greatest needs and opportunities in Mason County. Like their story, the Bob and Kay Neal Fund will impact this community forever. Click to read their story, including how they plan to continue their legacy of loving this community.

When Kristen moved to Ludington during a blizzard in 2009, the school superintendent joked it would take 20 years to become a "local." Fifteen years later, Kristen appears to have graduated early. "Ludington is where my four kids grew up. So, it's home to them. It feels like home to me. It's just a great place to be – a great place to live, work, and be involved in the community," Kristen said. Click to read about Kristen's planned gift to the community she loves.

O’Nealya Gronstal began her position as the Executive Director of Lakeshore Food Club (LFC) when the organization held its first Empty Bowls event in 2020. The nonprofit grocery store serving Mason County residents living below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines needed to raise funds to continue supporting 20-35 households shopping daily. Click to read more about LFC and its committee-advised fund.

In 2006, Epworth posed a powerful question to the Ludington community: What do you need? Community members responded with a request for scholarships and nonprofit support. Epworth cottagers immediately began fundraising, and the Epworth Fund for Ludington was born. Click to read more about the impact made by the Epworth Fund for Ludington in Mason County.

Helping to build a cottage in Ludington, near the family farm, eight-year-old Jan Wood began her integral role in building family legacy. A native of Muskegon, Jan fondly thinks of Mason County as “God’s country… my mom and dad’s community.” — a place where her great-grandfather, Martin Livingston Agens, served as state representative; where her dad proudly worked on the Badger; where as a child she enjoyed watching the construction of the Consumer’s Energy project; and where she and her cousins picked pickles, berries, beans, hauled hay every summer and, "loved every minute of it!" Click to read more about the impact made by Jan in Mason County.