The Community Foundation for Mason County Youth Advisory Council conducted a county-wide youth needs assessment to learn youth concerns, involvement in the community, and their plans for the future. YAC presented this information to leadership groups in the community and focused their spring competitive grant awards on programs to help in these areas. Awards totaling $7,000 went to four organizations resulting from the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) Spring Grant Round.

The second Deposit Day of the 2021/2022 school year held this spring and was a huge success! The Community Foundation KickStart to Career program now has bank accounts for over 900 Mason County kindergarten, first, and second-graders.

The Community Foundation for Mason County is proud to partner with Ludington Mass Transportation Authority (LMTA) and Michigan Transportation Connection (MTC) to establish Rides to Wellness, a pilot program that provides transportation for residents of Mason County age 60 years and older and residents with disabilities to non-emergency medical appointments. The program is fostered through a $5,000 grant provided by the Community Foundation for Mason County as well as Federal Grant funds provided by Michigan Transportation Connection.

We are kicking off a new monthly series, Community Foundation for Mason County: Community Impact Spotlight. Our KickStart to Career Coordinator, Julie Van Dyke is our first interview!

Richard (Dick) and Cathy Reader have lived in numerous communities across the country throughout their marriage, but Mason County will always have a piece of their hearts. Knowing Mason County helped to shape their foundation, the Readers have decided to establish the Clinton & Lila Coleman and Charles & Margarette Reader Fund in memoriam of their parents.

Nancy Hesting has always been involved in nonprofit work, from when she was a finance director for a consulting firm that supported fundraising efforts for nonprofit organizations, to her volunteer efforts with local nonprofits such as Sandcastles Children’s Museum and the Rotary Club of Ludington.

The Youth Advisory Council of the Community Foundation for Mason County recently approved 13 Teacher Mini-Grant Awards to educators and counselors across Mason County. A total of $5,195 was awarded from the Youth Advisory Council fund through the competitive application process.

The advisory board of the Community Foundation for Mason County recently approved grant awards to a variety of community organizations in support of projects throughout Mason County. A total of $56,892 was awarded from Unrestricted and Field of Interest Funds through the competitive application process, overseen by the grant committee of the Community Foundation advisory board. 

The West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission, in partnership with the Ludington & Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce and other economic development agencies in neighboring counties, has released three short online surveys to document impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic upon local businesses, public and nonprofit organizations, and households. Information gathered will feed into a pandemic response and recovery plan that WMSRDC is developing.

The Advisory Board of the Community Foundation for Mason County recently approved grant awards to a variety of community organizations in support of projects throughout Mason County. A total of $64,350 was awarded from Unrestricted and Field of Interest Funds through the competitive application process, overseen by the grant committee and the Community Foundation Advisory Board.