On Wednesday, June 21, we held our annual gathering to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Community Foundation for Mason County. Our founders started from scratch, when a small and committed group of thoughtful, well-intentioned community leaders rallied around this big idea... that a Community Foundation might be the perfect place for donors, large and small, to exercise their charitable intentions in a positive way. They got it right, and the community has benefited in countless ways because of their visionary leadership.

From a young age, Lena Bluestein pictured a life of service. She moved to Ludington as a teenager and her family got involved with a local church. Lena was able to go on several international mission trips and ultimately went to college to study world missions. “I’ve always had a heart for those that society overlooks or forgets,” said Lena. “I thought I’d work outside of the country, but eventually I realized that I could serve ‘the least of these’ right here in my own community.” Lena started small, visiting and driving church members to medical appointments. Eventually she was approached by Community Mental Health (CMH) about the possibility of becoming a legal guardian for adults with disabilities. Click to read more about the impact made by Lena in Mason County.

The KickStart to Career Program was established in Mason County in the fall of 2019 to support students in reaching their post-secondary goals. The program was established to promote pathways to secondary education by establishing Children’s Savings Accounts (CSA). The Community Foundation for Mason County is looking to strengthen the college-going culture in Mason County to meet 75% enrollment by 2025 and 60% completion by 2030. In the fall of each school year, every kindergarten student in Mason County has a savings account established with KickStart to Career and is generously gifted an initial seed deposit of $50 from the John & Anita Wilson Family Fund. Students in kindergarten through third-grade county-wide participate in KickStart to Career Deposit Days by partaking in field trips to West Shore Bank or Safe Harbor Credit Union to make deposits into their CSA’s twice each year. Click to read more about spring 2023 Deposit Day.

Joan Hasenbank and her late husband Robert spent their entire lives in the northeast corner of Mason County—a place to which they both felt a deep connection. With a drive to help others, Robert and Joan established the Robert R. and Joan Hasenbank Fund. “We live in Mason County and made our living in Mason County,” said Joan. “We felt that giving back to the community we love [through our fund] was a perfect fit.” Click to read more about the impact made by Robert and Joan in Mason County.

The Carneys’ love for this community ran deep. A gift made through their estate created two funds at the Community Foundation to carry on the family legacy and support local students. The Drs. Ruth and John Carney and Irene Carney Kendrick Memorial Scholarship—established in memory of his first wife and their late daughter—creates opportunities for adult students, students pursuing postgraduate degrees, or those facing barriers to getting a college degree. The Drs. Ruth and John Carney Education Fund is a field-of-interest fund designed to address the diverse and changing educational needs in Mason County for generations to come. Click to read more about the impact of Drs. Ruth and John Carney in Mason County.

We are so excited to share that our Youth Advisory Council has been selected as the beneficiary of The Ludington Lake Jump for 2023! Funds raised will be used to both build the YAC endowment fund and support local teens through a PSA discussing teen stress. Growing the YAC endowment will allow for an increase in available grant dollars to support the youth in our community through competitive grant rounds and teacher mini-grants each year. Click to read more about YAC, their mission and how you can support our local youth through a donation to Lake Jump.

Rides to Wellness. Housing Needs Assessment. Ludington Area Center for the Arts Afterschool Youth Programming. Ludington Youth Sailing School. Building an Inclusive Classroom Library. West Shore EDS Math & Mentors. Big Sable Point generator. McPhail Field Ballfield Improvements. Caritas Food Pantry. Ludington State Park accessibility. These are just a few of the good things happening in Mason County thanks to the generosity of our donors. Click to read more about the impact of grants awarded in 2022.

Carmen Biggs believes there’s a misconception that human trafficking doesn’t exist in small communities.  “Really, trafficking can take a lot of forms,” she said. “It may look different in a rural community versus a big city, but it’s happening here too. Exploitation and abuse happen everywhere. The magnitude of the problem can be paralyzing, but we need to begin where we are with what we have.”  That belief and a passion for social justice led Carmen and her business partner Chris Turnbull to start HumaniTea. This cozy space inside The Port of Ludington is a combination tea and artisan gift shop that exists to provide a community gathering space and confront the tragedy of human trafficking. All profits from the benefit corporation are invested into anti-trafficking efforts.  Click to continue reading more about how HumaniTea is making an impact in Mason County.

Fall KickStart to Career (K2C) Deposit Days were a huge success! We are so thankful to the West Shore Bank branches in Scottville and downtown Ludington, and Safe Harbor Credit Union, for hosting students from across the county to make their deposits on November 16 and 17. This fall we had an increase in student participation demonstrating that our students are learning the importance of saving for their future. Click to read more about Deposit Day, KickStart to Career community partners, and to view recent metrics.

Gene and Ruthann Kyle grew up in a small town in Indiana and were introduced to philanthropy from a young age by their families. When they moved to Ludington to be near their grandchildren, they didn't waste any time getting involved in the community. While they have always given of their time and talents, they never imagined they would have the opportunity to leave a legacy of gifts to both the community in Indiana where they were born and raised, as well as the community they now call home. Click to read how Gene and Ruthann's legacy and love for their community will live on forever in the gift they have left to the Community Foundation through their estate plan.