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. The Readers’ unrestricted fund ensures they can help address Mason County’s most pressing challenges and opportunities for generations to come.

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.

For Patricia “Patty” Smith, Mason County wasn’t always home. Her journey began in Detroit, where she lived until the age of twelve. The city’s escalating tensions, particularly the riots of 1967, prompted her family to move to Bloomfield Hills. After high school, Patty’s interest in dental hygiene led her to Kalamazoo Valley Community College and, eventually, a job opportunity in Ludington. Trading city life for the close-knit charm of Mason County took some adjusting. “It took a couple of years,” she admits. But a deep love for the community simmered. This love blossomed into the creation of the Robert A. Smith & Patricia A. Smith Fund at the Community Foundation for Mason County – an unrestricted fund that will support the greatest needs and opportunities in Mason County forever.