Courtesy of the ACCF Non-ProfitAllegan County’s non-profit news Spotlight and information source th Issue: Twenty-three Celebrating our 5 year of publication 2019 3rd Quarter Mail: PO Box 278, Allegan, MI 49010 • www.alleganfoundation.org • 269.673.8344 • Visit: 113 Locust St., Allegan, MI 49010 The challenge is to determine which non-profi t committ ee members have cumulati vely pledged organizati ons receive grants. The next challenge $70 for every gi� of $50 or more made to the ACCF requires strategic considerati on when more than Legacy Endowment by August 31, 2019. $400,000 has been requested, but only $200,000 is Your gi� of $50 or more, will be increased by $70 available to award. and will result in food for food pantries, counseling The soluti on is simple. Grow the ACCF Legacy Legacy Endowment for domesti c violence victi ms, environmental Endowment. The endowment generates the grant stewardship, art and educati onal programs for young dollars that are awarded annually (nearly $8,000,000 and old, museums, and so much more. since the Foundati on was established in 1965). Thank you for helping us respond to today’s and Because we believe the value of the non-profi t tomorrow’s challenges. sector is unparalleled, the ACCF Board, CEO, staff and …where Walter lands with a beauti ful litt le Cagirl who is happy to take him home! 5 1 Donated from the kind 2 hands of Shannon… 6 …to the ACCF window with 745 Picked up by Bridget Haag for other boxes of donated cereal distributi on to one lucky child who will be visiti ng the Allegan County Food Pantry.. Walter’sMore than one dozen hands touchedJourney this box of cereal. The impact of volunteers can never be understated! See how 3 Walter, thanks to the many hands that sent him along his way, made it from the hands of a donor to the hands of a child. 4 Into the hands of the Allegan County Food Pantry Collaborati ve Coordinator, Tracey To Hungry for Christ in Hamilton Robrahn and volunteer Mike Wohlwend where volunteers sort and prepare to join the other 12,000 boxes they are for pick-ups for the sixteen picking up throughout the county… Collaborati ve member pantries… Allegan County Community Foundation Board of Trustees President, Kaylani Rubley Trustee, David Balas Trustee, Bob Hennip Vice-President, Laree Waanders Trustee, William Brown Trustee, Tim Batchelor Treasurer, Steve Angle Trustee, Rob Marciniak Trustee, Ricardo Bazan Secretary, Jodi White Trustee, Brian Marr Trustee, Lisa Banas Theresa Bray, CEO/Executive Director • Jennifer Collins, Marketing and Growth Director Vicki Knuckles, Program & Operations Associate • Cindy Baker, Program & Operations Associate Impacting Community . Inspiring Philanthropy . Strengthening Non-Profi ts 2 n Allegan County Community Foundation Non-Profit Spotlight....................July, 2019 Give them a BOOST! Living Will vs. Advance Directive Did you know we have over 1,800 students attending Plainwell and Otsego If you become unable to make online for $5 per copy from Aging schools that are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program? While so many your own health care decisions, With Dignity. Both of these are of us look forward to the fun and sun that comes with summer break, it can be a who will make them for you? How non-profit organizations. stressful and scary time for many children and families that will not have enough will you get the care you want (and food to eat when school is closed. At Christian Neighbors, we provide Boost Bags avoid the care you do not want) if Ideally, the person you pick to be in the summer to our families that have school age children. Last year, we were you have not designated someone your patient advocate can make able to distribute 587 bags filled with child friendly meals and snacks. This vital to decide for you? decisions on your behalf even if program requires an additional $10,000 in funding every year. Please help us s/he disagrees with those decisions; prevent summer hunger by donating the suggested food items or through your A patient advocate makes health can function on little sleep; and can financial support. care decisions for another indi- remain calm during a potentially vidual when that individual cannot emotional situation. You should make his or her own decisions. The also choose a first and second Suggested Donations: patient advocate officially accepts alternate in case your first choice is the responsibility by signing a not available. Canned Pasta document acknowledging accept- Granola Bars ance. In Michigan, this document If you are not sure where to start, Ramen Noodles is called an advance directive. It please call the Wings of Hope office Soup is recognized as a legal document at 269-686-8659 or 800-796-2676. Peanut Butter in our state. It does not need to be Wings of Hope has several specially notarized. trained facilitators who can help. Jelly This is a free and confidential Easy Mac A living will is a document that service provided to the entire Cereal specifies the care you want if you community. become unable to make your own At Wings of Hope, we believe that Drop off donations at health care decisions but it does not designate a patient advocate. all adults should have an advance 282 12th Street, Plainwell, MI directive. Send financial support to P.O. Box 53, A living will is not recognized as a Plainwell, MI 49080 legal document in Michigan; but it Please write ‘Boost Bags’ in the memo line. can be a helpful guide to family and health care professionals to provide Christian Neighbors, 282 12th Street, Plainwell, MI 49080 you with the care you desire. www.christianneighbors.org, (269) 685-4166 An advance directive form can be obtained online at no cost from 3rd Annual Summit on Homelessness Making Choices Michigan. This Save the Date: October 9th, 2019 form also provides an opportunity to describe the care you want. A Registration Forms will be available August 1, 2019 at Wings of Hope Hospice & Palliative Care, living will form can be obtained 530 Linn Street, Allegan, MI 49010 www.alleganhomelesssolutions.org www.wingsofhopehospice.com, (269) 686-8659 Big and Little Voices From Around the County Big Brothers Big Sisters’ participants share thoughts on the program During 2018, 92 Allegan County children were mentored by a Big Brother “My Little Brother is always happy to see me; we have a great time or Big Sister. In addition, 31 Allegan County teens served as High School together.” – Big Sister Madeline Bigs. As the school year wound down, students in Big Brothers “Things with my Little are great! We meet consistently each week and I Big Sisters’ High School Bigs look forward to continuing my match next year.” – Big Sister Alex program in Plainwell Community Schools shared some thoughts on “I just love being matched with my Little and really feel like we are a great the benefits of mentoring. match because we are so much alike. I was a lot like her in my younger years.” – Big Sister Carly “Dan’s a walnut, he’s got this “The program is so much fun and worth your time. You get so many new tough side to him that he likes to display to everyone but once you get to experiences with your Little.” –Big Sister Emma know him, he’s one of the sweetest and funniest kids I’ve ever met.” – Big Brother Gabriel “I’ve worked with my Little on getting better at sight words and spell- ing as well as subtraction. I sincerely enjoy watching my little grow as a “We do fun stuff together like play games, read books, and draw. We talk person.” – Big Sister Karina about what we have going on tomorrow.” – Little Sister Mina Big Brothers Big Sisters, 3501 Covington Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49001, www.bbbsmi.org, (269) 382-6800 Little Sister Aubrey, Big Sister Carly Little Brother Daniel, Big Brother Gabriel Little Sister Mina, Big Sister Sydni Love History? 489 out of 507 people served & surveyed Please save the date! Stop by the Otsego Area Historical during this past year would use Christian Neighbors annual PATH walk on Museum any Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to Mediation Services again. Learn more at Sunday, October 6th. PATH stands for 2:00 p.m. and inquire about becoming a People Advocating To end Hunger. The member. Check us out along the river at www.mediationservices.works walk will be in Otsego with the specific 218 North Farmer Street in Otsego. location TBD. Allegan County Community Foundation Non-Profi t Spotlight........................July, 2019 n 3 Local Volunteer Opportunities Is your business or group looking for ways to give back and get involved in the community? Allegan County United Way can help connect you to local volunteer opportunities. We have several ways you can start getting involved right now: 1. Host a donation box or drop off donations at local grocery stores and businesses during the United Way Stuff the Bus Food Drive this summer. 36% of local families are struggling to make ends meet. Your dona- on the tion helps to feed our neighbors in need. Visit www. LAWN acuw.org to learn more. Thursdays in August at 7 PM GRATITUDE STEEL BAND August 1 Calypso, Reggae, Hawaiian, Gospelypso, & More GREAT SCOTT August 8 Greatest Hits Cover Band Stuff the Bus at the Wayland Harding’s CELESTE ALLISON BAND 2. Get a group together and volunteer for Day FEATURING August 15 of Caring. Last fall, 235 people volunteered in the Jazz, Rock, & Blues community to work on much-needed projects at local nonprofi t organizations.