Muskegon Think Tank

Muskegon residents asked to sound off on state's future for think tank

by Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle
Monday July 20, 2009

MUSKEGON -- At few times in Michigan's 172-year history has the state been at such a critical crossroads.

Muskegon citizens are being asked to join a statewide effort to chart a course for the future in the wake of a decade-long state recession and the implosion of the domestic auto industry.

"Michigan in 2010 is facing a real watershed," said Chris McGuigan, president of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. "We are clearly at a crossroads in Michigan, facing a period of great change."

A "community conversation" will ask Muskegon citizens: What comes next?

A free, two-hour group conversation July 28 on issues facing the state will be offered by The Center for Michigan, a nonpartisan Ann Arbor think tank. The 7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. "community conversation" will be at the Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor, 939 Third.

This first Muskegon "conversation" through the Center for Michigan initiative is being sponsored by the Alcoa Foundation and the Michigan Municipal League through the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce, United Way of the Lakeshore and the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.

There are 150 slots available for those wanting to participate. Center for Michigan facilitators will conduct up to five sessions that will be divided into groups of 30.

Beyond the general community event July 28, the Community Coordinating Council of Muskegon County will bring together human service providers in an Aug. 18 Center for Michigan conversation. Another young leadership conversation is being planned for September in Muskegon.

The Center for Michigan has had similar conversations around the state with thousands of Michigan residents beginning in 2007. The initial discussions led to a proposed three-point agenda for which the group is attempting to build statewide consensus.

The July 28 event will seek Muskegon reaction and opinion concerning a Michigan agenda based on a talented and globally competitive work force, a vibrant economy that provides a high quality of life and efficient and accountable government.

"This format allows for an intelligent conversation of the issues we face in Michigan," said Janessa Stroud, the chamber's vice president for government affairs. "In the end, we need to go to the Michigan Legislature and demand these changes."
 

Annual Lunch Celebrations

Match Day giving blunts drop in Community Foundation for Muskegon County assets

by Dave Alexander | The Muskegon Chronicle
Thursday June 25, 2009, 8:21 AM

The current Community Foundation for Muskegon County theme of Give. [Thanks.] was appropriate for the Match Day announcement at the foundation's annual luncheon.

Contributors, local nonprofit organizations and foundation leaders all were "giving thanks" for the final report on last month's Match Day fundraiser and for the approximately $525,000 in checks handed out to 58 participating agencies, amid a year when foundation assets were down significantly.

Match Day was an event in which the foundation and more than 15 of its donor-advised funds that put up a $75,000 match. Some 94 foundation-associated nonprofits had the ability to raise funds and be matched 50 cents on every dollar raised May 28.

"Muskegon again has risen to the occasion as it has done so many times," foundation President Chris McGuigan in reporting on Match Day final results. "We met and surpassed our greatest expectations."

Match Day was launched this year because of the downturn in the economy and the stock markets which have hurt local nonprofit organizations at a time when community needs are increasing.

The economic recession could be seen in the foundation's 2008 annual report presented to the annual luncheon at the Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor.

The foundation's investments were down 30 percent in 2008, while the foundation brought in $5.6 million in new gifts and 46 new funds were created. On the giving side, the foundation granted or awarded scholarships of $4.35 million -- $150,000 more than 2007.

At the end of the year, the foundation's total assets dropped 28.7 percent from $124.1 million at the end of 2007 to $88.4 million at the end of 2008.

The foundation's investment portfolio has risen 7.3 percent this year through May. "We believe better days are coming," foundation chairwoman Barbara DeBruyn said.

The 10th annual presentation of the Partricia B. Johnson Award for Community Leadership and Innovative Grantmaking went the Tanglewood Park project. Tanglewood is a collaborative senior citizens resource center in Norton Shores that opened last year.

Johnson -- the foundation's president emeritus honors inspired community leadership over the years with a grant award -- selected Tanglewood for which the community raised $2 million to turn an old grocery store into a resource center for seniors.

Johnson recognized the contributions of Dee Scott, the retired director of the Senior Resources of West Michigan; Muskegon industrialist Larry Hines, chairman of the fundraising campaign; and Maggie Jensen, campaign director.

The foundation also gave tribute to three retiring trustees: Muskegon County Probate Judge Gregory Pittman, Essco President Bruce Rice and community activist Judith Wilcox. All have served nine-year terms and moved off the board.

The foundation also introduced three new trustees. They are community activist Kay M. Olthoff, downtown developer Gary Post and local banker Asaline Scott.

MATCH DAY RESULTS

• Total match: $75,000

• Total gifts raised: $449,594

• Nonprofits receiving donations: 78

• Nonprofits sharing in the match: 58

• Most funds raised: Child Abuse Council

• Most match money received: First Congregational Church

• Highest average gift: Ravenna Public Schools endowment

• Most number of gifts: Love Inc.

President's Message - Annual Lunch

From the Community Foundation Annual Lunch on
June 24, 2009 –
by Chris McGuigan, President/CEO

In the midst of the financial crisis that just won’t leave, Muskegon’s Match Day has put us all in a good mood! Match Day truly was Muskegon rising to the occasion, as it has done so many times – this time in our outpouring of generosity and support of the nonprofits in our community. Held in the lobby of the Frauenthal Theater – that special place that was saved and restored by the caring of the best in our community – Match Day was the supercharged demonstration of our annual report theme – Give. [Thanks] 

On Match Day, giving and gratefulness linked in a circle. Surrounded by this circle, the best in all of us called out and the best in us is delivered. We are grateful to the Community Foundations in Columbus and Findlay Ohio for the idea of Match Day. We believe we are the first Community Foundation in Michigan to hold a Match Day, and we say very humbly that, by several measures, Muskegon’s Match Day is by far the most successful we have heard about.

The first requirement of Mach Day, of course, was to gather a match pool! The same circumstances that made it a great idea to hold a Match Day made it a challenge to get a match pool. It is like the old joke – how do you retire as a millionaire? First, you get a million dollars…How do you have a Match Day? Well, first you get a match. That is, in  this economy, where the Foundation’s funds are down like everyone’s, we had to do what we would be asking the rest of the community to do – we had to see the abundance not the scarcity – look at what we still have, not look back at what we had lost. Ok, sometimes I do read our 2007 numbers just for fun. So to start the match pool our board looked at our rainy day fund which exists for extraordinary times like this. $25,000 of the match pool came from this fund. But the rest of the $75,000 match was built with the enthusiastic donations from individual donor advised funds or other partners within our Foundation.

Those donors included: Fund of the Foundation, Unrestricted Fund, Raymond C. and Evelyn P. Alstrom Memorial Fund, Edith & Jack Lipman Fund, Clita R. Anderson Child Care Center Fund, Paul C. Johnson Foundation, Greater Women and Children’s Fund, Anton Family Fund, White Lake Community Fund, Drs. Osbie J. and Anita M. Herald Fund, Environmental Committee Fund, Thomas and Geraldine Seyferth Fund, Carol A Peden Performing Arts Memorial Fund, ESCO Fund, Peggy Jensen and Gerald Nehra Fund, Bryan and Sandy Betten Fund, Muskegon Community Foundation Employee Fund, Fisher Family Fund, Virginia E. & F. Remington Sprague Fund, Joseph "Joe" Nowak Fund, Joan Majeski Fund, Shoreline Sport & Spine Fund. and Tom & Elizabeth Tuttle.

It is a feature of this Community Foundation of which we can be so very proud – that so many living donors “do” philanthropy through their funds at the Foundation. They truly form a platform of philanthropy that lifts this community up.

As soon as we could see that we indeed had a match to offer, we contacted the qualifying agencies about it and they took off with it using e-mail, Facebook, paper and ink, and in some cases from the pulpit on Sunday morning - they spread the word. We gained new appreciation for the quality of the boards and management of Muskegon’s nonprofit network. First, it is a tribute to our community that almost 100 nonprofits had the foresight and good stewardship to establish endowments at the Foundation. When we limited who could participate in Match Day to those who had an endowment at the Foundation, we knew that we could reach the vast majority of the area’s nonprofit community. Second, Match Day allowed us to get to know these agencies better – the passion and ability of their executives, staffs and boards was overwhelming. And, the final numbers reflect their efforts –
o 78 of the 94 qualifying organizations received donations
o 58 received some match dollars.

They also made the day fun. From their tables stationed along the Frauenthal lobby, they treated us to cookies, donuts, Big Brothers/Big Sisters brought popcorn and root beer donated by their neighbor’s Cinema Carousel. White Lake Arts Council brought in wonderful musicians. The whole day felt like a neighborhood block party – their directors and staff helped all of us work the crowd so there was always a buzz, smiling faces and more than anything a feeling of great pride in a giving community.

It was all these factors together that made the day blossom into an event that delightfully met and surpassed our expectations. We wondered “What If” scenarios. What if there is a line of donors even before we open the doors?” Well that happened – Dave Wikman, was the first in line at 5am. And, that line, never stopped – we gratefully received donations right up to 5:35pm when the last donor rushed in after having said goodbye to houseguests at 5pm, checking their Chronicle for the Match Day schedule, and driving over from North Muskegon!

We wondered “could we attract enough gifts to exhaust the 50 cents on the dollar match?” That happened too – in a big way. Over 900 donors with nearly 1500 separate gifts came across the Frauenthal’s marble concession counter that day – individual gifts ranging from $1 to $20,000. All told, $449,594 – making the total amount that we are distributing back to our nonprofit partners just under $525,000!

Of course, the early people were motivated by the opportunity to match their donation. But even as that opportunity waned later in the day, people still wanted to give. They told us “whether our gift is matched or not, we know that our heart is in the right place.” Match Day contained demonstrations that your hearts are in the right place. One woman made a donation to Every Woman’s Place as a wedding gift in honor of a special couple. Another person carefully presented a $10 bill to make a $7 donation to divide amongst his 3 favorite charities. 21 donors gave more than the $2,000 match limit. The treasurer of Forest Park Covenant Church, a qualifying nonprofit agency itself – stood in line not to donate to Forest Park, but to make generous donations to two programs that serve the poorest in our community.

Sometimes the “heart in the right place” showed itself in other ways – one retired woman came through the line once for herself, then took her daughter’s place in line so she could get to work and then came through 2 more times helping out others who couldn’t stand in line any longer. Five of the donors who contributed to the match pool in the first place also gave gifts on Match Day! That is the kindness and generosity that filled the lobby of the Frauenthal that day.

Special agency recognitions go to:
o Child Abuse Council who had the highest total donations - $33,036, which included the largest single gift of the day - $20,000.
o Community EnCompass who had the second highest amount of match dollars and resourcefully spent no money promoting Match Day – all through e-mail.
o First Congregational Church had the first donor in line and was the only agency to successfully max out their match - $7,429.50
o LOVE, INC had the greatest number of gifts (92) and wins our $1,000 prize

To all the donors and the nonprofits who brought us this great day for Muskegon –Thank You. The generous people of this community, through the decades, and today, inspire and lead us. They tell us there is a goodness to pay forward, a greatness to express clearly, and now, a challenge for the generations to meet strongly, in gratitude and generosity.

Give. [Thanks]. 

Muskegon's caring spirit

Editorial: Once again, Muskegon shows its true spirit

by The Muskegon Chronicle editorial board
Sunday May 31, 2009

Muskegon residents have a reputation of being generous, but they blew away Community Foundation for Muskegon County officials with their contributions Thursday.

That's when the Foundation hosted its first-ever "Match Day," a way to give a boost to area nonprofit agencies, which are hurting because of the economic downturn. Many agencies are experiencing a double-whammy from the poor economy -- their income is down while the demand for their services is up.

The Foundation promised to add 50 cents to every $1 donated up to a total of $75,000. The money would be awarded on a first come, first served basis to a list of 100 qualifying agencies. There was plenty of publicity about the event and everyone hoped for the best.

What they didn't expect was that people would start lining up at 6 a.m. for an event that began at 7:30 at the Frauenthal Center in downtown Muskegon. People were so eager to ensure that their charity received the match, they stood in line for up to two hours.

In the first two hours, more than 340 people plunked down contributions. In the end, more than $440,000 was donated, blowing past the Foundation's goal of around $150,000.

"The best part of Muskegon is down here," Tim Lundholm, president of the Muskegon Christian School board, told The Chronicle after standing in line for 90 minutes. He was still 10 minutes away from the donation window at that time.

We couldn't have said it better.

Time after time, when a call goes out for help, Muskegon residents respond. Whether it is a fundraiser for a family facing catastrophic medical bills or donations to the food pantry, people will open their hearts -- and their wallets.

It was even more important this year since outside help is virtually nonexistent. If someone is going to help our neighbors, it's going to have to be us.

Even though we know of a problem, sometimes we need a little nudge to take care of it. Congratulations to the Community Foundation for providing the incentive in such a unique way.

And congratulations Muskegon. We're proud to be a part of such a caring community. 

Match Day a success

Community donates $440,000 to nonprofits

by Eric Gaertner and Lynn Moore | The Muskegon Chronicle
Thursday May 28, 2009, 11:33 PM

Chronicle/Ken Stevens
Betsy Decker of Norton Shores, foreground, takes a seat while waiting in line with other donors to make a donation Thursday morning at "Match Day" in the lobby of the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts. The community donated $440,000 for a match total of $515,000 to the various organizations participating in Match Day.

The sight of a long line of people eager to donate money to local nonprofits Thursday pushed the everyday talk of economic downturn and job loss to the backburner.

Hundreds of would-be donors, including people who waited in line more than two hours, showed up with checks during the Community Foundation for Muskegon County's "Match Day" at the Frauenthal Theater. The foundation was providing a 50-cent match for every $1 donated up to $75,000 to qualifying nonprofit organizations.

Chronicle/Ken Stevens
Donor John Malda, left, of Muskegon is greeted by Community Foundation for Muskegon County finance assistant Barbara Jarman (left) and vice president of finance Ann VanTassel as he makes his donation Thursday morning at "Match Day" in the lobby of the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts.

The community blew past the amount to be matched, foundation officials reported late Thursday. The community gave a whopping $440,000 for a match total of $515,000 to the various organizations participating in Match Day, said foundation President Chris McGuigan.

"This was amazing," McGuigan said of the estimated 750 donors. "It was a great day that far exceeded our expectations. Muskegon again proved what a uniquely generous community it is."

To those who donated and the foundation officials, the large turnout in people and money was proof of the community's goodwill and recognition of the need to support the nearly 100 nonprofits at a time when many of their services are in high demand.

"Muskegon is such a generous community," said Chris Nolan, who was dropping off the donations from the Women's Division of the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce. "Most of the people here aren't donating a million dollars, they're donating what they can. It's a wonderful tribute to our community."

Tim Lundholm, president of the Muskegon Christian School board, said he was surprised by the long line of people that snaked through the lobby of the Frauenthal.

"I thought it would be a quick in and out, but I've been here an hour and a half," said Lundholm, who still had another 10 minutes or so before he reached the donation window. "The best part of Muskegon is down here."

The match was based on a first-come, first-served basis, which certainly brought out people early in hopes of making donations to specific nonprofits before the $75,000 limit was reached. About 20 people were waiting outside the Frauenthal by 6 a.m. and a long line had formed by the time the event began at 7:30 a.m. Less than two hours later, 340 people had made donations.

"We did put the word out. I think most agencies and ministries did some communication to tell people this opportunity was there," said Kevin Newton, director of development for the Muskegon Rescue Mission. "It's a great idea; we think it's awesome. Anything that motivates people to give in this (economic) environment is a positive."

Chronicle/Ken Stevens
Donor Bill Wright of Muskegon writes in his checkbook while waiting in to make a donation Thursday morning at "Match Day."

E-mails and telephone calls about the match opportunity were made to potential American Red Cross donors, said Tim Lipan, executive director of the agency that serves Muskegon, Oceana and Newaygo counties.

"Even in these tough economic times we find ourselves in Muskegon, folks still have a charitable heart," Lipan said. "I think that reflects very well on Muskegon's people."

The Community Foundation's match donations are especially appreciated since proceeds from the Red Cross' fundraisers -- including direct mail solicitations and golf tournaments -- are "down dramatically," Lipan said.

Chronicle/Ken Stevens
Donors line up in the lobby of the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts to wait their turn to make a donation Thursday morning at "Match Day" sponsored by the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.

"It presents some real challenging times for us because most of our needs are up," Lipan said. "Our needs are up while our funding is heading down."

The United Way of the Lakeshore sent out thousands of e-mails and made personal calls to donors encouraging them to consider donating on Match Day, said Lisa Tyler, community impact director for the agency.

"It is truly needed in the community," Tyler said. "I don't know of a single agency that hasn't said the needs are increasing, unfortunately at a time when there's never enough money."

Chronicle/Ken Stevens
The Community Foundation for Muskegon County's "Match Day" for nonprofit organizations collected $440,000 in donations Thursday.

She said seeing so many people willing to wait in line to give away their money was "uplifting."

"You can't help but come out of there and think 'Wow, this is a really powerful thing,' " Tyler said. "People were't coming with just one check ... a lot of people had passions about helping in a lot of different ways."

One of those was Pat Hesling, a Muskegon resident, who said she donated money to three local nonprofits -- American Red Cross, Muskegon Rescue Mission and Love INC.

"It's really a good show of support for our community," Hesling said of the turnout. "It's something good and positive. It's just amazing."

Tammy Carey, communications director for The Community Foundation for Muskegon County, called it an exciting day because of the steady stream of people that showed up to make donations.

"We're scrambling to keep up," Carey said. "That's a good thing."