The News

Tribute to Pat Bard

Pat Bard, a wife, mother, grandmother, business-woman, travel agent, teacher, and friend, passed away on May 21, 2010.  Her husband of 53 years, Doug, visited with us recently to establish the Patricia A. Bard Nursing Scholarship Fund to honor her memory.  They had talked of a scholarship fund in the past, and, toward the end of her fight against cancer, together chose the field of nursing as the focus.  While Pat's career involved the world of business and travel, she and Doug both experienced first-hand the impact that caring, well-trained nurses can make. The scholarship fund in her name will make an impact, too, on the opportunities available to nursing students.  

To learn more about our friend Pat Bard, you can read her life story.  

$4M Gift From Unnamed Donor

Foundation Receives Largest Gift

An out-of-town physician with deep family ties to Muskegon is supporting the restoration of Muskegon Lake by creating a new $4 million fund at the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.The unnamed donor created the foundation's Fund 2012 at the end of 2009. The $4 million gift is the largest ever received by the foundation. The Foundation, which received its first donation in 1971, had grown to $112 million at the end of last year.

The donor established Fund 2012 after lengthy research and investigation, according to foundation President Chris McGuigan. The strategy is to make a significant impact by spending the funds by 2012, with a majority of the grants expected to be focused on Muskegon.

Read the May 28, 2010 story in the Muskegon Chronicle here.

Tribute to Rose Smith

Rosaline M. Smith, a former Treasurer for the City of Muskegon, passed away on Monday, April 12, 2010.  She and Darrell Smith, a longtime employee of the Muskegon Post Office, cared deeply for each other and shared  more than 50 years of marriage. Music was something they loved and had very much in common. In 2005, Rose created the Darrell H. and Rosaline M. Smith Fund to honor her husband, who passed away in 1999, and to provide a helping hand to graduating seniors of any Muskegon County HS who have demonstrated academic achievement and will pursue a music degree.

Rose was a very special person who brightened our world.  To read her life story, click here.  

Bequest Bootcamp

As a followup to the annual Organization Endowment Breakfast, the Foundation development staff invited nonprofit representatives to a live webinar on Wednesday, March 17.  "Bequest Bootcamp - 10 Exercises You Can Do To Strengthen Your Bequest Program" was presented nationwide by Karen Gallardo, Senior Director of Gift Planning and Major Gifts at the AARP Foundation, and viewed locally in our boardroom.

As he left the presentation, Jim Reynolds of St. Paul's Episcopal Church commented "Great information - thanks for inviting me!" In a group discussion following the webinar, both Susan McGarry of Harbor Hospice and Marian McDermed of Big Brothers Big Sisters stated that there were a number of practical ideas that could be implemented right away. "The important thing here is that all of the area nonprofits need to be on message," said Bob Chapla, our VP Development.  "Bequests from individuals like Charles Hackley, the most prominent Muskegon philanthropist, to Ruth Skwarek, a quiet school teacher, have made a tremendous difference in the quality of our lives here today.  Promising to make a gift from your estate when you no longer need it - and telling the organization you're giving it to - is something most of us can do."

The Foundation development team plans to offer additional opportunities for area nonprofits to gather and learn while sharing ideas and strategies.