Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Black Legacy Fund Advisory Committee volunteers at AQUME Foundation 5K this past weekend! A gorgeous day and fantastic event. Black Legacy Fund got their team together to support this Health is Wealth fundraiser for AQUME!

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✨ Monday Motivation ✨

Join us in welcoming La'Shawnda Smith to Grand Rapids Community Foundation as the executive assistant!

La'Shawnda started last week in her role and will provide support to the Office of the President & CEO on all Community Foundation activities, including serving as a liaison to senior leadership and the Board of Trustees. She brings 15 years of experience in office administration and assisting various levels of management, including work with organizations like Hospice of Michigan and Nexus Technology Service. La'Shawnda has a heart for serving others. We are so grateful to have her join the Community Foundation team!

From its first grant to today, our Youth Grant Committee has awarded more than $1.6 million to local nonprofits with programs supporting youth. Read about the process they use to make grant decisions and what students are saying about their involvement with the YGC: https://ow.ly/6Jet50Su5AJ

In this nonprofit spotlight from our magazine PARTNERS in community, learn more about United Methodist Community House, which has been supported by the Community Foundation through various grants, including support from our Donor Advised Funds, over the years. Learn more about UMCH's intergenerational model that begins with expanding childcare, as well as the organization's capital campaign.

Read the article here: https://ow.ly/VXOh50Sl3r5

Each issue of PARTNERS in community, Grand Rapids Community Foundation's magazine, begins with a column from our president and CEO. In the most recent issue, LaSandra Gaddy explores the theme of this issue and shares about her experiences meeting many of you over the past few months.

Read the column on page 3 and the entire magazine at GRFoundation.org/PARTNERS

The spring/summer issue of PARTNERS in community is ready for you to read and enjoy! Our "How We Give" series continues with donor partner and Metz Legacy Society member Bob Zylstra and his philanthropy journey. We talk with United Methodist Community House about their current and future projects and share an update from our Youth Grant Committee. We hope you will be inspired - read the entire magazine at GRFoundation.org/PARTNERS

After 32 impactful years with Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Ruth Bishop is entering retirement next week. Join us in congratulating and celebrating Ruth as she finishes the last few days of her incredible tenure.

Ruth has been focused on education and supporting students throughout her entire career. After working in various general and special education positions, she joined the Community Foundation in 1992. Here she has been responsible for administering awards for over 80 scholarship funds and local efforts targeting education supports and college access for all students.

We are grateful for the many years of dedication Ruth brought to the Community Foundation. Ruth shared she will miss all the wonderful volunteers, staff, donor and school partners and students she has worked with, but looks forward to volunteering and spending time with family in her retirement.

Congratulations on your retirement, Ruth!

Grand Rapids Community Foundation will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2024 in honor of Memorial Day.

Somos Comunidad Fund Advisory Committee is seeking up to three new volunteers to join the committee. No previous experience on community committees needed. Learn more about the fund, the roles and responsibilities of a committee member and fill out an interest form at https://ow.ly/HCut50RR3VV

Want to learn more about the fund? Join us for an informational session on June 11 at 5:00 p.m. Register to join that session at https://ow.ly/6u1W50RR3VW

We are celebrating Grand Rapids Community Foundation staff with April and May work anniversaries today! Thank you for your time, commitment, and passion for our community. Learn more about our staff at GRFoundation.org/Staff

Pictured (L to R) top row: Danielle Brown, DeShawn Pope, Jonse Young
Middle row: Kate Luckert Schmid, Tracy Van Solkema, Shaun Shira
Bottom row: Paul Sapp, Stan Vander Roest, Ann Puckett

Congratulations to all the graduates of the Transformational Leadership Program that celebrated completing their program last night, including Deshawn Pope from our team who graduated with this cohort! TLP is a program by Urban Core Collective that delivers a leadership course with group training and one-on-one career coaching to established and emerging Black and Latinx leaders.

If you are an experienced executive assistant who is proactive, creative and ready to thrive in a mission-driven environment, we want to hear from you! Applications are still open for our executive assistant position.

As part of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation team, you'll work closely with our president and CEO, supporting her in various capacities and collaborating with our Senior Leadership Team. Key Qualifications:

✅ Dedication to our mission and North Star
✅ Adaptability to competing demands
✅ Commitment to professionalism and excellence

Ready to join us? Apply now at GRFoundation.org/Careers
Applications will remain open until the role is filled.

Grand Rapids Community Foundation was excited to join in the support of incredible leaders in our community last night by sponsoring West Michigan Woman's Brilliance Awards. The evening was full of stories shared by women and men making a difference in our community. Our team was inspired by each and every finalist and top honoree. Congratulations to everyone recognized, including Heather from our team who was among the finalists for the Emerging Leader category.

Pictured (L to R): Community Foundation staff at the Brilliance Awards, Jenine, LaSandra, DeShawn, Heather, Chantal, Paul

LaSandra, Shaun and Marilyn from Grand Rapids Community Foundation's team were pleased to join the Frederik Meijer Service Above Self Award Dinner hosted by the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids Charities Foundation.

At the event our team joined in the celebration of Sister Mary Aquinas Weber, OP who was given the award in recognition of humanitarian acts of selfless service, which leaves an enduring impression on the lives of others. Nominees for this award must exemplify the philanthropic legacy of Frederik Meijer through their personal efforts to improve our local and/or global community, engaging others to become involved with the effort and exemplifying the “Service Above Self” standard.

Pictured: Sister Aquinas and LaSandra at the event; Shaun introducing the award through his role as Rotary Club president

What does Somos Comunidad Fund do? How do they celebrate and invest in Latinx communities?

In case you missed their recent Salsa Night, watch this video filmed, produced and generously provided by local filmmaker José Guadalupe Jiménez Jr. It captures the energy and spirit of Somos Comunidad Fund. Song by Yaremi Mora-Garcia

We hope you will learn more and join us: GRFoundation.org/SomosComunidad

Salsa Night - Somos Comunidad Fund Video produced by local filmmaker José Guadalupe Jiménez Jr. Song: "Agradecida" by Yaremi Mora

Today at Crain's Grand Rapids Business luncheon we celebrated LaSandra Gaddy, president and CEO, being named among the 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan. Congrats, LaSandra and all of the women who were honored today!

📷: Isabel Media Studios