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Posted on January 19, 2018 – Posted by:

Foster Grandparents: Older Adults and Students Help Each Other Succeed

“At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished. It’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” – Denzel [...]
Posted on January 02, 2018 – Posted by: Ashley Lee

Our Community Hopes for 2018

As we enter a new year, we enjoy the opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been, where we’re going, and how we can bring light and love to the world around us. The year of 201 [...]
Posted on December 18, 2017 – Posted by: Ashley Lee

Southern California Wildfires: How to Help

In early December, massive wildfires began tearing through Southern California. They have destroyed homes and forced hundreds of thousands residents to evacuate. As of December 15, the fire is the third-largest in California history. The California [...]
Posted on December 13, 2017 – Posted by: Ashley Lee

Is 2017 the Year to Give Appreciated Assets?

The uncertainty surrounding potential changes to tax law, particularly as it relates to charitable giving, has our attention. As we move closer to a decision, we feel it is important to share how the possible [...]
Posted on November 28, 2017 – Posted by: Ashley Lee

Will You Be a Changemaker This #GivingTuesday?

In the upcoming weeks, we all have presents to buy, food to prepare, and decorations to hang, but before we get to far into the holiday frenzy, today we’re inviting you to participate in making [...]
Posted on November 10, 2017 – Posted by: Ashley Lee

Addressing LGBT Youth Homelessness: An Update from Our LGBT Fund

When we think about human rights issues, it’s easy to start with abuses around the world – it can be more challenging to open our eyes to problems right here in West Michigan. Each night, more [...]
Posted on October 11, 2017 – Posted by: Ashley Lee

Fall 2017 Current

Our latest issue of Current features recent grants, the story of Helen and Allen Hunting's passion for the Great Lakes, heartwarming notes from scholarship recipients, an inside look at Kick-Off Camp with Challenge Scholars, and [...]
Posted on September 25, 2017 – Posted by: Ashley Lee

Hurricane Maria: How to Help

The 2017 Hurricane Season continues to devastate the Caribbean and parts of the U.S. The most recent storm, Hurricane Maria, has obliterated parts of the Caribbean, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The [...]
Posted on September 15, 2017 – Posted by: Ashley Lee

Hurricane Irma: How to Help

Hurricane Irma, the second major hurricane to hit the U.S. and Caribbean in recent weeks, made landfall in Florida on September 10. Irma is noted as one of the most powerful Atlantic storms ever recorded [...]
Posted on August 28, 2017 – Posted by: Ashley Lee

Hurricane Harvey: How to Help

Hurricane Harvey, the largest hurricane to hit the United States in a decade, made landfall near Rockport, Texas on August 25. A Category 4 storm, Harvey has led to catastrophic and widespread flooding and damage [...]
Posted on July 20, 2017 – Posted by: Roberta King

Helping Make Grand Rapids Good with Local First

Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees recently approved a grant of $250,000 to Local First Educational Foundation for its “Good for Grand Rapids” campaign. The goal of the grant is to increase the number [...]
Posted on July 11, 2017 – Posted by: Diana Sieger

Let's Talk About Our North Star

Finding the North Star can be challenging. Gazing at the night sky from the front porch of my home, I spot the Big Dipper. I trace an imaginary line from the Big Dipper’s two edge [...]