Michigan Gateway Community Foundation

 Buchanan     Michigan

http://www.mgcf.org     << visit website

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Michigan Gateway Community Foundation Charity Profile

From our single community beginning in July of 1978, we have evolved into a full service, accredited, and standards compliant Foundation serving Niles, Buchanan, and all of Cass County. Our mission is to make a lasting difference in a caring community.

In the beginning, four founding incorporators who understood the potential for a permanent community foundation in shaping and supporting the quality of life in a community, took the first step both organizationally and financially in starting this Foundation. They were Walter Schirmer, B.R. Desenberg, Harry Kennedy, and Phil Sexton. Gifts to the Foundation over the next 18 months totaled nearly $25,000, and the Board of Directors, led by President Miriam Hassan, announced plans to raise $1,000,000 over the following ten years to benefit educational, scientific, and charitable projects in the Buchanan area. In 1980, following a process to secure the necessary tax exempt status from the IRS, the new Buchanan Area Foundation announced the granting of its very first scholarship loan. Also in 1980, a grant for $339.15 to purchase a blood specimen collection chair was made to Unity Hospital.

The first partnership of any magnitude was with the Foundation and the Buchanan Fine Arts Council, and plans were made to renovate the old Tin Shop on Roe street for use as a community arts center. Originally part of the many Clark Equipment facilities in town, the City of Buchanan was the current owner of the property. Jerry Rossow chaired the Fine Arts Council, and plans were made to repair and renovate the building into a small theater, museum, and gallery and community space. In 1982, the Buchanan Area Foundation committed $21,000 to the project, and work began. This project was the primary focus of the Foundation for the next three years. The Tin Shop Theater is still in use, providing the Buchanan area community with locally produced and staffed theater entertainment each summer.

Michigan Gateway Community Foundation Volunteer Information

In addition to staff, the Community Foundation carries out a great deal of its work through our volunteer board and committees. Anyone can apply to become a board or committee member. It is the board's intent to attract volunteers reflective of our service area and who possess desired characteristics, talents, and experience needed to govern the organization effectively. Participation on one of the Community Foundation's committee's is a way to become involved more closely with the Community Foundation before you consider board membership.

Community members are encouraged to serve on committees which are responsible for, grantmaking policy and impact, investment, marketing and communications, grant proposal review, scholarship application review, and for promoting charitable giving in our community.