The Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Elly Bainbridge as its new Scholarships & Student Success Coordinator. In this role, Bainbridge will coordinate the Foundation’s scholarship programs, support student success initiatives, and strengthen partnerships that empower students of all ages in the community. Bainbridge brings extensive experience in education and student support, with 30 years dedicated to attracting students and creating pathways to higher education at Grand Rapids Community College.

This Fall, the Oceana Community Foundation awarded $36,400 in grants to nine organizations, with most receiving full funding for their projects up to $5,000. While the Foundation supports all types of community projects, most of these grants focused on projects in educational programs, outreach and community building, and healthcare services.  

The Oceana Community Foundation is pleased to announce that Alicia Ortega has accepted the position as our new AmeriCorps member serving the Foundation and Oceana College Access Network! (OCAN). Alicia is excited to utilize her knowledge in marketing and apply her efforts towards helping both organizations. Alicia graduated from Central Michigan University in December 2023, where she studied business and received her degrees in Marketing, Logistics Management, and Spanish.

Oceana Community Foundation would like to welcome Claudia Ressel-Hodan Psy.D. as the new part-time Administrative Assistant to the Foundation team. Claudia is a retired Psychologist who has spent the past 10 years in Pentwater contributing to numerous non-profits in a variety of roles including board roles of President, Director, Technical support, website development and fund development.

The Oceana Community Foundation is delighted to welcome six community leaders to participate in a regional Leadership Learning Lab (LLL): Sky Harsch, Hannah Naples, John Medendorp, Amber Rumsey, Phil Santellan and Susan Tippet,. As the sixth cohort of LLL, participants will join Oceana County’s 31 LLL alumni in expanding their leadership skills and networks.

Want to turn your ‘someday’ into today? The Oceana Community Foundation wants to help you increase your earning potential and enjoy a life filled with more opportunities and benefits. The Foundation is ready to invest in nontraditional students (adults of any age) & your careers with our Complete Your Degree (CYD) program! The CYD program helps to reduce the barriers, guide the way, and provide the support needed to reach your goals! Partnering with MCC & WSCC, the CYD program is geared up to help local adults achieve degrees and credentials. Adult learners residing in Oceana County are encouraged to apply by following the application instructions at our website, under the scholarship tab. The application remains open year-round to meet more student needs along their career pathway, allowing people to apply at any time!

In partnership with Rotary Charities of Traverse City, the Frey Foundation, and other northern Michigan community foundations, the Oceana Community Foundation invites local leaders to apply for the 2024-5 Leadership Learning Lab (LLL) program. The Foundation welcomes leaders at all levels from nonprofit organizations, businesses, government agencies, and Tribal Nations to apply. The application deadline is June 28, 2024.

The Electric Forest Music Festival has been an Oceana County summer staple since 2008, bringing people across the country together to celebrate art, music, and nature. While the Festival's grandeur is known cross-country, few know about its philanthropic footprint in West Michigan. This summer, the Festival's Electric Forest Charitable Fund celebrates the sixth anniversary of its Music in Schools Programs with a $10,000 grant. Its generosity continues with additional grants totaling $17,000 to the Oceana Conservation District, the Hart Project “putting the art in Hart”, and the Oceana Community Foundation.

As summer begins, the Oceana Community Foundation is pleased to launch our 4th annual donation drive for the Oceana’s Michigan Migrant Child Task Force. The Foundation is collecting donations of new hygiene items, children’s books and toys, and more to share with West Michigan’s migrant farmworkers and their families. New this year are some culturally sensitive basic food items. Each item donated is directly going to a family via the Migrant Child Task Force’s Camp Outreach events!

The Oceana Community Foundation is excited to announce that Ashley Guardiola has joined the Foundation as a second summer intern serving the Foundation & Oceana College Access Network (CAN)! Guardiola is excited to work alongside the staff and gain experience in graphic design and expand her creative efforts. She is currently attending Michigan State University as a rising sophomore this upcoming fall and is planning on graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in interior design, and a minor in graphic design. Guardiola is excited to bring her design skills into use and help create some new outreach tools for the Foundation and the Oceana College Access Network!

The Oceana Community Foundation is pleased to announce Daisy Mendez as our newest team member, bringing her expertise and passion for community development to our organization. Daisy Mendez is excited to gain on-site experience in the marketing field upon graduating from Ferris State University on May 4. Mendez earned a degree in marketing with a minor in public relations. Her last requirement for her degree is an internship placement, which she will complete this summer through the marketing intern position at the Oceana Community Foundation. 

This summer, 26 Oceana students will attend summer camp with the support of the Shelby Rotary Club, the Oceana Community Foundation, and its donor-advised partners! These students received a total of $7,275 in camp scholarships (or ‘camperships’) with individual awards ranging from $100 to $650 each. Awards were determined based on preference for first-time applicants and those with financial need. Given the camp cost for some students, awards were increased beyond the standard $250 limit.  

This Spring, the Oceana Community Foundation awarded $41,700 in grants to 11 organizations, with most receiving full funding for their projects up to $5,000. While the Foundation supports all type of community projects, most of these grants focused on environmental projects, infrastructure development, and accessible healthcare.

The Shelby Rotary Club and the Oceana Community Foundation are pleased to offer the chance for Oceana youth to attend camp this summer. Camp experiences bring new skills and self-worth to our youth and build up the 4 C’s within them; compassion, contribution, commitment, and character. The Rotary Club and Foundation donors realize this impact, and work to ensure camp experiences are accessible to all, regardless of financial status. Awards are capped at $250 per applicant, but higher requests will be evaluated according to available funding. All awards will be paid directly to the camps and are available for any type of camping focus – arts, sports, scouts, church, general, and leadership experiences. Application is for one camp experience per child. Preference is given to first-time requests. To apply for support, complete the quick, one page application! Suggested deadline to apply is April 1, 2024. Applications are available at all Oceana County schools, on the Foundation’s website at www.oceanafoundation.org, and at the Shelby Area District Library. Questions can be directed to Tiffany Haight at haightfour@gmail.com or by calling 231-873-1859.

Oceana’s Read Early. Read Often. (RERO) Program would like to welcome Teresa Mead to the Foundation Team as the new Program Coordinator.  Teresa spent 24 years working for Shelby Public Schools. She started in 1999 at Benona Elementary, then 7 years at New Era Elementary running the computer and library programs and her last 14 years at the Early Childhood Center (ECC). She was the ECC Program Coordinator before her retirement in June 2023. 

A new year is also a new start for Walkerville’s future! The Walkerville Community Assessment conducted on November 30th was the fourth area assessment funded by the Oceana Community Foundation to gain local feedback towards developing positive change to meet community goals. The assessment was facilitated by the Foundation and consultant Julie Hales-Smith, with the support of Lake-Osceola Bank. After a month of compiling the feedback received during the full day of assessment activities, we are now ready to report the findings to Walkerville area residents!

In its Fall Community Grant Round, the Oceana Community Foundation awarded $47,509 to 12 local schools and nonprofits! All organizations that applied received funding with six organizations receiving full funding up to $7,500 and three receiving partial support. Additionally, local nonprofits, government organizations, and schools have received nearly $64,552 through the Foundation’s Community Wish Lists so far!  

Through the generosity of an anonymous donor, the Oceana Community Foundation launched a $25,000 Challenge Match through the end of the year. Gifts to the Community Investment Fund or the Administrative Fund will be matched, creating double the impact in Oceana County! “The Challenge Match is such a heartwarming holiday gift to our community,” Foundation CEO Tammy Carey said. “Not only will people’s end-of-year gifts have double the impact, but they will also support Oceana’s local nonprofits and residents indefinitely through the Foundation’s endowment. Gifts will truly become the ‘gifts that keep on giving,’ both now and in the future.”

Have you ever considered giving a holiday gift to your community? With the holiday season approaching, the Oceana Community Foundation recently released its annual Community Wish Lists! The Foundation invites area nonprofits to indicate which near-term projects and purchases can only happen with the financial support from the community as part of its philanthropy leadership framework. This season, 49 organizations serving Oceana County submitted 126 different gift requests, totaling $180,510! To learn more about our Community Wish Lists or to find a wish close to your heart, visit OceanaFoundation.org/Community-Wish-Lists or reach out to the Foundation at 231.869.3377.  

This winter season, the Community Foundation is inviting Oceana County to celebrate the season with purpose at our Holiday Open House on December 15 from 10AM to 4PM. The Holiday Open House will be at the Community Foundation’s office at 388 S. Hancock Street in Pentwater; our office is directly above Shelby State Bank.