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.