Serving all of Kent County since 1922 Winter 2011, Volume No.

47

MEG AND GREG WILLIT Magnanimous Recipients of the 2011 Jack Chaille Community Philanthropy Award
Donors Honored at Annual Donor Party

60 Years Later, Student Still Appreciates Ottawa Hills Principal

Leadership: Over 420 Youth Employed This Summer

Year-End Giving Tips from a CPA

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Winter 2011 / Volume No. 47

3 4 6 9 10 11 Metz Society Profile: Marty and Sue Allen Donor Party Photo Album Founder of TVs Food Network Reflects on High School Principals Grand Influence This is Leadership: Youth Summer Employment Results This Years Final Word On Year-End Giving from Beene Garters Eric Smith The Why Behind Becoming a Values-Centric OrganizationDiana Siegers Letter

Grand Rapids Community Foundation Tel: 616.454.1751, Fax: 616.454.6455 Email: grfound@grfoundation.org Website: www.grfoundation.org

Board of Trustees Carol J. Karr (Chair) Eva Aguirre Cooper (Vice Chair) Laurie F. Beard Wayman P. Britt Paul T. Doyle Cecile Cave Fehsenfeld Paul M. Keep Arend D. Lubbers Bonnie K. Miller Robert W. Roth Khayriyyah Muhammad Smith

Staff Diana R. Sieger President Lynne M. Black Vice President, Finance and Administration Roberta F. King, APR Vice President, PR & Marketing Marcia L. Rapp Vice President, Programs Marilyn W. Zack Vice President, Development

Current is a quarterly publication of Grand Rapids Community Foundation 2011 Contributing Writers: Molly Murray, Amanda St. Pierre, APR Graphic Design: James Falk Illustration: Yolanda Gonzalez Photography: Terry Johnston, Brian Kelly, Mary Taber

About the Cover Greg and Meg Willit support a number of great community causes through their gifts and volunteer time. We especially admire that they are devoted to passing their philanthropic values on to their sons. For these reasons and more, Greg and Meg are our 2011 Community Philanthropy Award winners.

facebook.com/GRCommFound @GRCommFound

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MARTY AND SUE ALLEN:

Grand Rapidians Through and True

f Grand Rapids had a front door, a big porch and a welcome mat, youd want Marty and Sue Allen to open the door and invite you in. Theyre happy, exuberant and kind. They smile and laugh a lot, and they simply love Grand Rapids. This is a community where people care for each other. People are involved and are willing to give of themselves to make things better. In terms of stewardship, you cant find a better community, Marty said. Marty and Sue are natives of Grand Rapids but never met until after college. Marty is a graduate of Notre Dame and received his Masters degree from Michigan State Universityin between degrees he served as an officer in the Navy. Sue graduated from University of Michigan and intended to go West, but her fathers death changed her plans. She stayed in town and worked with her brother in the family business, the Grand Rapids Label Company. That decision was turned out to be significant. Her brother invited her to go boating with friends on Lake

was as good of a business mentor as you could have. I also learned about community involvementhe was truly a visionary on Grand Rapids revitalization. It started with the construction of the Old Kent Building (now Fifth Third Bank) at Ottawa and Lyon. After Dick retired I was fortunate to be able to work for John Canepa who continued my mentoring as a banker and encouraged me in my community service including Grand Action, he said. Marty still serves on Grand Actions executive committee. The nonprofit helped plan and build Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place and other major capital projects. Now it is spearheading the Urban Market. Growing up here, weve seen a lot of changes. The vibrancy in Grand Rapids makes us very proud, Sue said. Civic-minded parents and community leaders have inspired the Allens to volunteer. Sue was heavily involved in their three childrens school activities. Carrying on that tradition shes served as a tutor at Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Academy for 12 years and is active with Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Marty is known for his long time involvement with Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, which supports the Ford Museum here and the Ford Library in Ann Arbor. Marty continues to serve as chairman emeritus and lifetime trustee. People often Michigan. She met Marty on that excursion. ask me how I came to know the president. Our fathers knew each other for years As a congressman, Ford came back to Grand through community activities and we only Rapids 5th District often, and, through lived a few blocks from various community events, each other. But it wasnt I got to know him. He asked until that boat trip that me to serve on the original Growing up here, we met, she said. board of trustees in 1981. Following their weve seen a lot of Five years later, he called and marriage, they have lived asked me to be chairman. changes. The vibrancy away from Grand Rapids I served in that role for 20 only briefly while Marty in Grand Rapids years, Marty said. During that was working his first job makes us very proud. time I learned that President in Chicago. We were Ford and I had a lot in living in a one bedroom common both personally and SUE ALLEN apartment and expecting professionally. our first child. It was then Marty and Sue have been that we began thinking married for 46 years. They of returning to Grand Rapids where our most enjoy spending time with their family extended family lived. It was the kind of place including children Mike; Steve and his we wanted to raise our children, Sue said. wife Maria; Kat and her husband Rob; and Marty takes up the story. It turned out grandchildren Jaret, Kyra, Alexandra, Jacob, to be good timing as I accepted a position Sydney and Ty. n with Old Kent Bank, the start of a 31 year career. Initially I worked for Dick Gillett, who

FROM A TRUST TO A DONOR ADVISED FUND

Marty and Sue Allen have a Dynamic Donor Advised Fund at Grand Rapids Community Foundation. It began as a charitable remainder trust that had reached its 10-year term. With their professional advisors at Fifth Third Bank/Mirador Family Wealth Advisors they were considering the best use for the remaining asset. Sue asked, What about the Community Foundation? The Dynamic Donor Advised Fund turned out to be the ideal vehicle for their giving. Their favorite causes are educationthey have scholarships that support students at Aquinas College and the University of Michigan, human services, the environment, arts and cultural activities and community development.

Greg and Meg Willit Honored, Donors Thanked

Meg and Greg Willit

awarded the Jack Chaille Community Philanthropy Award. The award is given each year to donors who support the work of the Community Foundation, but also volunteer for or donate to other community efforts. The Willits have a long association with Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and support Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Childrens Museum, D.A. Blodgett St. Johns, Grand Rapids Symphony, Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Grand Valley State University and other nonprofits. Greg and Meg are great examples of people who give from their hearts. They are not only generous with their financial gifts, but they are active and engaged volunteers. When they are behind something, a project or a cause, their hearts and energy go into it, said Diana Sieger, Community Foundation president. They are serious and thorough about their philanthropy and the causes they support. Greg Willit founded and owns Benefits Resource Group in Grand Rapids. Meg is a full-time community volunteer. The Jack Chaille Community Philanthropy Award is named
4
4 3

ore than 300 Grand Rapids Community Foundation donors gathered at Grand Rapids Art Museum for the annual donor partythe biggest party ever! Greg Willit and Meg Miller Willit were

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for William Jackson Chaille, a long-time Community Foundation supporter and booster. n

1. Diana Sieger, Chuck and Stella Royce, and Dave Medema 2. Jakki and Roger Vander Laan with Jonse Young 3. Zoe Remien, Pat Edison, Sally Colburn, and Margaret Ryan 4. Michael Kooistra with Carlos Sanchez

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11

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5. Dr. Ora and Dr. Courtney Jones with Carole and Gerald Redwine 6. Carol Karr and Kevin Briggs 7. Steve Ruis, Melanie Lyons, Amy Ruis, and Rick Treur 8. Jay Cooper and Eva Aguirre Cooper

9. Armen Oumedian with Paulette Israels 10. Buzz Miller, Jack Miller, and Mike Stapleton 11. Claudia and Allan Carlson 12. Damion Payne and Brenda Kading-Payne

A LETTER TO THE PRINCIPAL:

An Ottawa Hills Alumnus Remembers the Man Who Made All the Difference

Elmo Wierenga (1911-2000), former Ottawa Hills High School principal Beverly and Jack Clifford stopped by Grand Rapids Community Foundation on a visit from Phoenix for Ottawa Hills High Schools 60th class reunion.

y the time the letter arrived, Elmo Wierenga was an older man. He and his wife, Geneva, had moved from Grand Rapids to Ohio to be close to family. Elmo was suffering from congestive heart failure. After opening the letter, his heart undoubtedly filled with pride, beating steady and strong, as it did when he presided over the halls of Ottawa Hills High School in the 1950s and 60s. The letter was sent from Jack Clifford, a graduate of Ottawa Hills class of 51. Voted least likely to succeed by his classmates, Jack was a lackluster student. He was uninterested in school and had no intentions of going to college. I didnt have a vision of the future. I knew my parents couldnt afford college, and I figured it was just beyond my reach. That was until Elmo (Principal Wierenga at the time) came along, Jack said. He befriended me and would show up at my baseball games. My father wasnt therehe was a tough parent and very distant. Elmo would compliment me, and it felt good to be treated nicely by this wonderful man. I admired him enormously. He told me that I needed to go to college, that it was the only way I could get ahead. He kept convincing me that I could do it, Jack said. Finally, Jack agreed. After high school, Jack studied at Grand Rapids Junior College (now Grand Rapids Community College) before transferring to Western Michigan University (WMU). Elmo wrote letters of recommendation on his
6

behalf and helped him secure work to pay for With their 50th class reunion approaching in his education. Once at WMU, Jack became 2001, Jack saw an opportunity to do involved with the fledgling student-run radio something to honor Elmo. He spoke with station, WIDR, and laid the groundwork for a classmate Bob Hendrickson. Bob had returned remarkable career in media and broadcast. to Ottawa Hills to teach and coach and Of Jacks many accomplishments, he may eventually became the principal. Bob and most famously be known as the founder of Jack landed on the idea for a scholarship fund, televisions uber and Bob introduced Jack to successful Food Grand Rapids Community Network. Foundation. Jack gave $500,000 I told him that I thought the on behalf of his class to establish reason I got through college Through a perfect the Elmo Wierenga Ottawa Hills was to please him and that combination of tenacity Alumni Scholarship Fund at the he had really changed my and serendipity, Jack has Community Foundation. In the life, Jack said. Jacks found success beyond ten years since the fund was accomplishments include his wildest imagination. created, many other Ottawa founding TVs Food Network. As his business interests Hills alumni have contributed to grew, he lost touch with the fund. Elmo, but he never forgot the profound influence the Ottawa I am very proud of this scholarship fund. But Hills principal had on his life. And this led to Im only part of it, not all of it. My hope is that the letter. we find young people like me who have struggled and need the boost. I know how Just after my company went public, I tracked meaningful this kind of encouragement can be. Elmo down, because I wanted him to know what he meant to me and that Id done well. Consider this. In a thank you note we In the letter I told him about waking up on received from one of our first scholarship snowy mornings at WMU and not wanting to recipients, the student wrote, I am going to go to class. But I always thought about the use this scholarship and be just as successful commitment that I had made to him. I told as you. And then I am going to give out him that I thought the reason I got through scholarships too. It shows how you can pay it college was to please him and that he had forward. This will go on forever, Jack said. n really changed my life, Jack said. After Elmo received the letter from Jack, he and Geneva framed it and proudly displayed it on a wall in their home. Elmo passed away in 2000.

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Hilda Gutirrez-Duran Amanda St. Pierre, APR Ruth Bishop

Cris Kooyer

Armen Oumedian

Marilyn Zack

Diana Sieger

Meet Hilda Gutirrez-Duran

Grand Rapids Community Foundation warmly welcomes Hilda Gutirrez-Duran to its staff. Hilda is the new Mentor Michigan College Coaching Corps AmeriCorps member. Originally from New Jersey, Hilda moved to Grand Rapids her freshman year of high school. She graduated from Catholic Central, received her associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College and now studies psychology at Grand Valley State University. In her new role Hilda aims to strengthen mentor matches and improve communication with parents of students involved in the Youth Enrichment Scholarship (YES) Program. Shes set her sights on understanding students college access needs so the Community Foundation may better serve them. She is networking and planning a year-long curriculum for older YES students, so theyre better prepared socially, academically and financially for college. I believe in teaching someone what Ive learned so they can teach another. We are united in this cycle, and through it we can see change happening, Hilda said.

the Association of Fundraising Professionals West Michigan Chapter. Marilyn Zack, vice president of development, was honored with the Benjamin Franklin Award for an Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals West Michigan Chapter. President Diana Sieger was given the Champions for Children Award by the City of Grand Rapids Our Communitys Children Award. We hope you will join the Community Foundation in extending a big congratulations and mazel tov to these very deserving individuals.

GrantOff
In October, the Community Foundation launched a new web-based experiment aimed at introducing new people to the very basic work of the Community Foundation. The GrantOff put two of Grand Rapids top nonprofits, Kids Food Basket and Grand Rapids Community Media Center, in a friendly contest for a $1,000 grant. People visited the Community Foundations website to vote once per day for the nonprofit they wanted to win. Points for votes increased with the voters level of engagementa simple click to vote counted as one vote, while a Facebook post earned two votes and posting a video testimony for the nonprofit garnered 10 votes.

College-bound?
Our college scholarship application is available January 1, 2012. Students have until April 1 to complete and submit an application for scholarship consideration. Questions? Call 616.454.1751.

Newsbites

Staff Member Earns APR

Following a rigorous review and testing process, Amanda St. Pierre received a Certificate of Accreditation in Public Relations from the Universal Accreditation Board of the Public Relations Society of America. Amanda is the PR & marketing specialist at the Community Foundation. She works alongside Roberta King (also APR) and writes for this publication.

Community Foundation Receives Partners for a Racism-Free Community Designation

The Community Foundation recently received Full Partner Designation from Partners for a Racism-Free Community. For this designation, the Community Foundation had to demonstrate that it met six standards that contribute to a racism-free organization. Staff learned of this designation at a local event and expressed their desire to pursue it. Being welcoming, inclusive of all people and racismfree is part of our organizations DNA, and we live it at all levels. We are committed to making our mark in the community around these issues and are absolutely honored to receive this designation, said Diana Sieger, president.

We Couldnt Be More Proud!

Grand Rapids Community Foundation has had an especially fecund award season. Heres a recap. Ruth Bishop, education program officer, and Cris Kooyer, education and youth program officer, were bestowed the title of 2011 Grantmaking Gurus from the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Greater Grand Rapids. Armen Oumedian, who is a donor and dear friend of the Community Foundation, received the Distinguished Philanthropist Award from

After four days of competition, the Community Media Center was victorious. As an ultimate sign of sportsmanship, the competitors worked together to leverage the grant dollars. The Media Center will use the $1,000 grant award to provide media and technology services to benefit Kids Food Basket. Well played! These nonprofits were selected to participate by John Wheeler, who sponsored the competition, meaning he provided the grant award from his Donor Advised Fund. John is a great champion of both causes.

If youd like to support a future GrantOff, please let us know. You can call Jonse Young, donor services director, at 616.454.1751 x108. n

New Grants TOTAL 914,500

$
Since our last edition of Current, Grand Rapids Community Foundation staff, committee members and Trustees have vetted nonprofit programs. We chose grant recipients that are making it happen in our community.
First Steps received $125,000 for its Childrens Healthcare Access Program (CHAP). Through partnership and advocacy, CHAP is changing business as usual for health plans and providers. It shifts dollars to fund preventative care, thus reducing high-cost emergency care visits for youngsters covered by Medicaid. Nearly one of every three children in Kent County receives Medicaid. Grand Action was awarded $500,000 toward the construction of Grand Rapids Urban Market. Over the next two years, the market will be built on the southern edge of downtown, bringing fresh, local food to the citys urban core. Plans for the space include education programming, food processing, a rooftop garden, restaurants and more. John Ball Zoological Society was awarded $150,000 to expand zoo features, including exhibit space for Amur tigers and grizzly bears, a funicular to transport guests and a new treehouse building for special events. Community Foundation dollars will fund educational and enrichment aspects of the two animal exhibits, such as curricula for field trips, youth and community programs. The City of Grand Rapids received $50,000 to develop a model that consolidates police and fire services and can be implemented in Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Wyoming. As government continues to reduce spending, such a model could achieve efficiencies and increase productivity. If it works well, then other departments may adapt the model to share services across communities. Steepletown Neighborhood Services received $42,000 to engage renters in a program to advocate for tenants rights and affordable, quality housing. Steepletown was awarded an additional $20,000 grant for a program to help Spanish-speaking adults complete their academic credentials and thus increase their employment opportunities. Friends of Grand Rapids Parks was awarded $27,500 to review City of Grand Rapids tree ordinances. Theyll recommend policy updates to help reach the Green Grand Rapids goal of 40 percent tree canopy. Reaching the goal requires 1,520 more acres of tree canopy. n

Great

Donors Make It Happen!

THANKS TO: George M. Ames Fund John W. and Margaret Bertsch Fund James and Margaret Black Estate Orville and Jean Bulman Estate William J. Chaille Fund George M. and Lucinda Ann Edison Memorial Trust Fund Emma Sherwood Evans Trust Fund Fund for Community Good Arthur H. Holmes Handicap Fund Walter D. Idema Charitable Trust Ladies Literary Club Fund for Literary Arts Harvey E. Lemmen Fund George and Mary Metz Charitable Fund Gordon and Janet Moeller Food Security Fund Needy Children Field of Interest Fund Elizabeth J. Steed Johnson Fund for Healthcare and Community Health George L. and Esther B. Young Trust

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This is Leadership

SUMMER JOBS HAPPENED HERE

summer jobs 2011
$400,000
grant from W.K. Kellogg Foundation Grand Rapids Community Foundation

The memories of summer are fading as we bundle up and brave the winter winds, but, for some Kent County students, summer included work and learning along with fun and relaxation. Thanks to Grand Rapids Community Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation and 10 grantee organizations, over 400 young people had summer jobs. n

10 youth rode in the customer service Aero Med helicopter engineering maintenance while working at
Spectrum Health

mortuary

youth leaders law lawn care

health
communications
photography

food service

community development

childcare nance

event planning

10-13 14 15 16 17 18-24

$235,340
earned by youth

12 9

social work housekeeping

green technicians
urban planning

ofce work

Dont miss reading about their experiences on this blog, http://summerjobsgr. wordpress.com, created by Community Foundation summer intern Molly Murray. She interviewed

construction

barber

RE

E SUM

3 6

age [years]
Humanity homes renovated

students, wrote stories, took photographs and made videos of their experiences. She also created this cool infographic to show the scope of the summer jobs program in our community.

1,426

hours spent on job training & professional development

4 thousand
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

computer monitors disassembled & recycled

50,551
hours worked

25 Habitat for

Grand Rapids Youth Employed Summer 2011

10 youth employed by a grantee organization 10 youth employed with grant dollars 10 youth hired on for regular position

over

3,600 cookies baked 1,800 lawns mowed

*includes best available data as of 09.01.11

YEAR END

NUMBERS
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011

:) :) :) :)

:) :) :) :)

:) :) :) :)

:) :) :) :)

over

:) :)

:) :)

:) :)

:) :)

$ $

TOTAL ASSETS

TOTAL GRANTS AUTHORIZED

Unclassified .6%

Healthy People

:) :) :)

250,217,561 10,029,728
Academic Achievement 34.4% 28.6%

:) :) :)

7.3% Healthy Ecosystems

:) :)

TOTAL GIFTS AND PLEDGES

12,121,941

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NUMBER OF NEW FUNDS

532

TOTAL FUNDS

82%
Arts and Social Enrichment

4.6% 24.6%

PERCENT OF TOTAL EXPENSES FOR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND GRANTS

Economic Prosperity/ Vibrant Neighborhoods

21.3%
RATE OF RETURN

to Make a Difference
Eric Smith, CPA, Beene Garter LLP

Great Ways to

As 2011 comes to a close, we know donors are considering requests from many nonprofits. Youre thinking about the best way to make your gifts make a difference. Eric Smith, CPA with Beene Garter LLP, provided this look at three popular year-end gift types for you to consider as you write your checks, speak with your professional advisor or go online with a credit card.

Gifts of Cash
Pros: From a tax perspective, people who itemize and give cash will save taxes. Also, for 2011, there is no phase out, meaning high income individuals will not lose three percent of the benefit, as they have in past years. This year also provides the final opportunity for donors to take advantage of the Michigan Community Foundation Tax Credit. (See Last Chance Reminder below.) Cons: The downside to cash gifts is that once the assets are given away, they are gone. That leaves fewer assets for donors to depend on for their future needs. If this is a concern, a simple gift through your estate plan may be a good alternative.

Gifts of Appreciated Stock

Pros: Donors may give a gift of stock and deduct its fair market value, but they dont have to pay tax on its appreciation. The process is fairly simple, and donors can contact their brokers for the Community Foundation to get started. Cons: To be gifted, a stock must be held longterm, or for at least 12 months. While it is a simple transaction, a donor should allow more time for a stock gift than they would for a gift of cash. Its best to begin the process a couple of weeks before year-end to be sure the broker can successfully transfer the assets to the charitys account.

IRA Charitable Rollover

Pros: This provision allows donors ages 70 and older to transfer up to $100,000 from their IRA directly to Grand Rapids Community Foundation (or another qualified charity). Donors can reduce their income for federal tax purposes and satisfy their required minimum distributions. This incentive is also slated to expire at the end of 2011. Cons: Since transferred assets are not included as income, the donor does not receive an itemized deduction for those assets. Depending on the donors other sources of income, this transfer may push the donor into the alternative minimum tax. Most people prefer to avoid this. Your CPA can help you determine whether this is good option for you. Finally, as with gifts of stock, a donor should allow at least a couple of weeks for the transfer to be completed. Many thanks to Eric for sharing his time and expertise with us! n

Last Chance for Michigan Community Foundation Tax Credit!

Take advantageone last timeof the Michigan Community Foundation Tax Credit. The tax credit offers donors making gifts to Grand Rapids Community Foundation a maximum credit of $200 on a gift of $400 for couples filing jointly and a
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This is the last year for the tax credit. It was eliminated to help balance the Michigan budget. This is similar to the tax credits that benefit public broadcasting, libraries and museums, qualified food pantries and state colleges and universities. To learn more please visit http://www.forgoodforever.org/Calculator.htm.

maximum credit of $100 on a gift of $200 for single filers. It also includes the up-to-$5,000 tax credit that businesses can earn for a gift of $10,000.

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THE WHY BEHIND BECOMING A VALUES-CENTRIC ORGANIZATION

Is there anything more personal than ones values?
hat we value in life is rooted deep inside of us and closely held values will direct the course of our actions and activities. Personal values reflect our own ideas of right and wrong and our views on how things should or ought to be. Values influence peoples attitudes and behaviors; what people say and do are often based on their values. Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Ann Rhoades a well-known business author and respected human resources expert. She conducted a two-day seminar at the annual Community Foundation CEO Retreat that was held in San Francisco. Ann is known for creating values-centric cultures in her consulting with major corporations around the country. All the credentials and accolades aside, what I learned from her is very valuable. In a setting with 35 of my colleagues from across the country, all of us having read Anns latest book, Built on Values, we discovered that from the smallest of organizations to large corporations, an environment can be created to construct corporate cultures that encourage innovation and give people the ability to, as she says, accomplish the extraordinary! Many organizations tout their values by mounting the words on a wall visible in their offices, or print them in an annual report or post on a website. We have our values posted on the stabile in the upper lobby of our building. Our values were created by staff in a strategic planning session a number of years ago. We re-visit them periodically to ensure they still reflect who we are and what we really value. The values we proclaim are: Innovation - Embracing creative thinking and implementing new ideas. Respect - Honoring individual self-worth and creating a community of inclusion. Inclusion - Celebrating and fostering all aspects of diversity. Excellence - Performing at a level that exceeds expectations and inspires trust and confidence. Exceptional Results - Changing the community for the better. People - Transforming our community through the expertise of our staff, the gifts of our donors and the efforts of our grantees. Hope - Encouraging donors, nonprofits and the community to believe in a better future.
To read more of Dianas writing about philanthropy and social change issues her blog features regular postings. It can be accessed at grfoundation.org/blog. Your comments on her postings are welcome and encouraged.

M Y C O M M U N I T Y M AT T E R S

These are great values, but what Ann Rhoades would say is: How do you bring them to life and help people live the values for the betterment of the organization? She contends that the people working in an organization need to understand what the values are to become the best that they can be while moving toward the ultimate vision of what a business is actually trying to accomplish. She says the internal culture cannot be forced, but an environment can be created from which a positive and empowering culture can emerge. She emphatically states the environment you want can be built on shared, strategic values. The hard part comes when identifying the behaviors that exemplify what the values mean. It is then, that we can continue to build an organization that is superior in terms of moving from what is currently happening to a wow state. For us, bringing to life the behaviors associated with a value can be exemplified in the value innovation. The behaviors connected to this include taking calculated risks without fear of failure, learning from mistakes and moving forward in a positive way. Another key value of ours is inclusion which can be brought to life by speaking up against all isms including racism and sexism, and by assuring that each voice is heard and respected. The values exercise has tremendous meaning to all of us at Grand Rapids Community Foundation. We have a positive internal culture and we are moving forward continually building an environment that will bring this good culture to a wow culture! I think highly of our staff, I know that they also want our community to soar in terms of human kindness, addressing complex issues and solving knotty social problems. Each reader of Current is important to the Community Foundation and I think you deserve to know that the staff and Trustees are focused on making this a responsive and forward-thinking organization because our community deserves (and expects) it. n

Grand Rapids Community Foundation 185 Oakes Street S.W. Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage P A I D Grand Rapids, MI Permit No. 360

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

HOLIDAY
OFFICE HOURS
Grand Rapids Community Foundation will be closed Friday, December 23 Monday, December 26 Monday, January 2

If you are receiving duplicate copies of Current, let us know, and please pass one along to a friend.

Please note that complex gifts, such as an IRA transfer or a gift of stock, may take longer to facilitate. If you are considering this type of gift, please allow enough time for processing. If you have questions about ideal timelines, please call the Community Foundation development staff at 616.454.1751. n

Gifts to be credited for 2011 tax returns must be delivered to the Community Foundation by 5 p.m. on Friday, December 30 postmarked on or before December 31 given online by 11:59 p.m. on December 31
Marilyn Gina Jonse

Thank you and happy holidays!