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P.O. Box 995 Baldwin, MI 49304
231.745.4601
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Message from the President
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When I refl ect on this past year it is truly humbling
to see the genuine caring and generosity of our many donors. Collectively, we are helping to establish something that will carry on past our lifetime, something that will touch thousands of lives. 2007 was truly a banner year for the Lake County Community
Foundation. The generosity of our donors has allowed us to award over $55,000 in scholarships and grants to area students and non-profit entities!
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To think that this all began in 1993 with a group of concerned citizens throwing nickels
and dimes on a table as a “start up” fund and today, have over $1 million in assets is,
truly, astounding and speaks to the kindness and caring of everyone who lives or visits
Lake County and who chooses to donate to LCCF. Thank you all so very much.
This past year offered a unique opportunity for donors as well. The DQF Foundation
offered a challenge grant in the fall that matched repeat donors 1 to 1 and new donors
2 to 1. Because of this overwhelming offer, over 50% of our fall donors were new and
many repeat donors increased their contributions. When you add it all up; the repeat
donors, new donors, several large gifts and the DQF challenge, the foundation received
over a 72% increase in donations for total contributions in 2007 of $226,208. Our
endowments continued to grow in size and number. This past year there were three
new endowments established and totally funded. In addition, many of the existing
endowments grew because of the continued support of donors like Rick Simonson,
the Gerl Foundation, and many other generous caring donors. The earnings from these
endowment funds are granted annually, and grants are made only to non-profi ts whose
work aligns with donors’ wishes. Some are unrestricted and added to the grant money
given from the General Fund; others are specifi c and refl ect a need that the donors wish
to fulfill.
The General Fund grew as well, with many donors giving this way to allow fl exibility in
our granting abilities. With no United Way in Lake County, many of our grants are given
to non-profi ts who normally would have benefi ted from a local United Way offi ce. The
main areas to which grants are awarded are: Arts & Culture, Education, Environment,
and Human Services.
We have found that people donate in a variety of ways. For example, forty-four school
personnel have elected to have payroll deductions to add to the General Fund; other
donors give stock which is sold for large gifts; still others write checks to underwrite
and/or attend our annual event, the Baked Potato Supper. Currently, we are working
on establishing a web page that donors will be able to use credit or debit cards to make
their donations. However you elect to donate and whatever the size, we want you to
know that your gifts are appreciated and are applied in Lake County to help humanity
and make this County a great place to live and play.
The fact that we have all joined together, as a community of many, yet with one vision,
should make us all proud to be in Lake County.
Bob Fisher
President, LCCF
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