FUNDS

Administrative Fund:

Provides for Board of Directors activities in supporting foundation awareness. The Board can access these funds to help generate contributions and build sustainable endowment for operational expenses. Typical expenses include postage, printing, advertising, and similar other expenses. Typically the annual allocation available from this fund is not spent unless specific expenses are pending.

American Legion Youth Fund:

Established by the Thomas F. Grant Post #0062in 1995 as one of the first funds of the SIACF, the Thomas F. Grant American Legion Post #62 of St. Ignace provided the initial funding for this Fund in the amount of $25,000. The American Legion Youth Fund assists with requests that foster youth recreational activities, with a special consideration to requests that involve baseball and/or softball.

Chipper Huskey Memorial Youth Fund:

Chipper Huskey died suddenly in a construction accident in 2000. Chipper was committed to youth hockey, donating much of his time and finances toward greater opportunities for area youth in this sport. Not only was Chipper active in hockey but he also assisted any and all youth activities and school programs. At his passing, Chipper's family directed memorials to the SIACF to benefit youth hockey in memory of Chipper. Proceeds from this fund are used to provide "scholarships" to youth who need financial assistance in order to be able to participate in youth hockey.

Ed Ossmann Memorial Music Fund:

Ed was a Principal and the Superintendent of the St. Ignace Public Schools for 18 years in the mid twentieth century. He had a great love of music and loved teaching young people. This memorial fund is established to give an award annually to a graduating student at LaSalle High School who has shown that they share a love for music and education.

Education Enhancement Fund:

This fund was created by a generous donation by Mr. Jack Swope and his company, Rennco, Inc. in 1995 and was one of the original Funds under SIACF, receiving matching $ from the Kellog Foundation. This fund supports educational activities, programs, and scholarships in the St. Ignace service area.

Erin Springsteen Memorial Activity Fund:

1st LT. Erin Lee Springsteen graduated from LaSalle High Scholl in 1998. As an undergrad she was very active in student government, band and athletics. Later she received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at west point and played catcher for their Division I Softball Team. She graduated from West Point in 2002 with a degree in Information Systems Engineering, then branched out to Aviation and went on to earn her wings as a helicopter pilot, specializing in the Blackhawk. Upon her passing in 2004 a memorial fund was established in her honor to primarily support school athletics. The Erin Springsteen Memorial Fund has also been used to support school projects and student scholarships.

Fred and Margaret Jackson Memorial Fund:

Fred and Margaret Jackson were retirees who moved to the St. Ignace area after careers in police work and education in the Detroit area. After their passing, their will directed a significant portion of their estate to the SIACF. Two considerations are required annually from this fund, a $1,000 scholarship to a student pursuing a career in police, fire fighting, or emergency responder work and a second $1,000 scholarship to a student pursuing a career in education. Additional awards benefiting the community in general are at the discretion of the SIACF Board.

Frederick W. Stearns Memorial Scholarship Fund:

Co-founder of the SIACF, Mr. Fred Stearns died suddenly at the age of 55 in 2002. Fred was instrumental in establishment of the SIACF and acted as chair in the early years of the SIACF. This memorial fund was created by Fred's family and friends through requests that donations in Fred's name be directed to the SIACF. This memorial fund was thus established in 2002 and benefits student scholarships for those that exemplify Fred's love of the outdoors and a willingness to further their education as Fred was a long time educator and Superintendent of St. Ignace Area Schools.

Gros Cap School Scholarship Fund (Robert Buchholz Memorial):

Established in 1997 in memory of long time educator and leader at Gros Cap School in Moran Township, Robert Bucholtz, this fund was established for the purpose of providing scholarship to students who attended Gros Cap School as an elementary student. The school community annually holds fundraising events to assist in providing annual scholarships.

Kathleen E. Schacht Endowment Scholarship Fund:

Kathy Schacht taught English and directed plays at LaSalle High School for 38 years and she has advised the Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council since she retired.

Providing a scholarship to the La Salle High School senior with a 3.5 grade point average or in the top 20% of his or her class and have completed the community service requirements.

Kiwanis Club of St. Ignace:

Established in 1996 as an initial Fund within SIACF, the Kiwanis Club Fund was financed with three installments from Kiwanis proceeds earned from the Mackinac Island Road Race, held each September. As with all efforts by the Kiwanis Club, proceeds from this Fund are directed toward benefiting youth in the St. Ignace area.

LaSalle Alumni Fund:

In 2003 the Board of Directors of the SIACF undertook a fundraising effort called the St. Ignace All Class Reunion. Assisted greatly by staff at St. Ignace Area Schools, this event has been held four times and is planned for every five years. Proceeds from the first four events, of which all have been deposited into the La Salle Alumni Fund, have exceeded $30,000. The Fund is designed to benefit any and all needs in the St. Ignace Area.

Loryce M. Dyer Memorial Hospice Fund:

The Loryce M. Dyer Hospice was founded in 1983 by Lee Dyer in memory of his wife. The Hospice was a totally volunteer organization in service for over 20 years. It provided care for the terminally ill and bereavement services for the families. The Hospice raised and donated a special foam mattress to the Loryce M. Dyer hospice room in the Mackinac Straits Hospital . Upon disbandment of the Loryce M. Dyer Hospice, remaining funds were used to establish this Fund within SIACF with earnings providing scholarships to students seeking higher education in the medical field, particularly in nursing.

Mary R. and Wesley H. Maurer, Jr. Fund:

This fund was established in memory of Mary Maurer. Mary was a board member of the St. Ignace Area Community Foundation and who served on the board for more than 20 years and was instrumental in many community organizations.

To improve the lives of disadvantaged residents and animals in the St. Ignace area.

Michigan Community Foundation Youth Project (MCFYP):

In 1996 the MCFYP, through a $47 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, awarded a grant to the SIACF in the amount of $37,500 establishing this Fund as a part of SIACF. The grant required locally generated matching funds and specific activities and reporting over a five year period. Subsequent additional grants also enhanced this Fund's status.

The purpose of the project was to encourage youth leadership development in local communities throughout the State. A requirement is to maintain a Youth Advisory Council that demonstrates youth involvement in four areas: assessing youth needs, raising a portion of their required expenditures, reviewing grant applications for awards from this Fund, and developing systems for involving other young people in volunteerism and philanthropy.

Grants from the MCFYP Fund can only be used for charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes.

mcKinnon Family Scholarship Fund:

The McKinnon Scholarship Fund was founded by Dr. A. Donald McKinnon, one of the primary organizers of the SIACF, in 1998. Dr. McKinnon participated in many St. Ignace Community Activities, especially during the last five decades of his long life. Dr. McKinnon enjoyed a life of many learning and work experiences. In addition to Dr. McKinnon's initial establishment of this fund, many of his family members have contributed to and held fundraisers to support this fund. The McKinnon Scholarship Fund is intended to support and stimulate LaSalle graduating students in their quest for a lifelong pursuit of learning.

Museum of Ojibwa Culture Fund:

Ojibwa Culture and the St. Ignace Downtown Development Authority. The initial contribution to this endowed Fund was in the amount of $1,000. The primary purpose of the Fund is to assist the Museum of Ojibwa Culture with operating, maintaining, and improving the lands and facilities of the Museum, including caring for the Museum collections and promoting the Museum to the general public.

Sault Tribe Youth Activities Fund:

Supporting a variety of educational, recreational, and cultural activities for tribal youth.

Special Education Scholarship Fund:

Providing scholarships to persons entering into the field of special education.

Spirit of the Straits Fund:

Supports a wide range of community projects and activities.

Any donation that isn’t specifically designated will be deposited to this fund.

St. Ignace Public Library Fund:

Over a number of years a group of St. Ignace Community Library supporters conducted a fund raising campaign to secure enough funds to build a new library. With a donation of property and successful fundraising, the new library became reality in 2008. The SIACF was used as the funding vehicle by those seeking to raise the funds to build the new library and once that project was completed, the balance of the funds raised were "endowed" within the SIACF from which earnings are directed toward library needs.

St. Ignace Junior Saints Football Fund:

Fund shall provide grant monies for the annual operation of the St. Ignace Junior Saints Football program exclusively for expenses including player equipment (helmets, pads, jerseys, etc.), supplies (tape, ice packs, first aid supplies), and game expenses (league fees, field rental, insurance, referees, etc.).

Swope Family Fund:

Mr. Jack Swope was a founder of the SIACF assisting with the efforts to recruit organizational and individual contributions to the original funds that currently make up the SIACF. Jack was a long time board member of SIACF and a major contributor to SIACF in general. Jack passed away in 2011 and his family established the Swope Family Fund during 2012 in his memory. The Fund's goals are to support and promote a healthy St. Ignace community environment.

Vocational, Trade, and Technical Career Fund

Supporting scholarships to students of all ages and awareness in the fields of vocational, trade, and technical careers.