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The Foundation has been very busy so far in 2008.  In April, a total of $10,900 in grants was awarded to 5 non-profit and charitable groups in Marinette and Menominee counties from the Roger & Lyn Derusha AAOD Family Fund.  Projects receiving funds were in the area of alcohol and other drug abuse and prevention.  The Foundation also awarded over $13,500 to 5 non-profit and charitable groups from the Foundation’s health grant cycle.  The main focus of this grant cycle was to support programs in the health field.

The Peshtigo Area Foundation awarded a total of $1,200 in grants to four local non-profit organizations at the Peshtigo Area of Commerce Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 6th.

On April 24th, the Foundation also hosted a Grant Seminar to help local non-profit organizations improve their chances with writing a successful grant proposal for their projects.  The Foundation also discussed new grant agreement and evaluation policies recently passed by the Foundation's Board.  The seminar was very well received and attended by over 50 representatives from local non-profits.

On May 1st, over 50 local women joined the M&M Area Community Foundation in kicking off the establishment of its newest fund, The Women’s Giving Circle of Marinette & Menominee Counties.  With the help of an anonymous donation to the Foundation, The Women’s Giving Circle has been established to support projects which are important to women and girls.

On May 17th, The Motor Company hosted a Celebration Event concluding the 7th Annual M&M Area Community Foundation Oil Change Fundraiser.  The event was a huge success, raising more than $4,600 to support the Foundation.  Participants who purchased an oil change were able to redeem them any time between April 1st and the day of the event.  Those who chose to attend the event enjoyed refreshments, door prizes, and a bucket raffle.  The Motor Company donated the labor of performing the oil and filter changes as long as the vehicle owner made a minimum donation to the M&M Area Community Foundation. 

On May 22nd, the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) of the Foundation awarded grants totaling $32,395 for 16 local youth programs.  The grants were awarded on Thursday, May 22, at a reception held at the Best Western, Marinette.  Since the Youth Advisory Committee began awarding grants in 1997, they have given $172,000 to 91 different organizations within Marinette and Menominee Counties.  The Youth Advisory Committee also awarded its third
annual Young Philanthropist award to David Antonissen of Niagara High School.

On Saturday, June 28th, the Foundation hosted a reception to honor nationally recognized artist, Sam English.  Sam recently received a grant from the Roger and Lyn Derusha Family AAOD Fund of the M&M Area Community Foundation to support his Lecture Project where he will lecture and teach in Menominee County Schools about the healing power of art as a recovery tool from alcohol addiction.  The Foundation also successfully assisted Sam in obtaining grants from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and The Long Family Foundation to assist with the production and distribution of a book featuring an innovative approach to using Native art to benefit communities.  Click here to learn more about Sam English.

The premiere local golf event of the summer, the two-day, 19th annual Riverside Charity Classic, kicked off with dinner, dancing and a live and silent auction on Friday evening, June 20th and golf on Saturday, June 21st.  Sponsored by Riverside Country Club, this year's event raised over $17,000 to benefit the M&M Area Community Foundation and the Menominee Animal Shelter.

The Foundation hosted the second annual Volunteer Appreciation BBQ on Thursday, August 14th at the M&M Yacht Club to recognize the hard work of all its dedicated volunteers.  The event was attended by over 40 volunteers and their family members.  The Foundation is grateful to all our volunteers and can't thank them enough for all of their hard work throughout the year!

The Foundation awarded a total of $47,792 in grants to 16 non-profit and charitable groups in Marinette and Menominee counties at the Annual Meeting held on Tuesday, August 19th at Riverside Country Club.  Officers elected for next year were President Dr. North Shetter, First Vice-President Larry Valencic and Secretary/Treasurer Robin Kinzer West.  Newly elected Directors include Randy Neelis, Ruth Thielen, Michelle Biehl and Gerald Schmidt.  Retiring Directors are Katherine Holewinski, Ken Jones & Roger Peters.  Robin Kinzer West reported that the annual audit conducted by Kerber, Rose & Associates, S.C. was “clean” with no major discrepancies and that the Foundation grew by $581,000 in 2007.  Total assets managed at the end of 2007 were $5,800,000.  Copies of the annual report are available at the Foundation office. 

The year will not be slowing down for the Foundation, as we are planning the following events for the rest of 2008:  

• The Tailgate Party Fundraiser to be held on Friday, October 17th
• The first grant cycle for the Women's Giving Circle in November
• The Foundation Christmas Party on Tuesday, December 16th at The Landing