It is intended to be a source of funds for outreach and support during many lifetimes to come.

Whenever we begin a new year, it's quite natural to look at the year just past and try to learn from it. The year 2001 saw an event of unprecedented horror and loss of lives as well as a loss of jobs and livelihood for millions of people in our country.

It brought home to me the great need, even the necessity, of organizations like the M & M Area Community Foundation which exists to make people's lives better-more meaningful, more secure, more safe. The Foundation supports a wide variety of programs by non-profit and charitable groups who provide help and encouragement in many different areas of living. A total of $310,700 in financial support for these programs has been given over the past five years. If we learn nothing else from the year 2001, we now see that this support must not only continue, but must grow to help all people in our communities fulfill their potential and live full and productive lives.

The endowmwent of the Foundation, which generates the investment earnings from which we make our grants, was directly affected by the economic downturn in 2001. As a result, our Board of Directors decided not to make any grant awards in 2002. Some scholarships will be given, according to the wishes of individual donors, but it is important for the long-range health of the organization to preserve its endowment so it can grow in good economic times.

The Foundation was established with very long-term goals in mind. It is intended to be a permanent institution to benefit all the people in Marinette and Menominee counties for generations to come. We have taken another giant step toward that goal by pledging to raise $75,000.00 every year for the next three years so that we can bring in a full-time executive director with solid fundraising experience. These funds will not be added to the Foundation's endowment. They will be used to put the new executive director in place and give that person the support needed to reach our goal of $5,000,000 in endowment funds in the next three years. At present the endowment stands at about $3,000,000.

It's an ambitious program, but one which is doable simply because of the support we have enjoyed from our directors, donors, and volunteers. They have been unfailing in their contribution of time, money, and talent to the Foundation's work. We welcome all those who would like to help their friends and neighbors through the many different services of the Foundation. In addition to this web site, you can contact us by phone: 906-864-3599 and/or e-mail: mmfoundation@cybrzn.com.