Michigan Gateway Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council

10/20/2026

The YAC crew participated in their annual Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF) fall training this past weekend. The team spent time building leadership skills, exploring community needs, and discovering how their time, talent, treasure, and ties can make a difference.

This is just one example of these young philanthropists learning how to shape their community’s future!

To learn more about our Youth Advisory COuncil, visit www.mgcf.org/yac

09/14/2026

YAC is back in action!

Michigan Gateway Community Foundation's Youth Advisory Council kicked off the new school year this weekend with their first meeting!

The group spent time reconnecting, revisiting YAC’s mission, and talking about goals and ideas for the year ahead. It’s always exciting to see a new group of young leaders come together, share their voices, and find ways to make a difference in their communities.

We’re looking forward to seeing what this year’s YAC has in store!

Want to learn more about YAC, get involved, join the council, or support the work these young leaders are doing?

Visit www.mgcf.org/yac

08/03/2026

YAC Co-advisor Jen Bomar and YAC member and Cassopolis High School student Abigail Tusin are at the Cass County Fairgrounds today in the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce’s booth in commercial building #2 today until 4pm!

07/06/2026

Our YAC team was proud to help award this grant to Heritage Southwest ISD in support of local students!

Every few years, YAC identifies the issues that matter most to area youth through a community needs assessment. One of the biggest needs identified in the most recent survey was increased mental health awareness and access to resources.

The grant will help provide classroom resources, teacher training, and wellness initiatives that support both students and educators across HSISD's 14 early childhood classrooms serving Cassopolis, Dowagiac, Edwardsburg, and Marcellus school districts.

Congratulations to Heritage Southwest ISD! We're excited to see the positive impact this investment will have on students throughout our community.

Grant Spotlight: Heritage Southwest Intermediate School District

MGCF recently awarded a $10,000 grant to Heritage Southwest Intermediate School District to support mental health and social-emotional learning in its early childhood programs.

The grant will fund classroom resources, teacher wellness initiatives, restorative practices training, and calming "safe spaces" that help young learners build confidence and self-regulation skills.

This project also reflects the vision of our Michigan Gateway Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council, whose members recognized the growing need for mental health support in our schools and helped make this investment possible.

Congratulations to Heritage Southwest ISD! We're honored to partner with organizations that are building stronger classrooms, supporting dedicated educators, and investing in the well-being of our youngest learners.

Michigan Gateway Community FoundationCommunity FoundationCommunity Foundationut HSISD and the work they do, visit: https://www.hsisd.org/

06/28/2026

YAC volunteering at the Buchanan Pride Festival!

06/19/2026

Some of our YAC volunteered this morning for the Cassopolis Chamber of Commerce annual golf scramble at Four Lakes Country Club in Edwardsburg.

05/01/2026

Our YAC will be volunteering at this tomorrow, sign up to join us…put YAC in the how many in your group!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVHATRjVS3J5ub7mfbz5_de3rgNpGatnTYgsp4CPCFDmjVtA/viewform

04/30/2026

We’re excited to share that Jen Bomar, Scholarship Coordinator at Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, has stepped into the role of Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) Co-Advisor!

In this role, Jen will be working alongside our incredible young leaders—mentoring, guiding, and supporting them as they lead community projects, make grant decisions, and share their voices on issues that matter. From helping organize meetings to fostering a space where youth can take the lead, she’ll play a key part in keeping the YAC running strong.

Jen is pictured below with a group of our YAC students on a recent tour of the The Salvation Army - Niles, MI.

Please join us in welcoming Jen to this important role and celebrating her commitment to empowering the next generation of changemakers!

03/18/2026

The YAC team had a great meeting last week at the Historic Cass County Courthouse!

YAC students spent time discussing upcoming nonprofit site visits, recruitment efforts, and new volunteer opportunities—continuing their work to make a positive impact across our community.

A big thank you to Cass County, Michigan - Government for the use of such a beautiful and historic space!

03/17/2026

Thank you businesses and community memebrs!

A huge thank you to the Buchanan Business Boosters for their creativity and community spirit in supporting the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation Youth Fund!

This past weekend’s Lucky Duck Kids Festival in downtown Buchanan was full of fun—and purpose. Thanks to their efforts, $211 was raised to support our Youth Fund!

The MGCF Youth Fund, led by the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council, empowers local students to make a real difference by funding projects that strengthen our communities. Recent grants have supported incredible initiatives like Junior Achievement in Berrien and Cass Counties, the One Buchanan Mental Health Forum, programs at Heritage Southwest ISD and Edwardsburg Public Schools, the Buchanan District Library, Rising Kites Coffee in Bridgeman, and the United Way of Southwest Michigan.

We’re grateful for partners like the Buchanan Business Boosters, citizens, and all of the businesses who participated over the weekend, who help invest in the next generation of leaders.

Learn more about the Youth Fund, how it’s making an impact, and how you can contribute: https://www.mgcf.org/yac