Community Foundation for Mason County - MI

08/26/2026

🎉 It’s time to vote!

Thank you to everyone who showed us what “This Is Home” means to them. We loved seeing Mason County through your eyes — and now we need your help choosing the People’s Choice winner!

Browse the numbered finalist photos in this Facebook album and like your favorite individual photo to cast your vote. Voting closes at 5 p.m. Wednesday, September 3. The photo receiving the most likes or reactions will win a $25 gift certificate to Book Mark Ludington .

Please vote on the original Community Foundation album so every reaction is included in the official count. Feel free to share the album and invite others to vote!

08/25/2026

💞 The Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council partnered with LHS graduate Katie Biggs in 2019 to help build the Ludington All Around Senior Fund. Since then, YAC built on this by adding this opportunity for MCE, MCC, and Pennies from Heaven Foundation added one for G2S Academy.

Through these funds, high school All Around Seniors from each of our school districts receive a $600 award (or a divided amount if more than one student from a school is chosen) to give to the nonprofit organization of their choice in our community. The purpose of this grant is to help develop the next generation of philanthropists while also supporting the outstanding work of local nonprofit organizations.

The 2026 All Around Senior for Mason County Eastern is Miley Kessel. Miley chose to donate her $600 award to the Sammi Jo Bateson Scholarship. Congratulations to Miley and thank you for remembering Sammi Jo and honoring future students in such a special way. 💙

Learn about the Youth Advisory Council at https://mason-foundation.org/youth-advisory-council/.

08/25/2026

Back-to-school season is almost here — and for Mason County’s youngest students, kindergarten comes with an extra "kickstart" toward the future! 🎒

Through KickStart to Career (K2C), every Mason County kindergartner receives a special children’s savings account seeded with an initial $50 deposit from the John & Anita Wilson Family Fund at the Community Foundation for Mason County. The account grows with them throughout their K–12 years and can be used for future college or career training expenses.

When students in grades kindergarten through 7th grade (those currently participating in K2C) go to school this fall, they will be learning an important lesson: it’s never too early to start dreaming and saving for what comes next.

Learn more about KickStart to Career: https://mason-foundation.org/kick-start-to-career/

08/24/2026

📸 Submit your photo here: https://app.snapsea.io/p/link/pure-ludington

Today is the final day to enter our “This Is Home” Photo Contest! Share an original photo of the people, places, traditions, or everyday moments that make you grateful to call Mason County home.

Entries are due by 5 p.m. today, Monday, August 24. Don’t miss your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Book Mark Ludington and have your photo featured by the Community Foundation and Chamber Alliance of Mason County!

Photo courtesy of Pure Ludington.

08/22/2026

💙🏡 When Nancy and Leo Hesting began planning for the future, they knew they wanted to keep their generosity local. Through a planned gift to the Community Foundation for Mason County, the couple is investing in future generations by supporting the causes closest to their hearts, including childhood literacy, education, and youth advocacy.

Whether serving as election inspectors, teaching DNR Hunter Safety, or supporting programs like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Nancy and Leo have long been dedicated to giving back. By planning a gift to the Community Foundation, they will continue strengthening the place they call home for years to come.

As Nancy puts it: "If I can make a difference in one person’s life, that’s important to me."

🔗 Continue reading about Nancy and Leo here: https://mason-foundation.org/investing-in-the-place-they-call-home-nancy-and-leo-hesting/

08/21/2026

🎗 Join our community partner, West Michigan Community Mental Health, for its 3rd Annual Walk of Hope on Tuesday, September 8, from 5–7 p.m. at Waterfront Park in Ludington. This free, pet-friendly community event brings people together to raise awareness about su***de prevention, reduce stigma, promote hope and healing, and remind one another that no one has to face life’s challenges alone.

The evening will include live music, free hot dogs, safety promotion items and connections to local community resources. The Walk of Hope is sponsored in part by the Lee and Joan Schoenherr Fund at the Community Foundation for Mason County.

We hope you’ll join friends and neighbors from across Mason County for an evening centered on hope, support, and community.

Learn more here: https://www.wmcmhs.org/about-us/walk-of-hope/

08/20/2026

Our team looks forward to attending this meaningful event. We hope to see many of our community partners there!

Next week, we are hosting a conversation with local business leaders who want to learn more about how our region is doing, why it is important for businesses and education to work together to give students the best chances of success, and develop the future workforce. If you are a local business leader interested in joining, please reach out.

08/20/2026

📸 T-minus five days! Have you submitted your entry for the “This Is Home” Photo Contest yet?

Show us the people, places, traditions, and everyday moments that make you grateful to call Mason County home. Submit your original photo by August 24 for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Book Mark Ludington.

Enter here: https://app.snapsea.io/p/li

Photo courtesy of Pure Ludington.

08/20/2026

💙 August is National Make-A-Will Month — a meaningful reminder to protect the people you love and make your wishes known.

The Community Foundation for Mason County offers FreeWill at no cost to our entire community, making it simple to create a will online in under an hour. Or you can use this tool to organize your information before meeting with an attorney.

As you plan for the people and causes you care about, you can also consider a charitable gift that will strengthen Mason County for generations to come.

Start your plan today:
🔗 https://partner.freewill.com/masonfoundation?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=202511_masonfoundation

08/18/2026

💞 The Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council partnered with LHS graduate Katie Biggs in 2019 to help build the Ludington All Around Senior Fund. Since then, YAC built on this by adding this opportunity for MCE, MCC, and Pennies from Heaven Foundation added one for G2S Academy.

Through these funds, high school All Around Seniors from each of our school districts receive a $600 award (or a divided amount if more than one student from a school is chosen) to give to the nonprofit organization of their choice in our community. The purpose of this grant is to help develop the next generation of philanthropists while also supporting the outstanding work of local nonprofit organizations.

The 2026 All Around Senior for Mason County Central High School is Aubrey Chye. Aubrey chose to donate her $600 award to the Mason County Central School District recreation program. Congratulations to Aubrey and MCC's rec program!

Learn more about the Youth Advisory Council at https://mason-foundation.org/youth-advisory-council/.