Community Foundation for Muskegon County

08/26/2026

📝 70% of U.S. adults do not have a will.

Without one, important decisions about the people, places, and causes you care about most may not reflect your wishes.

Creating a will is one way to plan for the future and make your wishes clear. For many in our community, that may include leaving a gift to the organizations and causes that have made a difference in their lives and in Muskegon County.

Through our partnership with FreeWill, the Community Foundation for Muskegon County offers our community access to a free online will-planning tool. You can use it to create a will online or simply organize your information and wishes before meeting with a local attorney.

Your plans are personal, and we're happy to help you explore your options — including connecting you with a local attorney for personalized guidance.

🔗 Get started with FreeWill: https://buff.ly/DZSNI04

08/25/2026

💙🤍 The Joey Hekkema Memorial Fund

“Everybody has stuff.”
For parents Ruth & Dave Hekkema, those three words capture the way their son Joey saw the world.

Joey lived with serious health challenges from infancy and endured years of treatment before his life was cut short at just 16. But his illness was only one part of his story. He was a happy child, a talented drummer, and a junior at Mona Shores High School who found joy in the people and activities he loved.

When his father, Dave, asked why he didn’t talk more openly about his health challenges, Joey simply said, “Because everybody has stuff.” He understood that everyone carries challenges—whether they’re visible or not.

That perspective inspired the creation of the Joey Hekkema Memorial Fund. A neighbor introduced the family to the Community Foundation and helped them establish the fund in Joey’s memory. What began with Joey’s simple desire to help another student has grown into a lasting investment in young people.

Over the past 13 years, the fund has received approximately $61,000 in gifts and awarded approximately $58,000 in grants. Most importantly, it has helped 96 Mona Shores students attend band camp, including 16 students who received full $350 scholarships this year.

Joey’s legacy lives on through a fund rooted in his empathy, generosity, and belief that everyone carries their own challenges. 💙

✨ Joey's story was featured in this month's e-newsletter. Sign up for our e-newsletter here: https://buff.ly/GnIhbbK

08/24/2026

📣 Calling all Muskegon County nonprofit professionals!

Join us September 10 for a free Giving Season Summit, co-presented by FreeWill and Charity Navigator. With 20 sessions across three tracks, the summit will cover topics including year-end appeals, donor stewardship, storytelling, and more.

We’ll be livestreaming our favorite sessions at the Beardsley Theater, giving local nonprofit professionals the opportunity to learn together, connect with colleagues, and share ideas — all while enjoying a complimentary lunch and snacks!

📅September 10
🕚Check-in: 11 AM | Summit: 11:30 AM–6 PM
📍Beardsley Theater (Hilt Building)

Two free ways to participate:
✨Join us in person: Watch the livestream with other local nonprofit professionals. RSVP here: https://buff.ly/RjAZBZa

💻Participate virtually: Register directly for the Giving Season Summit and watch from wherever you are. Register here: https://buff.ly/SMG9Clx

Whether fundraising is part of your everyday work or you simply want to be better prepared for year-end giving, this is a great opportunity to learn and get ready for the season ahead!

08/21/2026

Planning for the future is important — but knowing where to start can sometimes feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re happy to partner with the Fruitport District Library to offer a free informational session on planning ahead and making your wishes known.

Join us to learn more about FreeWill, a free and secure online platform that can help you create a will and other essential planning documents, often in under an hour.

📍 During this session, you’ll learn:
✅Why having a will matters
✅How FreeWill works and which documents you can create
✅How planning ahead can help support the people and causes you care about — today and in the future

📅 August 27 – 5:30 PM
📍BFF Used Bookstore & Activity Center (Lakes Mall)
🔗Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19MhkkPhBW/

Please register by calling (231) 366-6107 or emailing [email protected]

08/17/2026

🚨 Calling all Muskegon County educators!

🍎 Teacher Mini-Grants are open! Our Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is offering grants of up to $500 to help school district employees bring new ideas, resources, and opportunities into their classrooms.

Whether you're looking to expand a lesson, add new classroom materials, support a special event, or bring a creative idea to life, YAC wants to help make learning even brighter! 🌟

🗓️ Applications are due Friday, October 23.
🔗 Learn more & apply: https://muskegonfoundation.org/teacher-mini-grants/

08/12/2026

On Monday, we held the first-ever Faith Partners Pitch Competition! 🎤

Each presenter had five minutes to share an innovative idea aligned with the Community Foundation's strategic goals, with the winning project receiving a $10,000 grant to help bring their idea to life.

While one project was selected as the grand winner, we're excited to share that all four projects will receive grant funding from the Community Foundation!

Congratulations to Divine Minds Early Learning Academy, in partnership with Kingdom Embassy Covenant Church, for winning the pitch competition and receiving the $10,000 grant!

We'd also like to recognize our other participants for sharing their ideas and helping make the first Faith Partners Pitch Competition a success: City Heart Ministries, Community Methodist Church, and Lake Harbor United Methodist Church.

And a special thank you to our judges, Martha Brown, Rev. Tara Foreman, and Jeremy Lenertz, for sharing their time with us!

08/06/2026

💙 Earlier this week, our team stepped away from the office for our annual Staff Retreat—and what a wonderful day it was! This year, we spent the day exploring the beautiful White Lake area.

A big thank you to:
✨ Dave Rice - Duck Creek Natural Area
✨ Lighthouse Keepers - White River Light Station
✨ Jen & Dan Hain - Fetch Brewing Company
✨ Erin Payer - Arts Council of White Lake - Nuveen Center
✨ The Pekadill's Staff

We’re grateful for the warm hospitality and the opportunity to spend the day experiencing some of what the White Lake area has to offer! ✨

08/05/2026

🌳 Your voice can help shape the future of Muskegon Heights' parks and recreation!

The City of Muskegon Heights is updating its Parks & Recreation Master Plan and is inviting community members to share their ideas and feedback. Whether it's parks, trails, recreation programs, or outdoor spaces, your input can help guide future improvements.

We encourage you to stop by, ask questions, and be part of the conversation.

Attention, Muskegon Heights Residents!

The City of Muskegon Heights is updating its Parks & Recreation Master Plan, and we want to hear from you!

Join Us at Warm Meal Wednesday

📍 Corinthians Baptist Church (2027 Peck St.)
🗓 Wednesday, August 5
🕛 12:00 PM

Stop by to share your thoughts on parks, trails, recreation programs, and outdoor spaces in the City. Project facilitators will be available to answer questions and gather community feedback.

Can't Attend?
Take the community survey online:
https://app.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?B296FAE5B5F5EEE5B9

Paper copies of the survey are also available in the Muskegon Heights City Hall lobby.

08/04/2026

After careers that took them to many places, Dan and Nina Leask have made Muskegon home. When they first created their estate plan, they initially designated gifts to several causes and organizations they cared deeply about. But after getting to know the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, their vision evolved.

Today, they've chosen a flexible, unrestricted planned gift—trusting the Community Foundation to steward their generosity for future generations. For them, it's about more than leaving a gift—it's about ensuring their values continue making an impact, even as the community's needs change over time.

💙 Read their full story here: https://buff.ly/hvdON69

08/03/2026

Don't forget to vote tomorrow! Find your polling location through the Michigan Voter Information Center: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Home/Index

From workforce training to student support spaces, MCC continues to prepare students for the future. Proposed improvements would help update facilities and create learning environments that match today’s educational needs.

Learn more about the Operating Millage Restoration proposal at muskegoncc.edu/millage

Vote August 4.