RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS

NOVEMBER 12–18, 2014

During the week of November 12-18, 2014, the Huron County Community Foundation will join more than 700 community foundations across America celebrating Community Foundation Week. For 25 years, the effort has raised awareness about the increasingly important role of these philanthropic organizations in fostering local collaboration and innovation to address persistent civic and economic challenges.

During the week, the Huron County Community Foundation will continue to reach out to community members to hear what they have to say about the future of Huron County, including encouraging residents to explore their recently updated webpage. Midway through the week, the Foundation's Youth Advisory Committee will assemble to discuss their initiatives to engage youth in philanthropy over the course of the school year.

“Community foundations impact lives, solve problems, and improve futures,” said Executive Director, Mackenzie Price. “As many residents grapple with limited resources and a growing need for services, we are more determined than ever to bring our community partners together to find innovative and effective solutions for some of our most challenging social problems.”

Community foundations are independent, public entities that steward philanthropic resources from institutional and individual donors to local nonprofits that are the heart of strong, vibrant communities. The Foundation completed a strategic priorities process in Spring 2014 where surveys were conducted across the county, asking stakeholders what role they believed the Foundation should be playing in the future of Huron County. The results overwhelmingly showed that finding ways to create a "sense of place" through placemaking, bringing college graduates back to their hometowns, and helping to spur growth and prosperity in the region were the most pressing issues.

Community foundations represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy. Every state in the United States is home to at least one community foundation—large and small, urban and rural—working to advance solutions on a wide range of social issues. The Huron County Community Foundation has given over $680,000 back to the community since its inception and continues to grow that number annually! This year alone, over $77,683.44 dollars were distributed in grants and scholarships.

Community Foundation Week, created in 1989 by former president George H.W. Bush, recognizes the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems.

To support the Huron County Community Foundation, click here. For more information on Community Foundations around the world, check out Council on Foundations' website!