It's December on Mackinac Island, and everyone is celebrating our first snowfall of the year and Christmas Bazaar Weekend. At Mackinac Island Community Foundation, we are celebrating our Fall 2025 Grantees!
Thank you to our generous donors, our family of fundholders, Grants Distribution Committee, and Youth Advisory Committee for making the following grants possible:
Cheboygan Life Support/MI EMS
$111,817.00
Purchasing a custom all-weather Rescue ATV/Ambulance for year-round island emergency response.
- Ambulance Fund
- Island Goat Sailing Society Emergency Services Fund
- Wendy Young Fund for Mackinac
- Jon and Lauren Cotton
- Becki Barnwell
- Mary Kay McIntire
- Sam and Lisa Barnwell
- Marti McIntire
Cheboygan Life Support Systems/MI EMS
$11,991.54
Acquiring a MEQU Fluid Warmer to warm IVs during cold weather medical transports.
- Beaumont Fund
- Alice and Harry Myron Fund
- Island Community Needs Fund
City of Mackinac Island
$13,866.16
Refurbishing the Turtle Park Soccer Field, providing a new goal posts and flattening the ground.
- Joan and Frank Nephew Fund
City of Mackinac Island
$1,734
Acquiring children’s ice skates and equipment for the community ice rink.
- Youth Fund
- Charlie Williams Fund
Great Lakes Recovery Center Foundation
$10,000
Supporting the New Women’s Recovery House in Sault Ste. Marie to provide substance abuse care to the Upper Peninsula.
- Island Community Needs Fund
Mackinac Arts Council
$18,000
Sharing international culture with employees through celebrations of food and music.
- Marlee Brown Musser Community Arts Fund
- Richard and Jane Manoogian Fund
- Island Community Needs Fund
Mackinac Connect Foundation
$20,000
Fostering employee connections and providing essential resources through summer events.
- Island Community Needs Fund
- Richard and Jane Manoogian Fund
- Mackinac College Legacy Fund
- David and Jamie McDonnell Family Fund
- Gault Fund for the Community
- George and Judith Goodman Fund
Mackinac Horseman’s Association
$11,400
Assisting with winter horse boarding and vet care off island.
- Francis H. Straus II Memorial Fund
- Preservation of the Horse Tradition on Mackinac Island Fund
- Bell Fund for the Community
Mackinac State Historic Parks
$2,750
Creating a community fitness trail to promote healthy exercise outside.
- Richard and Jane Manoogian Fund
Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch
$13,336
Monitoring hawk migrations and analyzing their environmental impact.
- Erin Shufelt Environmental Fund
- Wilifred Puttkammer Mackinac Island Conservation Fund
- Natural Resources and Preservation Fund
- Eileen Erwin Croghan Fund for the Preservation of Natural Spaces
Starling Shakespeare Company
$11,289.60
Hosting a month long festival sharing classic Shakespearian plays for islanders, employees, and guests.
- Francis H. Straus II Memorial Fund
Ste. Anne’s Catholic Church
$4,500
Providing meals and companionship for our elderly and disabled residents in the winter.
- Healthy Youth & Seniors Fund
- Alice and Harry Myron Fund
- David and Jaime McDonnell Family Fund
Ste. Anne’s Catholic Church
$500
Allowing teens to be teens for a night.
- Island Community Needs Fund
- Youth Fund
Thank you to our grantees for all their hard work making a difference on Mackinac Island!
A New Face at the Foundation!
Welcome Liz Findley – Our New Grants Coordinator!
The Mackinac Island Community Foundation is thrilled to welcome Liz Findley as our new Grants Coordinator! Liz is no stranger to island life—she has been visiting Mackinac Island her entire life, worked here for the past ten years, and even conquered five winters living on the island.
Liz brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles with Mackinac State Historic Parks and Small Point, and her deep connection to the community makes her a perfect fit for our team. When asked what she loves most about the island, Liz shared that she treasures its natural beauty and the warm, helpful community that surrounds it.
“I’m really excited to work for MICF,” Liz said. “This is a lovely job with lovely people. I’m grateful for the opportunity to see a side of island life I wasn’t privy to before.”
Liz is eager to help operations run smoothly and support our grantees throughout the process to ensure successful outcomes. She noted that her transition to MICF has been seamless thanks to the incredible support from the team.
With a big smile, Liz summed it up perfectly: “I love it here!”
Please join us in giving Liz a warm welcome to the Mackinac Island Community Foundation family!
Youth Advisory Council (YAC) – Mackinac Island Public School
MICF Youth Advisory Council (YAC) organizes trip to Marine Trades Institute in Cedarville.
The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a student-led organization dedicated to making a positive impact on our community. We provide grants and support programs that address the needs identified in the Youth Needs Assessment.
Our Goals for This Year:
- Fund programs that meet youth needs.
- Increase visibility and engagement within the community.
- Create opportunities for future generations to access better resources and experiences.
This fall, YAC organized a trip for all high school students to the Marine Trade Institute in Cedarville. Students learned about the hard work and dedication required in marine trades and explored the certifications available through this specialized program. YAC looks forward to continuing its mission of supporting youth and collaborating with nonprofit organizations across Mackinac Island.
2025–2026 YAC Members grades 9-12:
- President: Lakelyn Bunker
- Vice President: Anna Kaminen
- Secretary: Emma Duke
- Executive Officers: Madison Morse, Violet Soderquist
- Social Media Officers: Alyssa Tucker, Olsztyn Hancock
- Members: Jordan Fisher, Evan Anderson, Roman Gruits, Megan Cotton, Jadyn Rickley, Raegan Badik, Ellie Bassett
Learn more about YAC (https://micf.org/scholarships-and-youth/)
When you make a gift to the Mackinac Island Community Foundation, your generosity is invested into projects that benefit the community for seasons to come. Unrestricted gifts, like those made to the Island Community Needs Fund (https://micf.org/donate/) , are some of the most impactful donations, because they directly support what Mackinac Island needs most. From emergency medical services to winter recreation programs, your gift can make a difference in so many areas of need on Mackinac Island.
For the last 30 years, your generosity combined with a community's belief in our mission has transformed Mackinac Island into a vibrant place to live, grow, and thrive. We’re proud of the difference we’ve made together, and with your continued support we know that the best is yet to come.
Will you join with us this year’s end to give to the Island that we all love?
Make your year-end gift today! (https://godonate.akoyago.com/MICF)
Be sure to follow Mackinac Island Community Foundation on Facebook and @mackinaciscommfoundation on Instagram
https://micf.org
Board of Trustees
Kathleen Rickley, Chairwoman
Rickard Linn, Vice Chair