Request For Funding Overview

Wings of Hope requests $10,000 to help with providing services to terminally ill individuals in our communities.
Wings of Hope served 329 individuals and their loved ones in 2022. The funding received in 2022 was $5000 and it was used for medications, oxygen, medical equipment and supplies.
We anticipate serving 330 individuals and their loved ones in 2023. The funding received from West Shore Aware will help to pay for medications, oxygen, medical equipment and supplies. We serve everyone regardless of their financial situation.
Dr. Theresa Lynn, Executive Director
Steve Peterson, Director of Clinical Services and Finance
Betty Jo Duquette, Director of Development
Delora Andrus, President
Richard Godfrey, Treasurer
Anne Guy, Secretary
Jennie Dulac
Jennifer Boyd
Larry Brown
Betty Sousley
Lisa Kokotan
Clayton Schauss

$500
These funds will be used towards the building of one life jacket station and the supplying of 20 (assorted sizes) life jackets for the Pier Cove Public Beach located in Ganges Township. This beach area is under renovation this spring through the middle of the summer. Once it is reopened, we think it will attract at least two hundred or more visitors to the area for the remainder of the season. When the weather changes, the station will be covered and the life jackets will be stored at a township facility until the next season.
President: Mike Mora (773)531-2916 mikemrotary@gmail.com ( until July 203)
Treasurer: Elizabeth Guzman-Shaw
Secretary: Mark Ludwig (Prrsident-Elect)
Board members: Tom Loudon, Jamie Walle, Kim Ludwig

$2,000
Last year, Kids’ Food Basket nourished approximately 1,100 children a day in Ottawa and Allegan counties.

This year, Kids’ Food Basket anticipates maintaining this, continuing to nourish approximately 1,100 children daily.
Board of Directors:
- Mary Command, Williams Group: President/Treasurer
- Jessie Jones, Corewell Health: Vice President
- Mario Cascante, Luna Restaurant Group: Secretary
- Mary K. Hoodhood: Founder
- Menaka Abel, Request Foods
- Charen Buyce, Stitch Fix
- Graciela Cruz, Amway
- Matthew Cortez, Superintendent Muskegon Public Schools
- Dr. Ronald Grifka, Metro Health, UM
- Jerry Johnson, Grand Valley State University
- Bob Kaser, Grand Rapids Griffins
- Phalesha Kyes, By Phalesha Events
- Bill McGee, Huntington Bank
- Keith Rothstein, Meijer
- Phil Sims, Integrity Tree Service
- Max Gibbs

Ottawa/Allegan Advisory Board:
- Melanie Downing: Advisory Board Chair
- Barret Bloenk: Advisory Board Vice-Chair
- Penny Bursma
- Daniel Sorek
- Tracy Umbenhour
- Carolyn Stich
- Deb Rayla
- Jessica Rodriguez-Garza
- Nora Balgoyen
- Anne Nemschoff
- Tim Perrgio

10,000.00
In 2022, Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance received a generous $10,000 donation from West Shore Aware to modify its technology platforms. As a result, we have purchased new computer hardware and software throughout the organization. These purchases enabled us to gain efficiencies for 12 staff, hundreds of donors, over 150 volunteers, and over 900 animals under our care.

We have implemented all cloud-based software throughout Wishbone, including QuickBooks online for better accounting management & transparency, ADP for employee payroll processing, DonorPerfect for improved donor management (receipting and acknowledgment process), and Volunteer Local for volunteer management (scheduling and onboarding).

If we receive funding this year, it will benefit the staff and volunteers as well as the 208 families receiving free pet food and supplies at our monthly Pet Food Pantries.
Jim Sellman, President; George Stoutin, Vice President; Renee Draves, Treasurer; Elaine Bosch, Secretary; and Directors Michael Bojko, Lise Cameron, Joy McClendon, and Ellen Rensklev.

We are requesting $4,500 from Aware to help with increased operating expenses associated with providing our service which promotes peace throughout Allegan County.
We have never applied for funding from Aware. Last year, we served 252 Allegan County residents both adults and children of all ages. We have been serving Allegan County for 30-years and while each year this number fluctuates, we serve on average between 200- 300 Allegan County residents each year.
Mediation Services Board of Directors 2023

Judy Graff (President,)
Past Director of Global Systems
Whirlpool Corporation
850 Lake Michigan Drive
South Haven, MI 49090
269-930-7410 (cell)

Conrad Mutschler (Past President, 12/2020)
Past VP Product Planning, Perrigo Corporation
2309 Lakewood Blvd.
Holland, MI 49424
616-403-1269 Mobile

Jolene Clearwater, J.D.
Director of Allegan County Family Court Probation
48th Circuit Court Attorney Referee
113 Chestnut
Allegan, MI 49010
269-673-0516 Office

David Carbajal, CPA
DeBoer, Baumann & Company, PLC
355 Settlers Road
Holland, MI 49423
616-283-3827 (cell)

Susan Klooz, M.A., J.D. (Past President, 12/2020
Vice-president 1/2023)
Attorney & Mediator, Lakeshore Resolution
Past Senior Vice President & General Counsel,
Walmart Corporate Headquarters
141456 Georgian Bay Drive
Holland, MI 49424
(616)212-1255 Mobile

Mike Van Ast , (Treasurer 1/2023)
Senior Manufacturing Engineer
Gentex Corporation
430 West Lawrence
Zeeland, MI 49424
616-218-4470 Mobile

William Brown
Superintendent, Allegan Area Educational Service Agency
310 Thomas Street
Allegan, MI 49010
269-512-7705 Office
419-356-9740 Mobile

Sharmila Rajani, J.D.
Attorney, Puzycki Law, PLLC
270 James Street
Holland, MI 49424
616-738-8800 Office
616-283-8514 Mobile

Robert Nida
Past 5th Circuit Court Director, Barry County
2314 Perry Street
Holland, MI 49424
616-403-2535 Mobile

Charles Elwood
SolisMatica, LLC
2207 N Bristol Street
Holland, MI 49424
616-994-3411 (cell)

Alberto Serrano
1189 South Shore Drive
Holland, MI 49423
616 - 335-8823 (cell)

Jennell Challa
Friend of the Court
414 Washington Avenue
Grand Haven, MI 49417
616-566-7935 (cell)

$5,000
The SCA received funding from AWARE in 2021 which helped underwrite digital programming for 1st-12th graders (during COVID). Our “SCA Now” segments were viewed by 1,865 students.

If we receive AWARE funding this year for our Outreach Programming, we anticipate serving 250 1st - 12th grade students (at schools and via after school programs) plus 3,000 children, families, and adults at community events. Most of the students we will serve are from “priority populations” (i.e., at-risk, economically challenged, students of color, underserved communities). These students often don’t have access to important creative educational programming, nor do they have opportunities to meet professional creatives.
Chair John Armstrong is Senior Vice President of Global Digital Strategy and Design at Salesforce. He is a multi-disciplinary executive with 30 years of experience as an advisor to the C-Suite, and a leader of transformational change strategies and initiatives. An expert in designing interactive customer experiences across physical and digital channels to leverage Design Thinking, John is keenly focused on customer acquisition, growth and retention.

Vice Chair Jeff Antaya is a digital marketing strategist and retired Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Plante Moran. Jeff currently sits on the board of ACCESS, and previously served on the board of the Detroit Institute of Arts, Leadership Detroit, Center Galleries Advisory Board (College of Creative Studies) and is a founding member of Cabaret313.

Treasurer Michael Gantt is the Chief Financial Officer at John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids. Michael is responsible for the overall financial management and strategic direction of the Zoo. Prior to moving full-time to the Saugatuck/Douglas area, Michael spent the past 20 years managing finances and balancing budgets for several Chicago area not-for-profit institutions, including The Family Institute at Northwestern University and Lincoln Park Zoo.

Secretary Ginny Brooks joined the Saugatuck Center of the Arts Board in 2018, having previously served on the Wharton Center for Performing Arts Board, and the Boarshead Theatre Board in Lansing while living there with her family. Her volunteer experience and interests have been focused on the performing and visual arts, endowments and fund development.

Chair Emeritus Deb Minton is senior director of philanthropy and strategic initiatives for the Grand Rapids-based Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. Deb oversees philanthropy, strategic initiatives and the expansion of the Phoenix Society's growing list of U.S. and global corporate partners in the health care, surgical, fire-protection, insurance and tissue-bank sectors.

Catherine Blagdurn is a senior consultant at Steelcase, where she has held positions in sales and marketing. She is currently on the guest experience team, hosting clients from all major market segments which keeps her current on design and workplace research.

Patrick Coyle currently serves as Artistic Director for the Holland Chorale, Chorus Master for Opera Grand Rapids, and the Director of Music for First (Park) Congregational Church (Grand Rapids). Patrick is also the Special Events Director for the Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck.

Roxanne Decyk is a retired international oil and gas executive and active independent director of NYSE companies and not-for-profit organizations. Before retirement, she led a portfolio of global functions for Royal Dutch Shell and served on Shell’s executive committee. She currently chairs the Governance and Nominating Committee of Maxar (a space technology company). is Chair Emeritus of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and Vice Chair of Sinai Health Systems.

Dr. Stelios Dokianakis is a full time Saugatuck resident and the owner of Holland Doctors of Audiology. With degrees in Engineering as well as Audiology, his professional interests are in the areas of tinnitus, sound sensitivities and high-frequency hearing loss technology. He serves on the State of Michigan Board of Audiology and is an officer of the American Tinnitus Association’s Board of Directors. He is passionate about animal rescue, and helping small nonprofits succeed.

Jim Hundrieser is senior vice president for consulting and business development for NACUBO. This national organization serves college and university finance officers. Jim oversees the consulting practice, builds relationships with sponsors to support NACUBO’s work, and leads a grant focused on ways institutions can strategically finance equitable student outcomes to increase completion rates of students who have historically been underserved. Jim previously served as vice president for enrollment management and student affairs at three universities.

Matt Jackson is Managing Director/Partner at Lambert Edwards. He has a successful track record in public relations, earned media campaigns, cause marketing, social media activations, event promotions, advertising and brand positioning. Matt’s work includes successful product launches on behalf of brands including Chiquita®, Old Orchard Brands, Jamba®, Moose Tracks® ice cream, T.G.I. Friday’s snacks™, Seattle’s Best Coffee®, Vidalia Brands™ and others.

Carol Josefowicz has been active with various nonprofit organizations for more than 30 years both in Illinois and Michigan. She served as Board Chair for the Elmhurst Educational Foundation, Buttons and Bows Nursery School, and the Elmhurst Symphony. Carol was elected as an Alderman to the Elmhurst City Council from 1989-97. For the past 10 years, she has worked with the Fennville Elementary School on Battle of the Books, a literacy program, for 4th and 5th graders. She is also the current Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals for Ganges Township.
Patsy Ramsey is a retired accountant who spent her career in Arkansas, Texas, and Michigan with The Dow Chemical Company. Before retiring and relocating to Saugatuck in late 2013, she served as Director of External and Corporate Reporting for Dow and was a member of Financial Executives International.

Travis Randolph is the retired founder of Symbiote, located in Zeeland, Michigan. Randolph began his career with Herman Miller on the team that launched the original modular system for healthcare. At Symbiote he and his team design lab furniture for the Life Science, Tech Labs and Aerospace markets.

Jim Sellman holds a Real Estate Broker license and was formerly a Registered Social Worker in Michigan. Currently Jim serves on the Board of Children’s First Lakeshore and 4 Paws Lakeshore and a Grant Committee Member for the Allegan County Community Foundation.

Brian Stephens retired from KPMG after a 39-year career within the financial services audit practice that serves global and domestic clients world-wide. He was the National Leader of KPMG’s US Financial Services Practice and also led its US Banking and Capital Markets Practice. During his career he served as lead partner for clients such as The World Bank, HSBC, Bank One, and Mellon Bank. Brian continues to provide client related services to the KPMG firm in Singapore and Spain.

Lisa Wylie is Chief Marketing Officer for The River & Odi Hospitality Group. She has spent her career in a variety of positions within the Marketing, Culinary and Commercial Interior Design markets. Special Events and Fundraising has been Lisa’s passion; she has volunteered her time on various non-profit boards of Arts, Science, Education and Advertising in both Michigan and Indiana.

Michael Van Meter is Managing Partner of Van Meter Associates, an Iowa-based investment advisory offering individual portfolio management services to individuals and small to midmarket institutional clients.

Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence is requesting $10,000 to support our emergency intervention services for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
In fiscal year 2022, Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence responded to 3,453 calls for assistance on our 24 hour helpline; we provided face-to-face crisis intervention, advocacy and emotional support to 404 emergency walk-in clients; safe shelter as well as meals, advocacy and emotional support were provided to 57 adults and their 70 children; our team of specially trained, on-call nurses provided 61 confidential and discreet forensic exams where evidence was carefully collected and stored. Nurses worked closely with local law enforcement and testified in court for sexual assault cases when needed.

We anticipate responding to more than 2,500 requests for assistance through these programs in the upcoming year.
Sandra Trammell, President
Ortencia Bos, Vice President
Tina Fierro, Treasurer
Lisa Miller, Secretary
Ava Baxter, Youth Leadership Board Representative
Laurie Birkholz, MD
Shannon Garrett
Jasmine Irish
Joe LaFramboise
Jeff Lukas
Lana Zarlenga, MD
Erin Zylman
Beth Larsen, Executive Director

$10,000
When paired with existing funds, last year’s dollars helped us support the 70 children served through our Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programming with an optimal level of care and resources, ensuring continuation of current CASA volunteers and our ability to onboard new ones.
If we are a chosen as a recipient this year, these funds would support 100 counseling sessions, serving 50-100 youth depending on the depth of care required.
• Mark Nettleton, Chair – Mika Meyers PLC
• Judy Freeman, Vice-Chair – Education Consulting Practice
• Brett Karhoff, Treasurer – Hungerford Nichols CPAs and Advisors
• Kelley Root, Secretary – Community Member
• Dr. Renoulte Allen, Member-at-Large – Western Michigan University School of Medicine
• Dr. Patricia Farrell-Cole, Director – VanAndel Institute
• Regina Hill, Director – Wolverine World Wide/Merrell
• Susan Mason, Director – BHS Insurance
• John Rolecki, Director – Varnum Law
• Pujita Sieplinga, Director – PNC Bank
• Bincy Sines, Director – Principal Financial/Kumon
• Elliot Talen, Director – Lambert
• Gwen Thomas, Director – Corewell/Dolyn Designs
• Dr. Donta Truss, Director – Grand Valley State University

We are requesting a grant of $2000 from West Shore Aware to partially fund our music educational programs which include three Young Listener programs for underserved grade school students, three Master Class sessions, a music poster art contest at Saugatuck High School, and the JCYAP Internship Program for two or three college students to assist with running our programs, meet our artists, and learn the behind-the-scenes activities necessary to run a chamber music program.
CMFS received an Aware grant of $2000 in 2012 to complete funding of the Joan Conway Young Artists Program endowment. CMFS has received AWARE grant of $1700 in 2022, $2000 in 2016, 2020, & 2021, and $1000 in 2018 and 2019 to partially fund our educational programs. Number of services and use of funds are described above.
President: Lynette C. Fall
Vice President and Fund Raising Director: Doug Walvoord
Secretary and Communications Director: Jan Tripp
Treasurer: Tim Chalus
Artistic and Education Co-Directors: Andrew Le and Jennifer Walvoord
Printing and Mailing Director: Jane Dreyer
Ticket Sales Co-Directors: Bill Klatt and Jim McHugh
Facilities Director: Lynne Snyder
Director at Large: Joe O'Hara
Director at Large: Lynne Aspnes
Advisory Council (Retired Board Member)s: Joan Conway, Joy Muehlenbeck, Mary Ann Quick, Ruth
Hofmeyer, Jim Motiff, and Mike Tischleder
Executive Director: Jenny Walvoord
Operation Manager (non-board): Vivian Boot

$3000
We have been granted money from West Shore Aware in recent years to go towards our general funding. This has allowed us to continue with our purpose of helping homeless pets finding their new home, educating the public and subsidizing payment for veterinary services for the public.
Kathy Korse (Co-President), Grace Gilmore (Co-President), Jo Ann Ploen (Vice President), Gwen Hinz (Secretary), Ellen Liehr (Treasurer), Bradley Borowiec, Jodi Clock, John Nappo, Cathy Novak, Shirley McKee, Renee Rush, Suzy Swanson

$10,000
Number of Clients served:
2022 – 216 children participated in a fact-finding child friendly forensic interview.
74 children began their healing journey through therapy.
7 children received a thorough body safety medical examination at Safe Harbor.

2023 – We anticipate the following numbers based on the number served during the first quarter of 2023
220 children will participate in a fact-finding child friendly forensic interview
75 children will begin their healing journey through therapy
30 children will be given the opportunity for a thorough body safety medical examination
Officers
• Erin Bonovetz, President – Perrigo, Senior Vice President & GM, OTC, CSCA
• Myrene Koch, Vice President - Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney
• Gerard Durkee, Treasurer – Community Member
• Amy Cornell, Secretary - 48th Circuit Court, Family Division
Directors
• Frank Baker - Sheriff, Allegan County Sheriff’s Department
• Bryanna Cope – Allegan Credit Union Branch Manager
• Beth Evans – OnPoint (Allegan Community Mental Health)
• F/LT Scott Ernstes, MSP, Paw Paw Post Commander
• Pat Hodapp – Plainwell Parent Representative
• Jennifer Hoffman – GM/President of Live Betr, LLC
• Angelique Joynes - Health Officer, Allegan County Health Department
• Janette Maki – D/Sgt Barry County Sheriff’s Department
• Tony Marr – Owner of Blue Star Farms
• Kristy Milbocker – Perrigo, Trade Relations Planner
• Shellie Park – Child Protective Services Supervisor, Department of Health and Human Services
• Susan Zuiderveen- Van Buren County Prosecuting Attorney

$3,500
The SDHC received funding for the Century of Progress exhibit in 2021. More than 2,500 individuals have viewed the exhibit to date. We anticipate a broader impact across the region with the Community Stories project.
Randy DiRosa - Saugatuck
Stephen Hutchins - President - Douglas
John Kerr - Vice-President - Douglas
Michael Mok - Secretary - Douglas
Mark Neidlinger - Douglas
Angela Page - Treasurer - Saugatuck
Vern Slusar - Holland
Annie Hayes - Saugatuck
Renee Zita - Saugatuck

$10,000, please.
We have never applied for West Shore Aware funding. We expect to bring 3000 people to the community for the events June 1-4, 2023.
Elizabeth Engel, President.
James Bailey, Vice President
Neal Seabert, Secretary
Greg Harvath, Treasurer
Randy Walker, Member

$10,000

Ruth Crowe

Test
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$15,000.00

$7,500 toward fund endowment
$3,750 (x2) to be granted directly to local non-profits in 2025 and 2026 grant cycles
Number of clients to-be served and/or number of services to-be offered are difficult to estimate and would depend on the grant(s) awarded to Allegan County non-profits serving LGBTQIA+ friends and neighbors. If, for example, we fund a free mental health program of Allegan County youth, our goal could be to serve 50+ LGBTQIA+ youth. If we fund a county-wide conference for elder service providers on the critical need of providing safe and affirming elder care spaces, we could serve 100's of community members.
If funded, ACCF is happy to provide these details to AWARE once PRIDE Fund decisions are made.
Ricardo Bazan - Board Chair
Lisa Banas - Vice Chair
Jodie White - Secretary
Rich Okoniewski - Treasurer
Rob - Marciniak - Trustee
Brian Marr - Trustee
Kaylani Rubley -Trustee
Bob Eder - Trustee

$10,000.00

Joy McClendon, President; George Stoutin, Vice President; Gary Workman, Secretary; Elaine Bosch, Treasurer; Scot Reynolds, Director; Lise Cameron, Director; Karen Pieper, Director; Mike Usher, Director

$5,000
In 2023 we received $5,000 from AWARE in support of Year 1 outreach programming (HUGE thanks for this!). We served: 650 K-12th graders via "in classroom" outreach, and served ~ 2,000 families via outreach at community events.

This year we anticipate serving about 600 middle + high school students via "in classroom" outreach this summer and fall. We plan to serve ~ 2,500 families through outreach at community events in Fennville, Saugatuck, and Holland.
Chair John Armstrong is Senior Vice President of Global Digital Strategy and Design at Salesforce. He is a multi-disciplinary executive with 30 years of experience as an advisor to the C-Suite, and a leader of transformational change strategies and initiatives. An expert in designing interactive customer experiences across physical and digital channels to leverage Design Thinking, John is keenly focused on customer acquisition, growth and retention.
Vice Chair Jeff Antaya is a digital marketing strategist and retired Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Plante Moran. Jeff currently sits on the board of ACCESS, and previously served on the board of the Detroit Institute of Arts, Leadership Detroit, Center Galleries Advisory Board (College of Creative Studies) and is a founding member of Cabaret313.

Treasurer Michael Gantt is the Chief Operating Officer at the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. Prior to moving full-time to the Saugatuck/Douglas area, Michael spent the past 20 years managing finances and balancing budgets for several Chicago area not-for-profit institutions, including The Family Institute at Northwestern University and Lincoln Park Zoo.

Secretary Ginny Brooks joined the Saugatuck Center of the Arts Board in 2018, having previously served on the Wharton Center for Performing Arts Board, and the Boarshead Theatre Board in Lansing while living there with her family. Her volunteer experience and interests have been focused on the performing and visual arts, endowments and fund development.

Chair Emeritus Deb Minton is senior director of philanthropy and strategic initiatives for the Grand Rapids-based Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. Deb oversees philanthropy, strategic initiatives and the expansion of the Phoenix Society's growing list of U.S. and global corporate partners in the health care, surgical, fire-protection, insurance and tissue-bank sectors.

Catherine Blagdurn is a senior consultant at Steelcase, where she has held positions in sales and marketing. She is currently on the guest experience team, hosting clients from all major market segments which keeps her current on design and workplace research.

Patrick Coyle currently serves as Artistic Director for the Holland Chorale, Chorus Master for Opera Grand Rapids, and the Director of Music for First (Park) Congregational Church (Grand Rapids). Patrick is also the Special Events Director for the Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck.

Roxanne Decyk is a retired international oil and gas executive and active independent director of NYSE companies and not-for-profit organizations. Before retirement, she led a portfolio of global functions for Royal Dutch Shell and served on Shell’s executive committee. She currently chairs the Governance and Nominating Committee of Maxar (a space technology company). is Chair Emeritus of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and Vice Chair of Sinai Health Systems.

Jim Hundrieser is recently retired as senior vice president for consulting and business development for NACUBO. The national organization serves college and university finance officers; Jim oversaw the consulting practice and built relationships with sponsors to support NACUBO’s work. Jim previously served as vice president for enrollment management and student affairs at three universities.

Matt Jackson is Managing Director/Partner at Lambert Edwards. He has a successful track record in public relations, earned media campaigns, cause marketing, social media activations, event promotions, advertising and brand positioning. Matt’s work includes successful product launches on behalf of brands including Chiquita®, Old Orchard Brands, Jamba®, Moose Tracks® ice cream, T.G.I. Friday’s snacks™, Seattle’s Best Coffee®, Vidalia Brands™ and others.

Carol Josefowicz has been active with various nonprofit organizations for more than 30 years both in Illinois and Michigan. She served as Board Chair for the Elmhurst Educational Foundation, Buttons and Bows Nursery School, and the Elmhurst Symphony. Carol was elected as an Alderman to the Elmhurst City Council from 1989-97. For the past 10 years, she has worked with the Fennville Elementary School on Battle of the Books, a literacy program, for 4th and 5th graders. She is also the current Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals for Ganges Township.
Patsy Ramsey is a retired accountant who spent her career in Arkansas, Texas, and Michigan with The Dow Chemical Company. Before retiring and relocating to Saugatuck in late 2013, she served as Director of External and Corporate Reporting for Dow and was a member of Financial Executives International.

Travis Randolph is the retired founder of Symbiote, located in Zeeland, Michigan. Randolph began his career with Herman Miller on the team that launched the original modular system for healthcare. At Symbiote he and his team design lab furniture for the Life Science, Tech Labs and Aerospace markets.

Jim Sellman holds a Real Estate Broker license and was formerly a Registered Social Worker in Michigan. Currently Jim serves on the Board of Children’s First Lakeshore and 4 Paws Lakeshore and a Grant Committee Member for the Allegan County Community Foundation.

Brian Stephens retired from KPMG after a 39-year career within the financial services audit practice that serves global and domestic clients world-wide. He was the National Leader of KPMG’s US Financial Services Practice and also led its US Banking and Capital Markets Practice. During his career he served as lead partner for clients such as The World Bank, HSBC, Bank One, and Mellon Bank. Brian continues to provide client related services to the KPMG firm in Singapore and Spain.

Lisa Wylie has spent her career in a variety of positions within the Marketing, Culinary and Commercial Interior Design markets. Special Events and Fundraising has been Lisa’s passion; she has volunteered her time on various non-profit boards of Arts, Science, Education and Advertising in both Michigan and Indiana.

Michael Van Meter is Managing Partner of Van Meter Associates, an Iowa-based investment advisory offering individual portfolio management services to individuals and small to mid market institutional clients.

$5000.00

Ruth Crowe

Mediation Services is requesting $5,000 from AWARE to support our efforts to recruit, train and retain diverse volunteer mediators with the goal of insuring that everyone in our community, no matter who they are, feels comfortable using our services. This support will also help us keep fees accessible to everyone, especially clients who financially are part of the ALICE population. People in our community who are part of the ALICE population find that their wages earned allow no room for emergency or extras. This funding will also allow us to continue to waive fees for clients who are receiving state assistance or disability.
We are grateful to have been awarded our first grant from AWARE in 2023. Your generous gift of $4,500 helped us serve a total of 699 Allegan County residents last year. Mediation Services accepted a total of 177 cases from Allegan County in 2023. We know our work causes a ripple effect in communities. When conflict is resolved peacefully, everyone in the community benefits. We project serving 700 Allegan residents in 2024. In fact, our current case load is running higher since making administrative adjustments after the pandemic. Your support for our work helped us waive $8,525 in fees last year for clients who could not afford our service and supported our efforts to maintain affordable and accessible services compared to the cost of private mediation. Your generosity made access to our life changing service a reality for many Allegan County residents.
Mediation Services Board of Directors 2024

Robert Nida (Interim President)
Past 5th Circuit Court Director, Barry County
2314 Perry Street
Holland, MI 49424
616-403-2535 Mobile

Judy Graff (President)
Past Director of Global Systems
Whirlpool Corporation
850 Lake Michigan Drive
South Haven, MI 49090
269-930-7410 (cell)

Conrad Mutschler (Past President, 12/2020)
Past VP Product Planning, Perrigo Corporation
2309 Lakewood Blvd.
Holland, MI 49424
616-403-1269 Mobile

Mike Van Ast, (Treasurer)
Senior Manufacturing Engineer
Gentex Corporation
430 West Lawrence
Zeeland, MI 49424
616-218-4470 Mobile

Jolene Clearwater, J.D.
Director of Allegan County Family Court Probation
48th Circuit Court Attorney Referee
113 Chestnut
Allegan, MI 49010
269-673-0516 Office

Susan Klooz, M.A., J.D. (Past President)
Past Senior Vice President & General Counsel,
Walmart Corporate Headquarters
141456 Georgian Bay Drive
Holland, MI 49424
(616)212-1255 Mobile

William Brown
Superintendent, Allegan Area Educational Service Agency
310 Thomas Street
Allegan, MI 49010
269-512-7705 Office
419-356-9740 Mobile

Sharmila Rajani, J.D.
Attorney, Puzycki Law, PLLC
270 James Street
Holland, MI 49424
616-738-8800 Office
616-283-8514 Mobile

Charles Elwood
SolisMatica, LLC
2207 N Bristol Street
Holland, MI 49424
616-994-3411 (cell)

Alberto Serrano
Former Director Human Relations
Commission City of Holland
1189 South Shore Drive
Holland, MI 49423
616 - 335-8823 (cell)

Jennell Challa
Friend of the Court
414 Washington Avenue
Grand Haven, MI 49417
616-566-7935 (cell)

Casey Marietta
Owner of C Marietta Property Management
648 Midway Ave, Holland MI 49423
616-283-7151

$10,000
24 employees, their families, and our community
Mary Beth Ramm - President
Laree Waanders - Vice President
Connie Ellis - Treasurer
Lori Reed - Secretary
William Brown
John Dial
Linda Ivers
Robin Lavender
Cherri Miner
Sara Ramaker
Keith Hayward - Emeritus

We are requesting a grant of $2000 from West Shore Aware to partially fund our music educational programs for 2024. We will offer Young Listener Concerts during the summer and in local grade schools reaching underserved students and others. Coaching sessions will be held for advanced high school wind and string students, and a string quartet will perform Bizet's "Ferdinand the Bull" in local grade schools. A student art contest at Saugatuck High school to create a poster for our 2024 publicity has already been held. We will again have our Internship Program for two or three college students who will assist with running our programs, interact with our artists, and learn the behind-the-scenes activities of a chamber music program.
CMFS received an AWARE grant of $2000 in 2012 to complete funding of the Joan Conway Young Artists Program endowment. Since then CMFS has received AWARE grants of $1700 in 2022, $2000 in 2016, 2020, 2021, and 2023 and $1000 in 2018 and 2019 to partially fund our educational programs. Number of services and use of funds are described below.
President: Joe O'Hara
Vice President and Fund Raising Director: Doug Walvoord
Secretary and Communications Director: Jan Tripp
Treasurer: Tim Chalus
Artistic Director: Lynne Aspnes
Printing and Mailing Director: Jane Dreyer
Ticket Sales Co-Directors: Bill Klatt and Jim McHugh
Facilities Director: Lynne Snyder
Operation Manager and Education Coordinator (non-board): Vivian Boot
Advisory Council (Retired Board Members): Joan Conway, Joy Muehlenbeck, Ruth Hofmehyer, Jim Motiff, and Mike Tischleder

$10,000.00
We provide approximately 10,000 meals per year to children affected by hunger.
Our goal is to provide again at least 10,000 meals to children.
Glen McNeil, George Stoutin, Joseph Blodgett, Sharon Shanahan, Janet Schmidt, Jim Sellman, Lois Tuttle

$10,000
Last year, Arbor Circle received a grant of $10,000. These funds supported and sustained counseling/therapy services for youth working with and staying at The Bridge, bolstering staffing resources specific to these services while providing an initial connection to engage these young people with the potential for long-term support when needed. The Bridge, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, serves youth in both Kent and Ottawa counties. When paired with other funding support, this grant helped Arbor Circle 60 youth thus far this year.

This year, Arbor Circle respectfully requests funds to serve youth/young adults seeking supportive housing solutions while removing barriers disproportionately impacting LGBTQIA+ youth and youth of color. By giving youth direct financial and rental assistance, this project seeks to prevent, solve or resolve episodes of homelessness. Services provided will include, but are not limited to: assistance addressing or clearing criminal backgrounds, connection to education/training resources (including financial assistance), connection to employment, and connection to community activities and groups.
Mark Nettleton - Chair
Judy Freeman - Vice-Chair
Brett Karhoff - Treasurer
Kelley Root - Secretary
Pujita Sieplinga - Member-at-Large
Dr. Patricia Farrell-Cole - Director
Regina Hill - Director
Sonya Hughes - Director
Susan Mason - Director
Mandice McAllister - Director
Carlos Pava - Director
Elliot Talen - Director
Gwen Thomas - Director
Dr. B. Donta Truss - Director