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AboutMission: To build a stronger community through partnerships, and enrich the lives of people in our community.
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What we do: Provide grants to help support local projects.
KidsHope USA
Veterans Memorial
Pay to Participate
KCHS Senior Scholarship
Howard Christiansen Nature Center
Community Santa Day
Kent City Historical Society
Who are we: KCCCF Board Members are people who work and live in our community. We are business owners, teachers, farmers, clergy and family leaders. Members are: Joe Clark, Barb Grice, Becky Johnson, Joyce Stoll, Nick Lewis, Jennifer Lucht, John Petruska, Mike Rexford, Cindy Schultze, Jeff Wilson, and Pastor Mike Conklin.
We welcome all community members to our meetings. Meetings are held every other month on the 3rd Monday at 5:00 pm at the Fire Station in Kent City.
You may call Barb Grice at 616-560-1203 if you would like more information.
You can make a difference by donating to the Kent City Casnovia Community Foundation at: P.O. Box 271, Kent City, MI 49330
History
Thank you Mary Clare Johnson for your years of service on the Board of The KCCCF! We wish you all the best!
Community foundation gets off ground in Kent City, Casnovia
Updated Oct 29, 2007; Posted Oct 29, 2007
1
By Jan Holst
Jan_Holst@mlive.com
The effort to pull organizations and interests together for the good of the entire community has found a home in the form of the Valley Ridge Community Foundation (VRCF). Residents, business owners, pastors, and professionals from Kent City and Casnovia have joined forces to combine both ongoing and future projects.
The idea was a foundation could serve as a way to combine the many efforts already happening. For instance, for over 50 years a carnival has funded school projects not in district budgets, while other groups, such the Village of Casnovia raise funds for maintenance of Old School Community Building, when the facility could benefit more group efforts.
If community-based efforts worked through one organization, everyone would benefit, said Kent City Superintendent Julius Koenigsknecht.
"Various people would still work in their individual groups, but getting together would improve communication between them," he said. "The point is if we even met on the same night and spent just a few minutes at the beginning to say, this is what we are doing, it would serve to help us help each other."
Koenigsknecht has been credited as the driving force behind foundation efforts.
"I actually envisioned something similar with churches partnering in a foundation, which would then allow application for governmental grants for a variety of programs benefiting the community," said Pastor Bill VanderWerp, of Casnovia Reformed Church. "Then Julius -- the visionary -- came along with a plan to get the whole community working together to meet needs in the neighborhood. He did all the hard work for me."
At the VRCF organizational meeting held in September, Koenigsknecht suggested a bank account be opened with profits from the fall festival. Although profits are still being added up, the plan is a go, said fall festival coordinator, John Petruska. VRCF will continue fundraising as well as prioritize community needs.
"I realize it can't be all about my needs," said VanderWerp. "But if we keep focused, I have high hopes for the organization. At the last meeting, we started to target a few specific projects."
One goal is to market the Kent City and Casnovia area to outsiders. Some residents are concerned the superintendent is only interested in marketing the school district, but foundation members are adamant the entire community will benefit.
"This effort is of course somewhat designed to help grow the schools," said Petruska, "But it all ties together. The more people in town, the more businesses will thrive; more houses will sell; more kids will be in the seats at school; eventually everyone will benefit."
"Ultimately it may bring worshippers to my church, customers to area businesses, and students to his school, but the over arching goal is to make this community a better place," said VanderWerp.
VRCF's priorities at this time include a volunteer mentoring program, adult and family workshops and classes, senior citizen projects, support for a local food bank, and early childhood assistance in terms of scholarships.
The foundation is also seeking support from individuals, organizations and businesses as well as suggestions for ways to benefit specific organizations and projects. The next meeting is slated for 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19 at Kent City Community Schools Middle School Cafeteria and all interested community members are welcome.
Thank you Mary Clare Johnson for your years of service on the Board of The KCCCF! We wish you all the best!
Community foundation gets off ground in Kent City, Casnovia
Updated Oct 29, 2007; Posted Oct 29, 2007
1
By Jan Holst
Jan_Holst@mlive.com
The effort to pull organizations and interests together for the good of the entire community has found a home in the form of the Valley Ridge Community Foundation (VRCF). Residents, business owners, pastors, and professionals from Kent City and Casnovia have joined forces to combine both ongoing and future projects.
The idea was a foundation could serve as a way to combine the many efforts already happening. For instance, for over 50 years a carnival has funded school projects not in district budgets, while other groups, such the Village of Casnovia raise funds for maintenance of Old School Community Building, when the facility could benefit more group efforts.
If community-based efforts worked through one organization, everyone would benefit, said Kent City Superintendent Julius Koenigsknecht.
"Various people would still work in their individual groups, but getting together would improve communication between them," he said. "The point is if we even met on the same night and spent just a few minutes at the beginning to say, this is what we are doing, it would serve to help us help each other."
Koenigsknecht has been credited as the driving force behind foundation efforts.
"I actually envisioned something similar with churches partnering in a foundation, which would then allow application for governmental grants for a variety of programs benefiting the community," said Pastor Bill VanderWerp, of Casnovia Reformed Church. "Then Julius -- the visionary -- came along with a plan to get the whole community working together to meet needs in the neighborhood. He did all the hard work for me."
At the VRCF organizational meeting held in September, Koenigsknecht suggested a bank account be opened with profits from the fall festival. Although profits are still being added up, the plan is a go, said fall festival coordinator, John Petruska. VRCF will continue fundraising as well as prioritize community needs.
"I realize it can't be all about my needs," said VanderWerp. "But if we keep focused, I have high hopes for the organization. At the last meeting, we started to target a few specific projects."
One goal is to market the Kent City and Casnovia area to outsiders. Some residents are concerned the superintendent is only interested in marketing the school district, but foundation members are adamant the entire community will benefit.
"This effort is of course somewhat designed to help grow the schools," said Petruska, "But it all ties together. The more people in town, the more businesses will thrive; more houses will sell; more kids will be in the seats at school; eventually everyone will benefit."
"Ultimately it may bring worshippers to my church, customers to area businesses, and students to his school, but the over arching goal is to make this community a better place," said VanderWerp.
VRCF's priorities at this time include a volunteer mentoring program, adult and family workshops and classes, senior citizen projects, support for a local food bank, and early childhood assistance in terms of scholarships.
The foundation is also seeking support from individuals, organizations and businesses as well as suggestions for ways to benefit specific organizations and projects. The next meeting is slated for 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19 at Kent City Community Schools Middle School Cafeteria and all interested community members are welcome.
Kent City Casnovia Community Foundation
Kent City, Michigan 49330
Kent City, Michigan 49330