Contact: Julie Quinn
Manistee County Community Foundation
231-723-7269
Issued as a Service by the Manistee Economic Development Office to the Manistee County Community Foundation

For Immediate Release

“PASSION”: Annual Report Issued by Manistee County Community Foundation  

Manistee, Michigan -- “Our goal is simple: to help people achieve their passions about Manistee County.”

That sentence, from the just released Annual Report of the Manistee County Community Foundation entitled “Passion,” captures the essence of the 8-page tabloid-style report issued today by the Foundation to all who are interested in the long-term betterment of Manistee County.

“People are passionate about Manistee County,” said Board member Beth McCarthy. “The Community Foundation provides an ideal way for people to invest and achieve their passions about this great county. And this report provides example after example of how people throughout the county have done just that.”

In addition to summarizing the 2006 financial and program results of the Foundation, the Annual Report profiles how several individuals have worked with the 20-year old organization to achieve their passions through charitable, tax-deductible giving, including: Margaret Murdoch, Mel Fennell, Mike and Leslie Acton, Jeff and Eva Seng, the Paine Family, By and Nancy Lyon, Roger and Karen Bruchan and the Youth Advisory Committee.

The annual report shows that the Foundation has nearly $1.6 million in fund assets as opposed to about $1.1 million in the prior year and that the Foundation's assets grew by 11.30 percent Foundation funds are managed by the Investment and Trust Division of Northwestern Bank. The Annual Report also summarizes the total of 41 endowed funds that are managed through the Foundation.

“The Foundation's mission for the immediate future is to help people and organizations achieve their dreams and passions about Manistee County by building endowed funds,” said Board member Jim Goodwin. “Endowments are perhaps the best investment we can make to support a strong and vital future for the county. Whether you are passionate about our natural resources, youth, seniors' health care or human services, art and culture or economy, the Community Foundation can help you create and build an endowment so that your aspirations can be achieved.”

Copies of the Annual Report are available by contacting the Community Foundation at 231-723-7269 or on line at www.manisteefoundation.org.