New Leadership at the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation

    

     Mt. Pleasant, Mich., September 25, 2009- Amanda Schafer, former Mt. Pleasant resident, comes home after ten years to assume the Executive Director position at the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation.

    Daughter of Harvey and Marge Schafer, Amanda grew up as an  active member of the Mt. Pleasant community. She completed K-12 at Sacred Heart Academy, participated actively in the Volunteer Center, and worked at Doozie’s Ice Cream Place for eight summers. Schafer said, “I see things differently in the community as an adult, but the things I loved most as a child remain the same.”

    Schafer went on to complete her undergraduate degree at Alma College, serving as Student Congress President and Trustee to the Board in her senior year. Her Master’s degree is from Bowling Green State University. With plenty of experience since then as an effective manager, grant maker and articulate leader, there will be nothing in the way of Schafer positively impacting the Mt. Pleasant community.  Schafer expressed, after working as a community director for Heidelberg College and George Washington University, she "became really interested in what higher education and other nonprofits were doing to support communities." 

     For the past seven-and-a-half years, Schafer has served as the Associate Director of Michigan Campus Compact and the Director of Research and Evaluation for the Michigan Nonprofit Association, both statewide nonprofit organizations. Other nonprofit experiences include her service as President of the Board of Alternatives in Motion in Grand Rapids and many years as a Big Brothers/Big Sisters Mentor."The nonprofit sector is a really vibrant part of our society.” said Schafer.                                             

     When Schafer interviewed for the position she was impressed by the dynamic board with whom she will now work. She expressed, "I was blessed to grow up in this amazing community. And now I’ve been given the opportunity to return to the Mt. Pleasant area to support the generous philanthropy of its residents. The best parts of this job will be supporting this effective Board and ultimately giving people various opportunities to create legacies--endowing funds that will support the needs of Isabella County forever."

     After an extensive search for the Foundation’s new director, the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation’s Board is excited to have Schafer in the position. Steve Martineau, the board president expressed, “We’re delighted that she’s joined us and believe she’ll be a wonderful contribution to the foundation and our community.”

To find out more about the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation’s new leadership, or other endeavors, please call 989.773.7322