Celebrating 35 Years of Impact and the Legacy Ahead

Last month, the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation recognized our Legacy Society members and Emeritus Trustees, whose generosity and vision have driven 35 years of impact.

What started as a bold idea among nine founders has become a thriving foundation with nearly 400 funds and over $33 million invested in Isabella County’s future. Together, we have awarded scholarships, provided grants to local nonprofits, and led collaborative efforts to strengthen our community.

The evening brought together founders, past trustees, board members, and friends to celebrate our shared legacy. We thank our Bronze Sponsor, Wood Shop Social, for the venue and catering, and the CMU graduate student quartet for playing at the event.

As we celebrate, we are also looking ahead. The Foundation has launched a new strategic plan focused on deepening our community impact and strengthening our role as a catalyst for positive change. Our goals include:

• Convening: Connecting for Impact - The Foundation is trusted as the place where collaboration begins, connecting leaders, organizations, and residents to align around shared priorities and create collective solutions.

• Funding and Grantmaking: Philanthropy in Action - The Foundation stewards resources with excellence and flexibility, fueling transformational scholarships, responsive grantmaking, and a growing culture of philanthropy that invests in Isabella County’s future.

• Organizational Infrastructure: Strength from Within - The Foundation is a strong, unified organization with clear roles, confident decision-making, and a visible presence that inspires trust and action across the community.

We invite you to help shape the next 35 years by joining our Denison Legacy Society. Include the Foundation in your estate or planned giving to make a lasting impact.

Interested? Learn about our Legacy Society!

Honoring Childcare Providers at the Childcare Professionals Appreciation Summit

Earlier this month, the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation’s Community Leadership Committee hosted a Childcare Professionals Appreciation Summit at Mid-Michigan Industries. More than 30 childcare providers from Isabella County attended the celebration.

Speakers included representatives from the Community Foundation, who shared grant opportunities for nonprofit partners; the Small Business Development Corporation, who provided business resources; Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!, who discussed the apprenticeship program; and the Middle Michigan Development Corporation, who highlighted advocacy efforts and updates from the East Central Childcare Coalition.

The Community Foundation’s Community Leadership Committee is working to address the childcare shortage in our area. A childcare desert means that there is only one childcare opening for every three children who need a spot. Isabella County’s infant care is more problematic, with just one infant spot for every six infants.

“Our goal with this event was to celebrate the hardworking childcare providers in our community,” Committee Chair Erin Ludwig said. “They help to provide essential services to local families, and we are grateful. We want childcare providers to know about resources and that we are here to support them.”

In recent years, the Community Foundation has funded childcare projects and advocated for state-level changes to simplify establishing new centers. To learn more about our work in childcare, read more here.

You're Invited! Join us for our Annual Breakfast on November 6th

Rise and shine! The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation invites you to join us from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday, November 6, for our Annual Breakfast at the Courtyard Marriott in Mt. Pleasant.

Breakfast invite for Nov. 6th Annual Breakfast

This free event is your chance to:

• Hear Kyle Caldwell, President and CEO of the Council of Michigan Foundations, share insights on the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in philanthropy.

• Hear the latest updates from the Community Foundation.

• Learn how local organizations are using grant funding from the Community Foundation.

• Network with other local leaders making a difference in Isabella County.

• Enjoy fresh coffee and a breakfast catered by the Courtyard Marriott.

Space is limited to 250 guests. Please RSVP by Oct. 27 to secure your spot.

We're excited to share the morning with you!

"I love attending the annual breakfast. It provides an overview of the Foundation's activities over the past year, especially the grants awarded and new funds established. And, of course, it's a chance to have breakfast with many community leaders whom I don't get to see often enough."

-- Eileen Jennings, Community Foundation Trustee

Join us for "Look Who's Talking" Speaker Series on October 3!

The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation’s Women’s Initiative will welcome Vernique N. Jackson, Associate Director of the Leadership Institute at Central Michigan University, as keynote speaker for its annual “Look Who’s Talking” Speaker Series on Friday, Oct. 3.

An educator, mentor, and leadership coach, Jackson designs inclusive programs that help emerging leaders grow with confidence and purpose. Her keynote, “Lead In Your Lane: Owning Your Style, Uplifting Your Community,” will explore how authentic leadership—rooted in personal strengths—can spark meaningful change.

A first‑generation college graduate and current doctoral student in Educational Leadership, Jackson’s research centers on building systemic supports for marginalized women in higher education. She is also the founder of VeeJayNicole Consulting Group LLC, a professional development firm focused on career advancement, business growth, and nonprofit leadership—especially for women navigating transition and change.

The Look Who’s Talking series is a signature friend‑raising and fundraising event of the Women’s Initiative Committee. Proceeds benefit the Women’s Initiative Fund, which provides grants for programs and services that support women and girls in Isabella County.

“Vernique’s message is one of purpose, possibility, and the power of showing up for one another,” said event Co‑Chair Leah Rau, partner with Blystone & Bailey Certified Public Accountants. “Her work aligns beautifully with our mission to uplift and invest in the potential of women and girls.”

Save the date and join us in celebrating leadership that lifts our whole community.

The event will take place at the Comfort Inn on October 3rd.

Tickets are $50 each. Table sponsorships and other sponsorships are also available. Place your order for tickets today!

Fall is FULL of exciting events at MPACF!

As we sip the last drops of summer, our fall planning is in full swing and lots of exciting events await! Check out upcoming events from our Youth Advisory Committee, Women’s Initiative Committee and MORE!

Keep your eyes on the Events page for more details and other upcoming events!

One Man’s Mission: Doug Pickel Honors POW/MIA Heroes Through Food, Fundraising, and Tribute

In late 2024, the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation announced an inspiring new effort to honor Michigan’s prisoners of war and those missing in action. A permanent memorial, planned for construction in Mt. Pleasant’s Island Park, will pay tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of these brave service members and their families.

At the heart of this project is Doug Pickel, a dedicated memorial fund trustee whose father was a Navy veteran of World War II and whose personal connection to military service fuels his mission. “This is a gift to Michigan POW/MIA families from the people of Michigan,” Pickel shared. “Veterans and their families have made unimaginable sacrifices that deserve to be recognized and remembered.”

In his ongoing commitment to this cause, Pickel has created a fun, meaningful way to raise funds and awareness: the inaugural Food Truck Challenge, taking place September 19 and 20 in Island Park. Nearly 20 food trucks from across the state will gather to compete for a custom-built trophy and statewide bragging rights, all while supporting the Michigan POW/MIA Memorial Statewide Fund held at the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation.

The timing of the event is especially significant, as September 19 marks National POW/MIA Recognition Day - a day set aside to honor the service and sacrifice of these American heroes.

Food trucks can enter the competition for a $25 registration fee and a donation of 10% of net profits to the fund. The truck with the highest sales will be crowned the winner and receive a one-of-a-kind trophy handcrafted by Pickel himself - a stunning piece of craftsmanship that took over two months to build, measuring 31 inches wide, 29 inches tall, and weighing 43 pounds.

Beyond great food, the weekend will feature solemn and moving tributes to POW/MIA veterans and families of the Korean and Vietnam wars. A Harley-Davidson motorcycle procession will ride from Wholeshot Harley-Davidson to Island Park, where families of the honored veterans will receive customized plaques - each one hand-made by Pickel with deep personal care.

For over 20 years, Pickel has poured his heart into recognizing and honoring veterans. His work, whether through intimate gestures like custom memorials or large-scale events like this new challenge, is guided by a deep sense of gratitude and duty.

“I didn’t serve in the military like these heroes did,” he reflected. “But it’s become my life’s mission to serve them. This event is a way to celebrate their courage, give back to their families, and build something lasting in their honor.”

Pickel has even bigger plans for the future. In 2026, he hopes to expand the Food Truck Challenge to five Michigan cities, culminating in a statewide championship back in Mt. Pleasant. The top 10 food trucks from the regional events will return to Island Park for the final showdown and a powerful close to the season’s memorial fundraising efforts.

The community is warmly invited to attend the Food Truck Challenge on September 19–20. Come hungry, bring your gratitude, and be part of a movement that’s turning delicious food into a powerful force for remembrance and healing.

Follow the POW/MIA Memorial Facebook group and Plaques of Honor - Murphy’s Legacy for more details.