FUNDS

Administrative Fund:

The Administrative Fund supports Board of Directors activities that create foundation awareness. The Board may access these funds to help generate contributions and build sustainable endowment for operational expenses. Typical expenses include postage, printing, advertising, and similar other expenses. Typically, the annual allocation available from this fund is not spent unless specific expenses are pending.

American Legion Youth Fund:

Established in 1995, the American Legion Youth Fund was one of the first funds of the SIACF, created by the Thomas F. Grant American Legion Post #0062 in St. Ignace. Initial funding was $25,000. The American Legion Youth Fund assists with requests that foster youth recreational activities, with a special consideration to requests that involve baseball and/or softball.

Chipper Huskey Memorial Youth Fund:

Chipper Huskey died in a construction accident in 2000. He was committed to youth hockey, donating much of his time and finances toward greater opportunities for area youth in this sport. Not only was Chipper active in hockey but he also assisted any and all youth activities and school programs. At his passing, Chipper’s family directed memorials to the SIACF to benefit youth hockey in memory of Chipper. Proceeds from this fund are used to provide scholarships to youth who need financial assistance to participate in youth hockey.

Ed Ossmann Memorial Music Fund:

During the mid-20th century, Ed Ossmann was a principal and the Superintendent of the St. Ignace Area Public Schools for 18 years. He had a great love of music and loved teaching young people. This memorial fund is was established to give an award annually to a graduating student at LaSalle High School who has shown that they share a love for music and education.

Education Enhancement Fund:

This fund was created with a generous donation by Mr. Jack Swope and his company, Rennco, Inc., in 1995. and It was one of the original funds, receiving matching dollars from the Kellogg Foundation. This fund supports educational activities, programs, and scholarships in the St. Ignace service area.

Erin Springsteen Memorial Activity Fund:

1st Lt. Erin Lee Springsteen graduated from LaSalle High School in 1998. As an undergraduate, she was very active in student government, band, and athletics. She received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point and played catcher for their Division I Softball Team. She graduated from West Point in 2002 with a degree in Information Systems Engineering, then branched out to Aviation and went on to earn her wings as a helicopter pilot, specializing in the Blackhawk. Upon her passing in 2004, a memorial fund was established in her honor to support school athletics. The Erin Springsteen Memorial Activity Fund has also been used to support school projects and student scholarships.

Fred and Margaret Jackson Memorial Fund:

Fred and Margaret Jackson were retirees who moved to St. Ignace from the Detroit area after careers in law enforcement and education. After they passed, their will directed that a significant portion of their estate go to the SIACF for two annual awards: a $1,000 scholarship to a student pursuing a career in police, fire fighting, or emergency responder work; and a second $1,000 scholarship to a student pursuing a career in education. Additional awards benefiting the community in general are at the discretion of the SIACF Board.

Frederick W. Stearns Memorial Scholarship Fund:

Mr. Fred Stearns, co-founder of the SIACF, died suddenly at age 55 in 2002. Fred was instrumental in establishing the SIACF and served as chair in its early years. This memorial fund was created by Fred’s family and friends, requesting that donations in Fred’s name be directed to the SIACF. This memorial fund was established in 2002 and benefits student scholarships for those who exemplify Fred’s love of the outdoors and a willingness to further their education. Fred was a long-time educator and Superintendent of the St. Ignace Area Public Schools.

Gros Cap School Scholarship Fund (Robert Buchholz Memorial):

Established in 1997 in memory of long-time educator and leader at Gros Cap School in Moran Township, Robert Buchholz, this fund was established for the purpose of providing scholarships to students who attended Gros Cap School as an elementary student. The school community holds fundraising events annually to assist in providing annual scholarships.

HERBERT HAMEL, M.D. AND JEAN HAMEL, R.N. MEMORIAL ENDOWED FUND:

This fund was established in 2025 by The Hamel Family to help support Mackinac County area students and/or adults who wish to pursue educational opportunities in the home health care or elder care areas. Home health care programs may include community college allied health care studies and/or other non-traditional accredited training programs, hospice care, nurse aide, certified caregiver, or massage therapy. Elder care programs of study may include recreational therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and community social work.

Kathleen E. Schacht Endowment Scholarship Fund:

Kathy Schacht taught English and directed plays at LaSalle High School for 38 years and has advised the Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council since she retired.

This fund provides a scholarship to a La Salle High School senior with a 3.5 grade point average or who is in the top 20 percent of his or her class and has completed the community service requirements

Kiwanis Club of St. Ignace:

Established in 1996 as an initial SIACF fund, the Kiwanis Club Fund of St. Ignace was financed with three installments from Kiwanis Club proceeds earned from the Mackinac Island Road Race, held each September. As with all efforts by the Kiwanis Club, proceeds from this fund are directed toward benefiting youth in the St. Ignace area.

LaSalle Alumni Fund:

In 2003, the SIACF Board of Directors undertook a fundraising effort called the St. Ignace All Class Reunion. Assisted by staff at the St. Ignace Area Public Schools, this event has been held four times and is planned for every five years. Proceeds from the first four events, have been deposited into the La Salle Alumni Fund, and have exceeded $30,000. The fund is designed to benefit any and all needs in the St. Ignace area.

Loryce M. Dyer Memorial Hospice Fund:

Upon disbandment of the Loryce M. Dyer Hospice, remaining funds were used to establish the Loryce M. Dyer Memorial Hospice Fund within the SIACF. This fund provides scholarships to students seeking higher education in the medical field, particularly in nursing.

The Loryce M. Dyer Hospice was founded in 1983 by Lee Dyer in memory of his wife, Loryce. The hospice was a totally volunteer organization in service for more than 20 years. It provided care for the terminally ill and bereavement services for families. The hospice raised and donated a special foam mattress to the Loryce M. Dyer hospice room in the Mackinac Straits Hospital.

Mary R. and Wesley H. Maurer, Jr. Fund:

This fund was established in memory of Mary R. Maurer to improve the lives of disadvantaged residents and animals in the St. Ignace area. Mary was a board member of the St. Ignace Area Community Foundation, serving on the board for more than 20 years. She was instrumental in many community organizations.

Michigan Community Foundation Youth Project (MCFYP):

In 1996, the MCFYP, through a $47 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, awarded a grant to the SIACF in the amount of $37,500, establishing this fund. The grant required locally generated matching funds and specific activities and reporting over a five-year period. Subsequent grants also enhanced this fund’s status.

The purpose of the project is to encourage youth leadership development in communities throughout the state. A requirement is to maintain a Youth Advisory Council that demonstrates youth involvement in four areas: assessing youth needs, raising a portion of required expenditures, reviewing grant applications for awards from this fund, and developing systems for involving other young people in volunteerism and philanthropy. Grants from the MCFYP Fund can be used only for charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes

mcKinnon Family Scholarship Fund:

The McKinnon Family Scholarship Fund was created by Dr. A. Donald McKinnon, one of the original founders of the SIACF, in 1998. Dr. McKinnon participated in many St. Ignace  community activities, especially during the last five decades of his life. In addition to Dr. McKinnon’s establishment of this fund, many of his family members have contributed to and held fundraisers to support it. The McKinnon Family Scholarship Fund supports and stimulates LaSalle High School graduating students in their quest for a lifelong pursuit of learning.

Museum of Ojibwa Culture Fund:

The initial contribution to the Museum of Ojibwa Culture Endowed Fund was $1,000. The primary purpose of the fund is to assist the Museum of Ojibwa Culture with operating, maintaining, and improving the lands and facilities of the museum, including caring for the museum collections and promoting the museum to the public.

Sault Tribe Youth Activities Fund:

The Sault Tribe Youth Activities Fund supports a variety of educational, recreational, and cultural activities for Tribal youth.

Special Education Scholarship Fund:

This fund provides scholarships to persons entering the field of special education.

Spirit of the Straits Fund:

This fund supports a wide range of community projects and activities.

Any donation that isn’t specifically designated will be deposited to this fund.

St. Ignace Public Library Fund:

Over the years, a group of St. Ignace Public Library supporters conducted a fund-raising campaign to secure enough funding to build a new library. With a donation of property and successful fundraising, the new library became reality in 2008. The SIACF was used as the funding vehicle by those seeking to raise the funds to build the new library, and once that project was completed, the balance of the funds raised were endowed within the SIACF, from which, earnings are directed to library needs.

St. Ignace Junior Saints Football Fund:

This fund provides grant monies for the annual operation of the St. Ignace Junior Saints Football program exclusively for expenses, including player equipment (helmets, pads, jerseys, etc.), supplies (tape, ice packs, first aid supplies), and game expenses (league fees, field rental, insurance, referees, etc.).

Swope Family Fund:

Mr. Jack Swope was a founder of the SIACF, assisting with the efforts to recruit organizational and individual contributions to the original funds that currently make up the SIACF. Jack was a long-time board member and a major contributor to SIACF. Jack passed away in 2011 and his family established the Swope Family Fund in 2012 in his memory. The Fund’s goals are to support and promote a healthy St. Ignace community environment.

Vocational, Trade, and Technical Career Fund

This fund supports scholarships to students of all ages and creates awareness of the opportunities in the fields of vocational, trade, and technical careers.