YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

ALL OTHER CLASSES WILL FOLLOW YOUR LEAD!

The GHSF is counting on the Class of 1977 to spearhead the new “Alumni Giving Program” which will coincide with Grand Haven alumni reunions and help us to reach the million dollar mark for our Capital Campaign. We’ve already made it to $675,000

This website will serve to give you up-to-date donation totals of the Class of 1977’s gift to the Grand Haven Schools Foundation by way of the Alumni Giving Program. The website will also note donor names.

The Grand Haven Schools Foundation is a permanent endowment of the highly respected Grand Haven Community Foundation.  Because we are a part of a Michigan Community Foundation, your gift may be eligible for a 50% Michigan income tax credit.

The following contribution levels have been established as guidelines only.  Please consider a “stretch” contribution, one that is larger than you would normally consider, in honor of your 30 year mark and to give back and to give hope to the families of our community for years to come.

PLEASE FILL OUT AND MAIL YOUR ENCLOSED PLEDGE CARD TODAY! 

*All donations big or small are appreciated. Your participation is so important.

*Please encourage classmates/friends to give individually, as a group, or corporately if possible.

*Any questions, ideas, or if you want to do more to help, please contact Lana Jacobson by phone at (616) 844-2291 or by e-mail at lana_jacobson@hotmail.com or you may contact any board member on our website.

HERE IT IS...OUR POSTING OF THE 1ST DONORS AND DONATIONS TO THE GRAND HAVEN ALUMNI GIVING PROGRAM FROM THE CLASS OF 1977!!!

These are pledges that we have received by way of returned pledge cards.  They do not include those verbal pledges that are "In the Works".

WE HAVE RECEIVED A CHALLENGE MATCHING PLEDGE OF $5,000.00 FROM A CLASSMATE THAT WISHES TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS !!! THIS DONOR WILL MATCH ALL PLEDGES, DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR, UP TO $5,000.00!!!   PLEASE...ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE!

January 6, 2008: THE CAMPAIGN IS ONGOING...HERE'S PROOF:ASHER TOURISON SENT US A DONATION FOR $1500.00 TO ADD TO HIS PREVIOUS $2,000.00 DONATION!!!  THANK YOU, ASHER! HABITUAL GIVING IS A WONDERFUL THING!

I am extremely pleased to announce that the anonymous matching pledge of $5,000.00 can be applied,in full, to the Class of '77 gift to the Grand Haven Schools Foundation!!!

A check came in from Guy & Alishia Terrill today...which pushed us where we needed to be to collect the full $5,000

Thank you to those classmates who have donated thus far and are making it possible for at-risk children to succeed alongside their peers...They may never know that you were a part of their early success but you can feel great knowing that you played a vital part in the bright beginnings of some little lives here in Buctown!   Thank you so much!

A big thank you to the members of the reunion committee for their hard work on a very successful and fun-filled evening on July 14th . Many thanks for your support of running the campaign at reunion time ...Can't say enough about Anita DePersia's willingness to go that extra mile plus!

THE CLASS  OF '77 GIFT CAMPAIGN CONTINUES!  LET'S GIVE THOSE FUTURE CLASSES A REALLY BIG  EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW!

Commentary

• Our 1st ever pledge of support came from Pam (Hall) Miller.  Pam lives in Mona Shores and has a 16 year old daughter, Kristine who was an All-Conference Honorable Mention Varsity Golfer this year...Pam wanted to contribute even though she's a Mona Mom now...Thanks Pam!

• We heard from Jill Hennesen...all the way from Maple Grove, MN. Thank you, Jill!

• We also received a pledge from Sue Lamb-Tonnemacher who lives in North Carolina. Thank you so much, Sue!

• We received a donation from Mr. Bill Palmer. Bill lives in Loveland, Ohio with his lovely wife, Kelly and two beautiful children.  Thank you Bill!

• Peggy Borchers, who has helped us out tremendously with her input regarding this campaign, has mailed us a donation. Peggy can often be seen around town, with her fitness clients in tow.  Fit as a fiddle, she's rarely stationary. Thanks Peggy!

• Mr. Asher Tourison sent us a check for $2000.00.  Asher is the President and owner of ACME Pallet, Inc. in Holland.  My husband, Nelson (your classmate) and I were fortunate enough to go out for lunch and tour Asher's plant last Friday. The company makes customized pallets and is one of the leading pallet makers in Michigan. Asher lives in Zeeland with his wife and three children. Thank you so much Asher!

• Margaret and Bruce Bishop, "Soldiers of Fortune", have sent in their support from Vestal, New York.  Had to look it up, but Vestal is in the southern tier of New York...quite a ways to travel for the reunion...but if looks as if Bruce will be coming in.   Thank you both for your gift!

• We received a pledge from Kathy (Jerovsek) Olds and her husband, Matt for $1200.00.   Kathy and Matt live in Grand Haven and have three children.  Taylor is 24 and works in Chicago, Danielle, 21 is a GVSU student who lives and works in Grand Rapids, and Louis will be a Senior this year...Incidentally, Louis caught the final touchdown at the old GHHS football field and his parents are hoping that he catches the first one at the new GHHS field scheduled to open in the Fall!

Kathy is an accountant and finance consultant for Ruddiman Associates and K & M Sales Agency, Inc.  Matt is a manufacturers rep. for K&M .

Many thanks to Kathy and Matt for not only their gift donation, but for Kathy's donation of time and effort to this GHSF endeavor! Thank you so much!

• I came back from the mailbox today with a check from Bob Surman.  Bob lives in Grand Rapids with his wife, Kim and three children. Karly is 14, Cole is 12, and Julia is 9. They all attend school in East Grand Rapids.  Bob is the Director of Marketing at Nucraft Furniture Company located in Comstock Park and Kim works part-time at Preusser Jewelers in G.R.  A big thank you to Bob for his donation and for his eagerness to help with the Alumni Giving Program!

• Guy, and his wife, Alishia own and operate TERRILL FINANCIAL SERVICES here in Grand Haven on Beacon Boulevard...You can't miss the green and white building with the MSU flags!!!

  They live in Grand Haven with their 5 cats: Mimi, Boots, Shadow, Pepper, and KC.

  Alishia is a rollerblade enthusiast and when Guy is not attending MSU games in his spare time, you can find him on the golf course.

  Thank you Guy and Alishia!

• Bob and Debbie (Presley) Wagenmaker sent us a check for $500.00.  They own R. Wagenmaker Contractor.  Bob specializes in development, new construction, and remodeling of both commercial and residential buildings.  They have three children and one grandson. My guess is that the grandson is adorable and has very blonde hair! Thank you so much Bob and Debbie!

• Doug and Kelly Suchecki have put us over the $15,000.00 mark by pledging $5,000.00!!! Doug was just winding down from the Ed Suchecki Memorial Buc Open (Proceeds go to GHAPS Athletic Programs)  when he went right into his own collecting of sponsorship money for the Chicago Marathon to benefit the Leukemia  & Lymphoma Association (He and son, Adam will run in honor of his late father) and then he paused... just long enough to fill out our pledge card!

  Doug is the Vice President of Manufacturing at Grand Haven Gasket Company, the company that his father, Ed Suchecki started in 1969. His wife, Kelly works in business development at Nichols Paper & Supply Company.  The two will become empty-nesters this fall when daughter, Molly joins her brother, Adam at Central Michigan University. Thank you so much Doug & Kelly for supporting the GHSF by participating in the Class of '77 Gift Program!

 

REMEMBER...YOUR PLEDGES CAN BE PAID OVER A 5 YEAR PERIOD.  THE GRAND HAVEN SCHOOLS FOUNDATION WILL SEND YOU A REMINDER EVERY YEAR. JUST ENCLOSE YOUR 1ST PAYMENT WITH THE PLEDGE CARD IN THE STAMPED RETURN ENVELOPE PROVIDED...IF YOU MISPLACED YOUR CARD AND ENVELOPE, JUST GIVE ME A CALL...I'LL BE HAPPY TO SEND YOU A NEW ONE! (Send us a note, along with your pledge card, telling us what you're up to and we'll post that too!)

MANY THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CLASSMATES OF 1977 FOR YOUR TIME AND INPUT WITH REGARDS TO THIS FIRST-EVER GRAND HAVEN ALUMNI CAMPAIGN:  Kathy (Jerosvek) Olds, Peggy (Borchers) Burns, Tom Billups, Bob Surman, and Doug Suchecki.

If you have any questions, need a pledge card, or would like to learn more about the Alumni Fund Program and the Grand Haven Schools Foundation, please feel free to call me anytime at (616) 844-2291. 

PLEASE RETURN THOSE SIGNED PLEDGE CARDS WITH YOUR CLASS GIFT SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THE YOUNGEST LITTLE BUCS WHEN THEIR WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IS THE GREATEST!  THE MORE DONATIONS THAT WE COLLECT, THE MORE STUDENTS THAT WE CAN REACH EARLIER!

With Kids in Mind,

Lana Jacobson
Grand Haven Alumni Fund Chairperson
Grand Haven Schools Foundation

Contact Information
Grand Haven Schools Foundation
1415 Beechtree St.
Grand Haven, MI 49417
Phone: 616.850.5066
Fax: 616.850.2010

Webmaster:  John Siemion