Michigan Gateway Community Foundation

05/29/2026

📚Fund Spotlight: The Lyons Family Reading Program 📚

The Lyons Family Reading Program Fund at MGCF is helping students at Dowagiac Middle School head into summer ready to read!

For the fourth year, the program has provided student-selected books designed to encourage imagination, confidence, and a lifelong love of reading.

“The students have been so excited,” said media specialist Amanda Means. “The best part is that they are the ones that wanted these titles.”

“We wanted to make sure kids continue loving to read in middle school, high school, and beyond,” said Shannon Lyons. “Giving students books they actually want to read makes all the difference.”

Through a partnership between the Lyons family, MGCF, and Dowagiac Union Schools, students are building imagination, confidence, and a lifelong love of reading — one book at a time.

“The Lyons Family Reading Program is a wonderful example of what happens when passionate donors, educators, and community partners come together around a shared goal,” said MGCF President & CEO Michael Rowland.

Want to help support programs like this in our community? Consider making a donation to a fund at Michigan Gateway Community Foundation and help create more opportunities for local students and families. Visit https://www.mgcf.org/ for more info.

05/26/2026

We would like to congratulate Matt Ragas, Buchanan Area Fund & Buchanan Promise board member, for being recognized with the Bruce K. Berger Educator Award. Thank you for serving the community in so many ways.

We’re proud to announce our 2026 Milestones in Mentoring Honorees!

Each of this year’s honorees is recognized for exceptional impact on mentoring within the communications profession, demonstrating excellence in leadership, innovation and a strong commitment to developing the next generation.

Join us in congratulating:

🏆 Agency Award: Chris Foster, CEO, Omnicom

🏆 Legacy Award: Dr. Don W. Stacks, Professor Emeritus of Strategic Communication, UM School of Communication

🏆 John "Jack" Koten Corporate Award: Joe Cohen, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, AXIS

🏆 Bruce K. Berger Educator Award: Dr. Matthew W. Ragas, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, DePaul University, College of Communication

🏆 Emerging Leader Award: Sonny Franks Miller, Sr. Manager, Global Corporate Communications, Clarios

We look forward to recognizing these outstanding mentors at the 16th annual Milestones in Mentoring Gala on Nov. 5! For more information, visit plankcenter.ua.edu.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice has helped shape the communities we call home and the freedoms we cherish every day.

As we gather with family and friends this weekend, let's all take a moment to reflect with gratitude and remembrance.

Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day.

05/10/2026

💐 Happy Mother’s Day from Michigan Gateway Community Foundation! 💐

Today we celebrate all of the mothers who help make our communities stronger every day through their love, support, and encouragement.

Wishing you a day filled with love and special moments with the people who matter most.

04/30/2026

We are excited for our YAC students to continue to learn and grow with our incredible YAC advisory team of Jen & Jen!

We’re excited to share that Jen Bomar, Scholarship Coordinator at Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, has stepped into the role of Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) Co-Advisor!

In this role, Jen will be working alongside our incredible young leaders—mentoring, guiding, and supporting them as they lead community projects, make grant decisions, and share their voices on issues that matter. From helping organize meetings to fostering a space where youth can take the lead, she’ll play a key part in keeping the YAC running strong.

Jen is pictured below with a group of our YAC students on a recent tour of the The Salvation Army - Niles, MI.

Please join us in welcoming Jen to this important role and celebrating her commitment to empowering the next generation of changemakers!

04/29/2026

Please join us in congratulating Jennifer Popielski in 7 years of incredible service to our community through her work at Michigan Gateway Community Foundation. Jennifer was recently promoted to Program Director and is an indispensable part of our work. Thank you for your dedication to our mission.

04/14/2026

Join us and Buchanan Community Schools in celebrating this wonderful restoration of the Buchanan High School Baseball Field, now known as the Ryan A Tucker Field. Michigan Gateway Community Foundation worked with the donors and the school to facilitate this wonderful project and we are thrilled to share the final result.

🌧️ Postponement Notice: Ribbon Cutting
We were so excited to celebrate with you, but Mother Nature has other plans! ⛈️

Due to the incoming weather, we are postponing our Ribbon Cutting ceremony originally scheduled for April 18. Your safety and the quality of the event are our top priorities, and we want to make sure we kick things off under better skies!

Stay tuned—we will announce our new date very soon. Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with you all (without the umbrellas)! ✂️🎀

⚾️ Save the Date: A Home Run for Our Community! ⚾️

We are thrilled to invite you to the official Ribbon Cutting and Dedication for the brand-new Ryan A. Tucker Baseball Field!

Join us as we celebrate the hard work, memories, and community spirit that made this field possible. Whether you’re a player, a fan, or a neighbor, we’d love to see you in the stands for this special morning.

📅 When: Saturday, April 18
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM
📍 Where: Ryan A. Tucker Baseball Field, BHS High School

Let’s play ball! 🥤🧢🦌

04/06/2026

GRANT SPOTLIGHT: Michiana Chamber Orchestra

MGCF is proud to support the Michiana Chamber Orchestra as a recipient in the latest round of grant funding.

“When we received the letter saying we were awarded the grant, we were all so excited,” said Orchestra Director Valarie Rumpf. “Knowing that we will be able to continue to offer music to the community and to promote the orchestra more is wonderful.”

The grant will also allow the organization to enhance the quality and variety of its performances while continuing its commitment to free community concerts.

“This grant will allow us to be more selective with our musical scores and still offer free concerts,” Rumpf added. “Rather than scraping by and repeating many songs, we will be able to focus on delighting our audience while also choosing what is challenging and enjoyable for our musicians.”

The Michiana Chamber Orchestra brings together musicians of all experience levels to share the joy of live music across the region.

Learn more about upcoming performances and opportunities to get involved at https://michianaco.org/

04/05/2026

🌷🐰 Happy Easter from Michigan Gateway Community Foundation! 🐰🌷

Wishing you a joyful Easter filled with hope, connection, and a basket full of happiness!

04/02/2026