Lynch to Retire from GRACF
The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation (GRACF) Board of Directors has accepted the retirement notification of our Executive Director - Susan Lynch. The Board is excited for Susan and her family as she enters a new phase of life with a well-deserved retirement, yet knows that her leadership and contributions with the stakeholders of GRACF will be missed. Susan has been a solid contributor in her tenure at GRACF by making improvements in organizational efficiencies, building and maintaining donor relationships, facilitating strong financial governance, and advocating the great work GRACF promotes in our communities. The GRACF Directors wish Susan all
Keewatin Police Bike Safety Program Receives $2500 Grant From Nashwauk Area Community Fund
Each spring Keewatin Police Chief, Chris Whitney, does a bike safety presentation at Keewatin Elementary School for the pre-school through 6th grade students. In 2020, Keewatin PD was not able to have the usual bike safety program due to the COVID pandemic; in 2021, it was a virtual presentation. This year they were able to be back in the school for the program. During the presentation, the students learn how to obey traffic laws and other safe biking tips. After the presentation, Chief Whitney has a drawing for one boy and one girl from each grade to win a bike
Annual Grant Cycle Open July 15 – August 15
The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation’s Annual Grant Cycle will open July 15, 2022, and close on August 15, 2022. Each year, the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation provides grants to nonprofit groups and organizations that serve the people of the Greater Itasca Area. The Greater Itasca Area includes Itasca County plus Hill City, Remer, Blackduck and Northome. The Community Foundation has approximately $100,000 available for granting this year. Please submit your application online on the Grants page of our website at www.gracf.org. The application is user-friendly and simple to complete. The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation has
Greater Itasca Area Community Fund Helps Sponsor Televised Summer Concert Series
Every Tuesday during the summer there are free concerts offered at Grand Rapids and Cohasset churches. Each performance has different performers and highlights local musical talent. The concert starts at noon, is 45 minutes long, and attendees can choose to stay for lunch afterwards. Because of COVID, there were no summer concerts in 2020 or 2021, so the community is glad to see the concert series has returned every Tuesday. There are many in the community, however, who still can’t get out to see these concerts in person and would love to be able to view them on television in
Fund Re-Named in Kathy Dodge’s Honor
On Friday, June 3, 2022, as part of the First Friday Art Walk, there was a celebration at the MacRostie Art Center to commemorate the late Kathy Dodge. Kathy was a founder of First Fridays in Grand Rapids and a generous contributor to the local arts scene. She was also highly involved in the community and served as a board officer at the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation (GRACF). At the June 3rd celebration, the Community Foundation announced that they would be changing the name of their Fund for the Arts to the Katherine T. Dodge Fund for the Arts
