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100+ Women Who Care Itasca Area will hold its next collective giving event on Monday, October 12, 2026, at Timberlake Lodge in Grand Rapids. The evening will bring women together for one hour of connection, generosity, and community impact, with the goal of providing significant support to a local nonprofit organization. Members Cooperative Credit Union is the Premier Sponsor of the October event. Social hour, registration, and nonprofit nominations begin at 5:00 p.m., with the event running promptly from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Complimentary appetizers will be provided, and a cash bar will be available. The 100+ Women Who Care

National Estate Planning Awareness Week is October 19 through 25, making this a good time to think about something many of us tend to put off: planning for the future. Creating a will is an important first step, but a thoughtful estate plan usually involves much more than a single document. It is an opportunity to consider the people you care about, the assets you have worked hard to build, and the organizations and causes that have made a difference in your life and community. For those who want to learn more, we are hosting a free Estate Planning: What

After an extraordinary community campaign that raised more than $1.3 million to make a new home for Great Tails Animal Rescue a reality, the organization is entering an exciting new chapter. A recent gift to the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation has helped establish the Great Tails Animal Rescue Endowment Fund, creating a permanent source of support for the rescue's future. With the building project complete, attention can now turn to long-term sustainability and the resources needed to continue caring for animals in our community. Last year, a generous anonymous donor made a $200,000 gift to establish the Great Tails

We have officially launched our inaugural Youth in Philanthropy Program this week with a leadership retreat held at Charmed Custom Candles in Old Central School in Grand Rapids. Seven students from Grand Rapids High School and Hill City High School were selected to serve on the Foundation's first-ever Youth Advisory Board for the 2026-2027 school year. They are (pictured left to right) Artemis Mercado, Chloe Marinaro, Elias Curtiss, Claire Reilly, Patrick Pogorelc, Lucy Kabotoff, and Callan Rutherford. The retreat provided an opportunity for the students to connect with one another, learn about philanthropy, and begin preparing for a year of

100+ Women Who Care Itasca Area will hold its next giving event on Monday, October 12, 2026, bringing local women together for an hour of community impact and collective philanthropy. Participants contribute $100 or more and vote to determine which local nonprofit organization will receive the evening's donation. The organization's simple model has proven powerful: women gather, hear presentations from nominated nonprofits, and select one recipient to receive the combined donations from attendees. More than $10,000 has been raised at every giving event, demonstrating the impact of collective giving in the Itasca Area. "A lot of people wonder how one