Building Buildings… and More

Throughout its history, ICCF Community Homes has renovated and built buildings – homes for people to live in, coupled with services that help people thrive. That’s why ICCF has been a natural fit for Ken and Donna Westveer’s involvement and financial giving.

Before he retired, Ken‘s career was all about building buildings, first as a carpenter, but mostly as a job supervisor and then construction superintendent for Visser Brothers Construction. In retirement, beginning in the early 2000s, Ken offered his construction skills as a volunteer for a number of ministries, including ICCF, where initially he served on a Beckwith Hills Christian Reformed Church volunteer project and then as a “regular” volunteer on a wide variety of ICCF building and renovation jobs.

Donna’s career as a nurse and mental health care administrator led her to share Ken’s commitment to support ICCF’s mission for people and families in need of safe and affordable homes.

Life-long Grand Rapids residents, Ken and Donna both graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High in the 1950s. They were excited to see their alma-mater’s transformation into a center encompassing affordable apartment homes, early childhood development, worship and ministry space, as well as office space for ICCF Community Homes.

Together, Ken and Donna feel grateful that they’ve been blessed by God with health and adequate material things, never having to go to bed wondering whether they could pay for housing, food, or clothing. They’re also grateful to be able to extend those blessings through their long-term support for ICCF’s mission and ministry in our community.

To learn more about including a gift to ICCF in your will or trust, visit iccf.org/planned-gifts or contact Hank Kroondyk, ICCF Planned Giving Specialist at hkroondyk@iccf.org

Housing Pipeline: The Southgate

This January, we were delighted to celebrate the ribbon cutting of The Southgate, our newest affordable housing development. The $19 million project provides 56 units of much-needed senior housing in Grand Rapids. The four-story residential development includes:

• 56 total residential units for neighbors over 62 years old, with 50 reserved as affordable units for low-income households

• One- and two-bedroom units

• Ground floor includes community, fitness, and laundry spaces, as well as a library in the lobby and bike storage

• Onsite property management and maintenance

• Outdoor space includes the Albert Paley sculpture “Jester” as well as a bocce ball court

Now installed outside The Southgate, the sculpture “Jester” was part of the six-month Paley exhibition in 2013 on Park Avenue in New York City. Located at the intersection of 57th Street and Park Avenue, “Jester” was one of the 13 monumental works created by Paley for the exhibition. Following its display in New York, the sculpture was gifted to ICCF by Fieldstead and Company.

“After extensive planning and development, we are excited to welcome residents to The Southgate,” said our CEO Ryan VerWys. “This new space provides beautiful homes and amenities to our senior neighbors and is conveniently located right near the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.”

2022 Gifts in Honor

Jonathan Bradford

Bill & Annette Byl

Thomas Dykstra

Tim & Brandi Engen

Leisa Joseph & Alex Schekker

George & Lucie Marsden

Kelsey Kruis McFarland

Dakota Riehl

Steve & Amy Ruis

Jayasree Thammineni

Bob & Peg Van Andel

Deane Van Dyke

Blanche VanderBent

Jacob Wiltse

Matt & Eve Wixtrom

2022 Gifts in Memory

Andrew Bandstra

Bill Dracht

Bob Gustavson

Tom & Elaine Harper

Rich & Annie Meyer

Mitzie Murphy

Patrick Riley

Virginia Scholl

2022 Staff Milestones

5 Years

Berniz Constanza Terpstra

Michelle Covington

Kelsey McFarland

Dakota Riehl

Derrick Smith

10 YEARS

Paul Miyamoto