PARTNERS in Gratitude

For the past 25 years, Grand Rapids Community Foundation has been embracing the importance of adaptive strategic leadership. We have worked to hone our skills toward making bold, yet measured, moves, while intentionally focusing on systems thinking. Over the last year, especially, the ability to adapt has been the most critical behavior we could demonstrate to show up in our community’s time of need.

This work is not done in a bubble. Despite the struggles we all face, I am eternally grateful for the commitment and generosity demonstrated by our staff, trustees and volunteer, donor and community partners during this time.

Together with our partners, we have moved ahead with tremendous empathy. We have used the Community Foundation’s financial and human resources to partner with others to make necessary things happen quickly. Leaning further into the work we have been doing for years, we stepped up our intentional focus on the racial disparities entrenched in our community. The generosity of our donor partners has helped us raise financial resources swiftly and manage them strategically. The passion and experiences of our nonprofit and community partners have helped us share narratives anchored in our hope for a more equitable future for everyone in our community.

My gratitude for the Community Foundation staff runs especially deep. I continue to be in awe of their resilience, nimbleness and unyielding commitment to serve our community despite all that 2020 has thrown at us. So much has happened since we packed up to prepare to work remotely back in March. We’ve welcomed new team members, celebrated babies, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and awards—all virtually. Unfortunately, many staff members have also mourned the loss of loved ones and felt the deep and intimate pain of racial injustice that has only been heightened during this pandemic. Amid it all, they keep showing up for our community. There are not enough words to express my appreciation for them.

To our staff, trustees, and volunteer, donor and community partners, thank you. Because of each of you, I am reminded that out of the gloom has risen collective passion.