Update | Fall 2016

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update / kalamazoo community foundation / fall 2016

Inspiration & Momentum a scholarship journey comes full circle

helping the community gain “momentum�

2016 scholarship update

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mary tyler honored with state philanthropy award [back page]

Ever since the first gift to your Community Foundation — $1,000 from Dr. W.E. Upjohn in 1925 — we have been stewards of that donation and the thousands of others that have followed. The endowment, which has grown to more than $426 million, has provided grants to the community totaling more than $420 million. We don’t take this stewardship responsibility lightly.

We are committed to maximizing grantmaking and community leadership investments while preserving the purchasing power of each gift. Our investment strategy is one of disciplined asset allocation, regular rebalancing, minimizing fees and expenses, and not reacting to near-term market pressures or new investment fads.

I believe three data points tell this story the best:

Susan Springgate Vice President, Finance and Administration

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The Community Foundation’s 10-year annualized investment return, 6.3 percent, places us in the top decile among community foundations nationwide.

After 20 years of investing for the highest total return, our funds are retaining purchasing power (i.e. growing with the cost of living).

Active management of our funds has resulted in a higher rate of return (0.6 percent annualized) than passive management.

At the end of the day, it is all about making the biggest impact for our community.

To keep you abreast of the results, we provide detailed investment performance updates in our annual report, in this quarterly newsletter and on our website.

We think Dr. Upjohn would be pleased with the current status of his $1,000 investment in Kalamazoo County, and we work every day to earn and keep your trust through our commitment to quality and continuous improvement. On behalf of the Community Foundation’s Finance and Administration team, it is an honor to carry out this charge.

Give

Receive

Connect

Give online www.kalfound.org/give

What we fund We fund 501(c)(3) nonprofits for projects that fit within our community investment priorities and will benefit residents of Kalamazoo County. We also provide Kalamazoo area students with scholarships for education beyond high school.

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269.381.4416

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www.kalfound.org

Mail a check Kalamazoo Community Foundation 402 East Michigan Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3888 Arrange a planned gift There are many ways for you to plan now for a gift later. To learn more, get in touch with our Donor Relations team at 269.381.4416 or donorrelations@kalfound.org.

What we don’t fund We don’t fund for-profit business development projects, private land purchases or private home purchases.

Learn more at www.kalfound.org.

2 KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

FALL 2016

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Laurel Clark Remynse Scholarship Recipient

A scholarship journey comes full circle Laurel Clark, a past recipient of the

“It helped me make the most of my

career growth. She decided to study

Community Foundation’s Clarence

college experience,” she says. “It also

organizational and cross-cultural

L. Remynse Scholarship, grew up in

inspired me to persevere in my efforts

management at the Kelley School

Schoolcraft, went away for college

in chemistry, an area not populated

of Business at Indiana University

and a few early jobs, and returned

by a lot of women.”

while continuing her work at Perrigo.

to the Kalamazoo area, just as the scholarship’s founder dreamed she would.

And so science won out and the Kenyon grad came home for a quality control analyst position at Perrigo.

A supervisor’s position in quality control was the reward for her MBA work. Two years later she sought her current post as a project manager in

To Remynse — a self-made

With almost a year of experience,

entrepreneur — a belief in oneself,

Laurel decided on graduate studies

hard work, perseverance and

at University of North Carolina. Her

Laurel’s scholarship journey comes

determination were invaluable assets

time at Perrigo, however, had given

full circle as a new member of the

and necessary for success.

her a chance to see all the directions

Remynse Scholarship committee.

chemistry could take her, and

“As a student, the Remynse

Laurel found she was drawn more

Scholarship inspired me to

to the business of science than the

pursue chemistry,” she says.

academic arena.

“Today I’m inspired by the

As a student at Schoolcraft High School, Laurel thought she might someday enjoy a career as an English professor or physician.

Regulatory Affairs.

students seeking scholarships.

She worked hard and graduated as

Returning to the workforce, Laurel

co-valedictorian. To keep her options

worked as an assistant chemist for

“Reviewing these applications and

open, she started Kenyon College in

BASF in Research Triangle Park, N.C.,

learning these students’ dreams

Ohio as a double-major in English

and a quality assurance scientist

makes me reflect on my own career,”

and chemistry. She soon realized

for Revlon in Oxford, N.C., and

she says. “These students can get a

chemistry energized her more.

then returned to Michigan as a

great education, wherever they go,

Meanwhile, her Remynse scholarship

quality control analyst for Perrigo.

and then come back and be part

was renewed each year of her

Those experiences convinced her

of our community.” Just as Clarence

undergraduate studies.

she needed a master’s degree for

Remynse intended.

FALL 2016

KALFOUND.ORG

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The Urban Alliance Momentum Neighborhood Employment Solutions Class of June 2016 with program director Brian Parsons (far right).

Helping the community gain “Momentum” Earlier this summer, thousands of

to a community problem. Aside from

Kalamazoo-area students graduated.

being a story about individuals, each

But for a small group, the occasion

facing overwhelming struggles, this is

was particularly momentous. These

a story about quantifiable results from

16 individuals had reached a milestone

a community that cares.

in their lives: receiving their “diplomas” from Urban Alliance’s Momentum Neighborhood Employment

A week after the graduation, Urban

Solutions program.

Alliance’s executive director, Luke Kujacznski, reflected on its meaning

The graduates knew this was more

from his office at Urban Alliance,

than an end to unemployment.

It was a new start to a life overcoming multiple barriers to employment,

Avenue United Methodist Church in

“The idea that everyone is valuable

perhaps a prison record.

While it was an important moment for these individuals, it also presented an opportunity for residents of Kalamazoo County to take note: this was a solution

KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

nestled in the basement of Stockbridge Kalamazoo’s Edison neighborhood.

including homelessness, drug use or

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Everyone is valuable

is fundamental to our work,” he said.

“Poverty has many forms: physical, spiritual, emotional. Relationships are the key to alleviating emotional poverty.”

FALL 2016

“We embrace, engage and empower individuals to better themselves, transforming one relationship at a time.”

Luke Kujacznski Urban Alliance

Urban Alliance serves the most

sacrificing their own time to help

marginalized members of the

them succeed,” he said.

community by offering employment, housing and outreach programs.

Refuting stereotypes

“We embrace, engage and

Parsons explained how the students

empower individuals to better

have been stigmatized by society,

themselves,” said Kujacznski.

making employment a challenge,

“We’re transforming our community

“But we have a network of 48

one relationship at a time.”

employers who are coming to us

Momentum, just one of many

looking to hire our graduates.”

Urban Alliance programs, receives

Kujacznski said, “Society tells a story

support from a number of funders,

about these individuals that simply

including the Kalamazoo Community

is not true — that with a challenged

Foundation. The program is

past, they won’t make good

now three years old.

employees. Every time we place one

The six-week program teaches a variety of employment skills through 100 hours of classroom instruction and another 100 hours of work

of our graduates, we refute these stereotypes. And we have solid proof that Momentum is working; we have

He also shared that while there are

months of mentoring. There are

state programs that pay employers

six cohorts a year. To help the

to hire ex-felons, Momentum

students succeed, Urban Alliance

employers are not paid. “Real change

works with other nonprofits to

happens for these individuals. The

provide support systems such as

employers recognize that.”

Both Kujacznski and Parsons

According to Brian Parsons,

tell compelling stories of lives

Momentum’s program director, a

transformed, and how employed

unique feature of the program is

graduates often come back and

that 60 percent of the instructors

inspire current students by “honoring

are volunteers, including corporate

them and their struggles.”

human resource directors and executives. “Something powerful happens when our students realize leaders from their community are

83%

of Momentum participants graduate

the numbers and the success stories.”

experience, followed by six

transportation and childcare.

impact

Urban Alliance works hard for the success of Momentum.

“These individuals are worth our

91%

of Momentum graduates are placed in jobs

90%

of Momentum graduates are in those jobs after 90 days

$11.94

average starting wage of Momentum graduates

best effort,” said Kujacznski.

FALL 2016

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2016 Scholarship Update The Kalamazoo Community Foundation awarded more

Remynse scholarships go up to $7,500, depending

than $1 million in scholarships to 334 area students over

on financial need, and are renewable. The Remynse

the summer. The scholarships come from 53 funds at the

is for high school seniors who plan to attend school

Community Foundation, covering a variety of eligibility

full time and pursue a degree in business, education,

criteria with awards ranging from $250 to $15,000.

engineering, math, psychology, science, pre-law

The Community Foundation has awarded more than

or pre-med studies.

$27 million in scholarships to local students over the

Apply Now

years. “We’re so appreciative of the donors who make this possible and the volunteers who participate on our scholarship committees,” says Nancy Timmons,

The online application for the Clarence L. Remynse Scholarship is available now at www.kalfound.org.

scholarship manager. “Education is one of our priorities as an organization and our scholarship program is an important part of that work.”

Paper applications are available for those without computer access. Students also may fill out the online form using a computer at the Community Foundation. Call 269.381.4416 or email scholarships@kalfound.org for more information.

According to Timmons, the next application due date — for the Clarence L. Remynse Scholarship — is December 1.

Kalamazoo Community Foundation Investment Performance SECOND QUARTER 2016 Qtr 2

YTD

3 Yrs

5 Yrs

7 Yrs

10 Yrs

Actual

1.6%

3.9%

7.0%

7.3%

11.2%

6.3%

Benchmark

2.2%

4.9%

7.0%

6.9%

10.5%

5.7%

Actual

1.8%

4.2%

7.9%

8.4%

10.3%

7.5%

Benchmark

2.3%

4.7%

8.0%

8.1%

9.9%

6.6%

Core Assets Moderate Growth Performance

Income and Growth Performance

Investment performance is net of manager fees and derived from core Kalamazoo Community Foundation assets allocated into its two investment strategies. Historic performance for each is then derived from linkages to prior quarterly returns. Performance reflects prior changes in asset allocations while benchmarks assume current allocations.

The Moderate Growth Benchmark is a staged index composite benchmark that has the current composition of the Barclays US Aggregate Bond index (15 percent); Citibank WGBI Non-USD (10 percent); DJ US Select REIT index (2.5 percent); MSCI EAFE Small Cap index (10 percent); MSCI Emerging Markets Value index (10 percent); Russell 1000 Value index (5 percent); Russell 2000 Value index (10 percent); Russell Micro Cap index (5 percent); S&P 500 index (30 percent); and the NCREIF Fund Index ODCE (2.5 percent).

The Income and Growth Benchmark consists of the S&P 500 index (50 percent) and the Barclays US Aggregate Bond index (50 percent).

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Blanche Patterson died in 1995 TODAY SHE’S MAKING SURE KALAMAZOO KIDS HAVE NEW SHOES FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Blanche Patterson was an entrepreneur who loved Kalamazoo. Her family opened the first McDonald’s franchise in Southwest Michigan and she was one of the company’s first female franchisees. Despite her professional success, she was humble and did most of her giving quietly.

Grants from the legacy created in her memory support many local nonprofits, including the First Day Shoe Fund, which provides new shoes to school-age kids whose families can’t afford them, and KC Ready 4s, which works to make sure all Kalamazoo County four-year-olds have access to high-quality pre-kindergarten experiences.

We can help you show your love for Kalamazoo and leave a legacy too. Call a member of our Donor Relations team or visit www.kalfound.org to learn how.

Our Team Coby Chalmers 269.585.7249 cchalmers@kalfound.org Joanna Donnelly Dales 269.585.7260 jdales@kalfound.org Ann Fergemann 269.585.7238 afergemann@kalfound.org Jeanne Grubb 269.585.7248 jgrubb@kalfound.org

FALL 2016

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Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage paid Kalamazoo, MI Permit Number 66

402 East Michigan Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3888 269.381.4416 www.kalfound.org

Photography Cover and page three: Terry Johnston Page two: Robert Neumann Pages four and five: Jacqueline Luttrell Page seven: Courtesy of the Family of Blanche Patterson Page eight: Courtesy of Mary Little Tyler

Mary Tyler honored with philanthropy award Longtime Kalamazoo philanthropist and friend of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation Mary Little Tyler is a recipient of the 2016 Community Philanthropy Award from the Council of Michigan Foundations and Michigan Nonprofit Association.

Created in 2005, the award recognizes individuals or families for their leadership, impact, creativity and collaboration in strengthening community philanthropy through community foundations.

Governor Rick Snyder presented the award to Tyler at the Governor’s Service Awards in Saginaw in August, hosted by the Michigan Community Service Commission.

“I love Kalamazoo,” says Tyler. “I think it’s one of the greatest places there is, and I want it to stay that way. If there’s any way I can help do that, that’s my motivation.”

According to President/CEO Carrie Pickett-Erway, “Mary has shared her time, talent and treasure with our community for more than 60 years. It would be difficult to find anyone in our community who has not benefited from Mary’s work.”

Robert Collier, president and CEO, Council of Michigan Foundations says, “Mary is a true community builder.

We are pleased to recognize her many contributions to building strong nonprofits in Kalamazoo and to growing community philanthropy through the Kalamazoo Community Foundation.”

This isn’t the first honor for Tyler. She received Kalamazoo Rotary’s Red Rose Award in 2014, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Most Valuable Person Award in 2013 and YWCA Kalamazoo’s Lifetime Woman of Achievement Award in 2004.