Kantzler Fund Sparked Local Redevelopment, Now Aided by Midland Foundations
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Margaret "Ranny" Riecker takes the microphone at the Bay Area Community Foundation as Robert S. Collier, left, awaits his turn to speak; Roger Merrifield, BACF president, is at right.
Philanthropy is bringing the tri counties of Bay, Midland and Saginaw closer together than ever before.
That was the message brought by Margaret "Ranny" Riecker from Midland to the Bay Area Community Foundation's "Faces of Philanthropy" banquet and awards ceremony last Wednesday at the gleaming new showplace, the DoubleTree Hotel - Bay City Riverfront.
Several hundred guests at the BACF banquet heard a star-spangled lineup of speakers also including Robert S. Collier, president and CEO of the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF), and honored the late Leopold Kantzler, whose estate plan by attorney Robert Sarow has provided millions in grants that have sparked a revitalization of Bay City and Bay County.
The 2004 Peggy Rowley Community Enrichment Award was presented posthumously to Mr. Kantzler, 1883-1974, whose fund provided the seed money for BACF in 1982. Mr. Kantzler's award was presented by BACF Board Chairman Robert Monroe, who also recounted the philanthropist's personal and business history as one of the earliest manufacturers of ready-cut homes.
Mrs. Riecker explained that the underlying motivation for Midland foundations to give to other communities like Bay City, Saginaw and Mt.Pleasant, is "to make our community, our world, a better place to live."
"We are participating now as a region and our future depends on being able to work together," said Mrs. Riecker, acknowledging that "economic development is part of philanthropy," and commenting: "we need to work together to make this a prosperous region."
She said having "a wonderful place to live" makes it more likely that businesses will locate here and expand the local economy.
She gave high praise to Bay City for riverfront development, calling it "absolutely spectacular," noting that the Dow Foundation gave its first grant to the RiverWalk in 1992 and 39 grants have since come from Midland to Bay County, mostly tied in with the riverfront and downtown projects.
"This development impacts the whole region; it is so exciting to come over here and see," she said enthusiastically, commenting: "It's fun to be a partner in this development." Mr. Collier said "it's exciting to help re-open the depot," referring to the BACF project to restore the old Pere Marquette Union Station on Boutell Place in downtown Bay City.
Mr. Collier recounted the amazing 31-year history of the CMF from a pilot program in 1980funded by the Mott and Kellogg foundations. The movement has grown to 65 community foundations and 34 funds with $1.5 billion in assets, including BACF with $24 million in assets.
The youth challenge program, now covering all 83 Michigan counties, is a national and international model, he said. He pointed to 85 endowed youth community funds that involve about 1,500 high school students who make about $2 million in grants each year. A longitudinal study of the effects of this youth leadership program shows that many of the young people are now in non-profit leadership roles or public office and "are more involved in philanthropy and caring than their peers."
The Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative that started in Duluth, Minnesota, is now one of 34 shoreline initiatives, he said.
Mr. Collier also called regionalism "one of the key economic factors in the state."
As the night came to a climax, Mr. Collier had the entire crowd chanting the mantra ofthe Michigan Council of Foundations, "For Good, Forever!"
CEOs of the community foundations in Michigan will meet in Bay City at the DoubleTree in February, Mr. Collier said.###
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