Youth Impact Partnership
Youth Impact Partnership
The Big Give
Service Club Alliance
Santa House
River Days
Public Arts Midland
Midland Area Youth Action Council
Midland Area Career & College Access Network
Max Loves Midland
Give Local Midland
Cultural Awareness Coalition
Construction Talent Attraction Program
Access to Community
Social Feed
Empowering Change
Strengthening Communities
Inspiring Generosity
Shaping Futures
Fostering Unity
Transforming Lives
What drives our work?
Midland’s Community Success Panel developed four major focus areas for our community. The panel believed these areas would help Midland achieve its vision statement of
“Midland: an inclusive community. Together. Forward. Bold. An exceptional place where everyone thrives.”
The Community Foundation, in turn, aligned with these focus areas. We believe that to work towards a more vibrant, thriving community, our efforts should focus on these broad areas.
Building our livelihood means focusing on economic development and infrastructure.
Developing our talent means focusing on education and the development and engagement of our youth.
Caring for our people means focusing on health, human services, poverty, housing, and public safety.
Enriching our community means focusing on arts, culture, entertainment, recreation, diversity, and theenvironment.
We believe that moving forward together with our donors and the community, we can help to transform our community as we focus on these areas. Together, we’re enriching and improving our quality of life.
Building our Livelihood
Midland County creates and sustains competitive advantages for existing and future businesses. We are well connected and invest in our physical and technological infrastructure.
Developing our Talent
Midland County offers high-quality education and learning opportunities throughout life. Our community nurtures a skilled workforce and places high value on post-secondary learning. We provide opportunities for children and youth to realize their hopes and dreams.
Enriching our Community
Midland County is a vibrant hub of arts, culture, entertainment, and recreational opportunities. We are committed to equality and inclusion, and we welcome, embrace, and accept all people. We are a sustainable community that values and. protects its natural resources.
Caring for our People
The Midland community provides a coordinated and comprehensive system of supportive health and human services so that all may thrive. We encourage self-sufficiency and accept all individual responsibilities to collaborate to create the safest community in the country.
Undergirding this work are our adopted values of:
- Respect: We actively value, honor, and affirm the human dignity of all people in our community.
- Integrity We seek alignment between what we believe and what we do—both as individuals and as a foundation.
- Compassion: We show our care and concern for our community through responsive, thoughtful, and strategic action.
- Equity: We strive to support practices, attitudes, and messages that create opportunities for marginalized residents within our community
Foundation
Jeremiah Lee
Colin “Kelly” & Kerry Buell
Margaret Clark
Neil & Annmarie Hawkins
Greg & Rebecca Yancer
Kevin Kendrick
Barbara Jacques
Jeff & Kay Wagner
Nicholas & Janet Darby
Wally Mayton
Craig McDonald: Wave Maker
Lin Dorman
News Stories
Community invited to celebrate Paul and Kim White and Greg and Elaine White at Ripple Effect
October 16, 2026
Midland Area Community Foundation Awards $221,534 in Third Quarter Grants
October 9, 2026
“From Legacy to Leadership: Ushering in a New Generation.” Voices of Black Midland 5th Anniversary Celebration
October 5, 2026
2026 Midland Area River Days Festival Brings Four Days of Fun to Downtown Midland
July 29, 2026
Public Arts Midland and Creative 360 Bring Free Performing Arts Event to Grove Park, on Saturday, August 29th!
July 29, 2026
Heroism lives in the daily willingness to serve. On Tuesday night, we joined the Midland Exchange Club in celebrating four individuals who exemplify that commitment at the Carl & Esther Gerstacker Law Enforcement/Firefighter of the Year Awards Banquet held at the Midland Country Club.
Congratulations to this year’s honorees:
Eddie Hinson, City of Midland Police Department Officer of the Year, recognized alongside his wife, Shawna.
Trent Millard, Midland County Sheriff’s Office Deputy of the Year, recognized alongside his wife, Andrea.
Nolan Witt, City of Midland Fire Department Firefighter of the Year, recognized alongside his wife, Alyssa.
Ryan Martin of the Jerome Township Fire Department, County of Midland Firefighter of the Year, recognized alongside his wife, Kayla.
Many years ago, Carl and Esther Gerstacker established a fund at the Midland Area Community Foundation to honor those who protect and serve our community. Their generosity continues to provide annual monetary gifts to the award recipients, carrying their appreciation forward through lasting philanthropy.
Foundation trustee Dick Peterson presented this year’s gifts on our behalf, continuing Esther’s tradition of handing each check to the honoree’s spouse in recognition of the support and sacrifices that service also asks of families.
Thank you to the Midland Exchange Club for hosting this celebration, and to our honorees and their families for the difference you make every day. We are honored to help carry the Gerstackers’ legacy forward while recognizing yours. ...
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Help us celebrate the people who keep showing up for Midland County. Join us for Ripple Effect as we honor Paul and Kim White and Greg and Elaine White, our 2026 Philanthropists of the Year!
Paul and Kim have made service a family tradition, from volunteering at Midland’s Open Door and teaching their sons about charitable giving to advocating for people with disabilities and mentoring others.
Greg and Elaine have carried forward a family tradition of generosity through Ace Hardware, supporting local nonprofits and flood recovery, delivering Meals on Wheels, and sharing their time with community spaces and traditions.
Their stories remind us that giving takes many forms, and every act of service can create ripples that reach far beyond what we see.
The Midland Area Community Foundation invites you to thank both couples and connect with neighbors who care about our community.
Wednesday, October 21
Midland Country Club
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Beverages and light appetizers begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by the program at 5 p.m.
This celebration is free and open to the community. Bring a friend, and reserve your place today!
RSVP: www.midlandfoundation.org/ripple-effect/
Or call 989-839-9661.
Read more about both couples’ community impact: bit.ly/4zyZ61z ...
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Learning together helps us do more for the community we love.
Earlier this week, members of the Midland Area Community Foundation’s staff and Board of Trustees joined philanthropic leaders from across Michigan in Grand Rapids for the Council of Michigan Foundations’ annual conference.
This year’s theme, “United for Good,” reflects why these connections matter. Through workshops, conversations, and shared learning, the conference offered new ideas and practical tools to strengthen philanthropy. For Your Foundation, that means exploring ways to support our nonprofit partners better, steward our donors' generosity, and respond to Midland County’s evolving needs.
We also have a special reason to celebrate! Our own President & CEO, Sharon Mortensen, was named to the Council of Michigan Foundations’ Board of Trustees during the Council’s annual meeting. Sharon’s thoughtful leadership and steadfast commitment to community will help guide philanthropy across Michigan while bringing Midland’s perspective to the table.
Congratulations, Sharon! We’re proud to see your leadership serving our community and our state. ...
7 CommentsComment on Facebook
“Service is not always convenient and it’s not always easy.”
Sharon Mortensen, our President and CEO, shared these words as the keynote speaker for the Midland Business Alliance’s Leadership Midland Class of 2026 Graduation.
For our team at the Midland Area Community Foundation, it was a proud moment to see the graduates experience something we witness every day: Sharon’s heartfelt and steadfast community leadership.
Sharon brings exceptional leadership acumen, compassion, and a clear sense of purpose to her work. She listens deeply, brings people together, and helps turn a shared vision into meaningful action. Her commitment to serving others reminds us that leadership requires showing up, especially when the work is challenging.
Congratulations, Leadership Midland Class of 2026! As you carry this experience into your workplaces, volunteer roles, and neighborhoods, we look forward to seeing how your talents and commitment help shape our community’s future. ...
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Nine grants. $221,534. More opportunities for Midland County to thrive.
The Midland Area Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees approved nine grants during the third quarter of 2026, supporting projects that will:
🏡 Preserve and expand affordable housing.
💚 Bring mental health care into trusted community spaces.
🚌 Connect residents to colleges, the airport, and regional transportation.
📚 Expand access to books and after-school learning.
🎉 Make community events more accessible.
🤝 Strengthen emergency preparedness, commemorate Sanford’s resilience, and help families celebrate Christmas.
Each grant connects the generosity of our donors with the dedication of organizations serving our community. Thank you to everyone who makes these investments possible!
Read about all nine grants: bit.ly/4rTU25c ...
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Congratulations to Midland High School boys’ cross country and track and field coach Andrew Plude, the 19th recipient of the Bob Stoppert Coach of the Year Award!
Presented Tuesday at the Midland Lions Club’s annual meeting, this award celebrates coaches who help student-athletes succeed in competition, in the classroom, and in life. The Midland Area Community Foundation administers the award, which honors the legacy of longtime Lions Club member Bob Stoppert.
Under Andrew’s leadership, the Chemics have earned consecutive league championships in both sports, regional titles, and a sixth-place finish at the 2025 cross country state finals. His approach begins with the daily habits that build a strong team: showing up, staying consistent, supporting one another, and committing to shared goals.
“Winning is a byproduct of the things that we try to do well every single day,” Andrew shared when accepting the award.
Some of his favorite moments come at the end of practice, when he can spend time with his athletes and hear about their lives beyond running. Those everyday connections reflect the mentorship and care this award recognizes.
Congratulations, Coach Plude, and thank you for helping Midland’s young people grow as athletes, teammates, and individuals! ...
2 CommentsComment on Facebook