The White Lake Area Women exemplify what can happen when community members come together to make a positive difference. The idea behind this group is simple: members join and make a pledge to contribute $400 in donations over the course of a year. Each quarter, members nominate a local organization they believe deserves a donation, and the entire group votes to pick the winner. The chosen organization then receives a $100 donation from each member currently in the group.
This fall, the White Lake Area Women chose the Arts Council of White Lake-Nuveen Center (ACWL-Nuveen) to receive the final donation of 2021. With over 100 women donating, funds totaled over $10,000 and were an essential part of the successful completion of raising $500,000 for the ACWL-Nuveen Endowment Fund held at the Community Foundation of Muskegon County. These endowment funds will be matched by the George & Betty Hilt donor-advised fund, creating over $1,000,000 in principal. Interest earned on that principal - up to $40,000 a year - can be used by the ACWL-Nuveen to expand their efforts in providing accessible and engaging arts opportunities for the White Lake community.
And this isn't the first time the White Lake Area Women supported the ACWL-Nuveen! Our arts nonprofit was the very first recipient following the group's formation in January of 2019. The 2019 contribution totaled $6,600, making the White Lake Area Women's combined total gift to the ACWL-Nuveen Endowment Fund almost $17,000 - which is $34,000 once matched by the George & Betty Hilt Fund!
The ACWL-Nuveen is incredibly grateful to the White Lake Area Women's Steering Committee and all of the members for their continued support. A special thanks to those who nominate the ACWL-Nuveen to receive donations and many thanks to Laura Schultz who gave the successful pitch for our December windfall! If you are interested in joining the White Lake Area Women, please check out their Facebook page.