Arenac Community Funds celebrates awarding nearly $1 million in grants since 2000

This article is part of an ongoing Inspiring Generosity series highlighting people, agencies, and programs the Bay Area Community Foundation supports.

In 2000, a casual conversation at work inspired Diane Morley to volunteer for a fledgling foundation hoping to serve Arenac County.

Morley was working at Forward Corporation when a group of five people came in to ask her Standish-based employer for a contribution to form the Arenac Community Funds. Morley eagerly listened as the visitors described the fund, which would be connected to the Bay Area Community Foundation, but serve Arenac County.

“I heard what they were trying to do and I was really intrigued by that,” Morley recalls. “I could see the momentum and I could see the impact it was going to have. I’ve always been involved in the community, so I wanted to be a part of it.”

Today, Morley is still part of the Arenac Community Funds (ACF) as it celebrates its 25^th anniversary. Recently, as part of the 25-year celebration, the ACF held an event to review its accomplishments and set new goals.

Committee member Ken Kernstock called the event a success.

“The ideas that came out of this session were extremely helpful,” Kernstock says.

Tara Marczak, Chairwoman of the ACF Committee, reported a total of 91 grantees received funding for 389 projects, totaling $739,587 distributed from seven funds. In addition to these disbursements, another $212,000 was granted from a Scholarship Fund to 240 high school seniors and three adults.

Altogether, the ACF has distributed $951,587 since 2000.

“In 2026, we will be on target to hit the $1 million mark. Maybe we’ll have to have another gala to celebrate that milestone,” Kernstock says.

Morley adds: “In 25 years, we’ll have been able to distribute $1 million in grants and scholarships. We’re pretty proud of that,”

Some of the ACF’s recent projects include:

The Northeast Michigan Arts Council’s 2025 Fine Arts Camp. “Sometimes kids can’t afford to attend, so the monies pay their tuition and buy supplies,” Morley says. “That’s one of our favorites in the community. We only have one Arts Center, so we’re very good to them.

A Practical Assessment Exploration System and Lab inside the Sunrise Community Resource Center, based in Standish. The career exploration and work-readiness program is run by Arenac Opportunities, also based in Standish; Standish-Sterling Community Schools; and Bay-Arenac ISD Special Education.

The ACF helped the City of Au Gres install shade shelters at the Riverside Park, located at the US-23 Bridge in Downtown Au Gres. The shade is near a splash pad and playground. It’s a popular spot for residents and vacationers. “They have a fish-cleaning station and a big, beautiful pavilion. It’s very well attended. It’s a nice respite in the summer months.”

The Oasis Lake Park and Campground in Sterling and the Point Au Gres Park & Campground in Au Gres are now home to beach access mats and special wheelchairs that make the beaches accessible to those with limited physical mobility, thanks in part to an ACF grant.

“Each of our funds touches the community in some way every single year,” Morley says.

Looking forward, the ACF has several goals.

“Right now we’re working with name recognition,” Morley says. “We want people to know us by name and our mission. We’re looking for awareness by all people in Arenac County.”

The organization recently changed its mission statement from “Connecting people who care with causes that matter,” to “Empowering community through impactful grants and scholarships.”

Morley says the updated mission statement focuses on actions.

“I like that one because it seems to be more action and more energy. It’s taken a lot of action and lot of energy to make this happen,” she says.

Secondly, the ACF wants to build its endowment to be self-sustaining, meaning fewer fundraising activities are necessary.

“Maybe someday, we’ll be sustaining enough to be our own free-standing foundation. That’s a long way off, but it’s important to have goals.”

A Holiday Auction fundraiser is set for Thurs., Dec. 4 at the Four Ones Landing Restaurant/Bar in Au Gres. The event usually brings in $13,000 for the General Fund.  

Supporters also can expect to receive the annual appeal letter in early November. 

Anyone wishing to contribute an item or gift certificate for services to the Holiday Auction may contact Morley at dianemorley01@gmail.com or text  (989) 313-9722.