Sunfield Community Foundation Journal

Greetings All!  This is to introduce you to the “Sunfield Community Foundation’s Journal”.  This publication replaces the “SPY’s Community Newsletter” that ceased distribution on March 23, 2026.  Whether or not the SPY’s will continue the “Newsletter” in the future remains to be seen.  However, in the meantime, since we are in the midst of the annual Scholarship and Awards season there is much to report from the Sunfield Community Foundation in the weeks ahead.

To begin with, here is a little history of the Sunfield Community Foundation:  Forty years ago the Sunfield Area Sponsors of Programs for Youth (the SPY’s) started a Scholarship Fund.  They made the first awards in 1987 to graduating seniors.  Since that time, the fund had grown through individual donations and memorial contributions by many fine folks.  As the fund continued to increase, the SPY leadership began exploring ways and means to make sure that higher education financial support could continue to be offered to area youth even if the SPY organization should, at some point in time, cease to exist.  So, back in April of 2003, the S.P.Y.’s began the long arduous trail of endless paperwork with Federal and State agencies, a struggle that took almost two years to complete.  That effort eventually brought about the formation of the “Sunfield Community Foundation.”  Which is now a totally separate entity from the SPY organization. As a part of making the Sunfield Community Foundation totally independent a separate Board of Directors and officers was created.

Long-standing viable community entities were approached to see if they would like to become part of the Foundation’s Board of Directors..  Those entities were the Sunfield Village Council, the Sunfield Township Board, the Sunfield United Methodist Church, and the Sunfield United Brethren Church.  They all embraced the concept and agreed to provide a representative.

Currently, the members of the Sunfield Community Foundation’s Board of Directors are the following:

John Fisher, President

Lavon Hamp, Vice President (representing the United Brethren Church)

Shana Cappon, Treasurer

Walker (“Buddy”) Collins, Jr, Secretary

Robert Sandborn, Director (representing the United Methodist Church)

Jeff Smith, Director (representing the Sunfield Township Board)

Thomas Wacha, Director (representing the Sunfield Village Council)

Once the framework of the Foundation was set, the SPY’s transferred all of the monies previously held in their Scholarship Fund to the Sunfield Community Foundation.  The Foundation’s primary function is to serve as caretakers of the fund and to determine the amount of money that can be used from the fund each year for scholarships and other student awards.  These awards are based on the amount of interest and dividends the fund has generated the previous year. 

Over the past forty years there has been a total of $367,250 in scholarship and awards given to graduating seniors.  This year alone we will be giving out a total of $29,000 in scholarships; community service awards; and honorariums for students entering the military.  Details on these awards will be passed along in the weeks ahead, so stay tuned.

If you have any questions about the Sunfield Community Foundation, please contact John Fisher (517-649-0969).

Sunfield Community Foundation Honors Robert Overholt

Pictured (left) is Robert Overholt receiving a special recognition plaque from Foundation President John Fisher for his over 13 years of dedicated service to the Sunfield Community Foundation.  During that time Robert was the representative on the Board from Sunfield Township.  He stepped down due to health reasons.

Belated Thank-Yous

·      The first local MDOT Adopt-A-Highway Trash Pick-up took place recently.  This pick-up covered an area along M-43 from Round Lake Road on the west side of town to Shaytown Road on the east side of town.  A BIG thank you goes out to the fine citizens that showed up and picked-up 15 bags of trash; various car parts; tires; and a mail box.  THANK YOU:

Derek & Stacie Desgranges

Buddy & Jari Collins

John & Sandy Fisher

Craig Mulholland

·      The next belated thank you goes out to the fine folks that volunteered to serve on this years Sunfield Community Foundation Scholarship Application Review Committee.  We salute:

Steve & Sheri Klotz

John Fisher

Paul Campbell

Hayden & Lisa Klotz

Jeff Smith

Brandon & Yvette Davis

Thanks to everyone who stepped up to serve!

Contributions

·      John & Sandra Fisher made a donation the Scholarship Fund in memory of Rosie Fish, a former beloved Sunfield Elementary School teacher who passed away recently.

Parting Comments

·      Deep Thought of the Week: Too often foreign aid is when the poor people of a rich nation send their money to the rich people of a poor nation.

·      Notable Quote: This is from a speech made by Abraham Lincoln on August 27, 1856, in Kalamazoo, Michigan---“Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution.

That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties. And not to Democrats alone do I make this appeal, but to all who love these great and true principles.”

·      That's Puny Department:  I've started investing in stocks. Beef, Chicken, and Vegetable. One day I hope to be a Bouillonaire!

·      The Chuck Norris Corner:  (1) Chuck Norris counted to infinity---twice.  (2) The dark is afraid of Chuck Norris.  (3). Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird.

·      Did You Know Section:  The first ‘moving staircase’ or escalator was built in 1898 at a Harrods Department store in London. Riders found the escalator so nerve wrecking that an employee stood at the top offering brandy so that they could recover from the ordeal. 

·      NOTE:  If you know of anyone who would like to receive these “Sunfield Community Foundation Journals”, just send me an email at john.sandrafisher@gmail.com with their email address and we will take care of it.