Who We Are

Staff

Michael Rowland

Michael Rowland

President/CEO

Brenda Hemphill

Kickstart to Career Coordinator

A woman with medium-length dark brunette hair and light skin, wearing a black blouse with white abstract pattern, sitting in an office setting with green walls and framed pictures in the background.
A woman with blonde hair and glasses, smiling and crossing her arms, standing in a room with green walls and framed pictures.
A young woman with shoulder-length wavy hair, wearing glasses, a blue collared shirt, and a red striped long-sleeve shirt, standing with arms crossed in a room with green walls and framed artwork.

Jennifer Popielski

Senior Program Officer,
Kickstart & YAC

Patrick Kean

Administrative Assistant

Jen Bomar

Scholarship Coordinator

Board of Trustees

Karin Falkenstein

MGCF Board of Trustees Chairperson

A smiling elderly woman with short blonde hair, wearing glasses, earrings, and a dark, textured jacket, standing in front of a green wall with framed pictures.

Since 1978, the Foundation has worked to create strong, vibrant, compassionate communities by mobilizing funds, people, and expertise for positive impact.  None of this would be possible without the generous, ongoing, caring support from those in the communities we serve.
-Karin Falkenstein, Chairperson

Karin Falkenstein, Chairman
Buchanan Area Fund Board

Michael Rowland, President/CEO
Michigan Gateway Community Foundation

Jane Brandstatter, Vice-Chairman
Niles Area Fund Board

Patricia Robinson, Superintendent
Buchanan Area Fund Board

Aiden Bradfield
Youth Representative

Lyla Holtgren
Youth Representative

Denise Peters
Niles Area Fund Board

Stephen K. Woods
Cass Area Fund Board

Tex Sheteron
Cass Area Fund Board

Kathy Rossow
Buchanan Area Fund Board

Randy Hendrixson
Buchanan Area Fund Board

Sara Senica
Niles Area Fund Board

Hope Anderson
Cass Area Fund Board

Board and Approved Committee Members

Buchanan Area Fund Board

Karin Falkenstein, President
Kathy Rossow, Vice President
Michael Rowland, CEO and Secretary Harvey Burnett
R. McKinley Elliott
Randy Hendrixson
Brian Murphy
Meg Paulette
Tj Kanczuzewski
Patricia Robinson, Superintendent
Patrick Swem

Niles Area Fund Board

Jane Brandstatter, President
Sara Senica, Vice President
Michael Rowland, CEO and Secretary
Michelle Asmus
Carolee Dalrymple
Jethrow Kyles, Sr.
Denise Peters
Marci Taylor Alex Welch
Evan Winkler
Marcella Taylor
Christina Arseneau

Cass Area Fund Board

Tex Sheteron, President
Diane Skibbe, Vice President
Michael Rowland, CEO and Secretary
Hope Anderson
Barbara Gordon
Marty Heirty
Peter M. Karlowicz
Shannon Lyons
Brian McKenzie
Stephen K. Woods
Mathew Money
Christopher Korenowsky

Buchanan Promise Board Committee

Jerry Flenar, Board Chair
Patricia Robinson, Superintendent
Barbara Craig, LMC Representative
Randy Hendrixson
Patrick Swem
Michael Rowland
Gary McKean
Carol McKean
Carrie Franklin
Brenda Hemphill, Program Officer

Kickstart to Career Committee

Michael Babcock
Melissa Calvillo
Stacey Denison
Lisa Gregory
Christy Layman
Britney Martin
Ryan Frontezak
Kelly Smith
Jennifer Popielski, Senior Program Officer

Youth Advisory Council (YAC)


Karleigh Byrd, Brandywine
Emery Freeze, Brandywine
Madison Huss, Brandywine
Chelsy Olson, Brandywine
Sydney Olson, Brandywine
Sydney Roeder, Brandywine
Austin Gregory, Buchanan
Jacob Kuntz, Buchanan
Charles Spencer, Buchanan
Dean Wegner, Buchanan
Lillian Wegener, Buchanan
Aiden Bradfield, Dowagiac
Isabella Hertter, Dowagiac
Lily Lebeda, Dowagiac
Sasha Hahn, Edwardsburg
Grace Leman, Edwardsburg

Kendall McClintic, Edwardsburg
Arden Sponsky, Edwardsburg
Steven Hoover, Homeschool
Hazel Lolmaugh, Homeschool
Leela Lolmaugh, Homeschool
Riley Lolmaugh, Homeschool
Lyla Holtgren, Niles
Ellio Mazumder, Niles
Isabel Kennedy, Ross Beatty
Dickson Samadder, Ross Beatty
Brooklyn Smith, Ross Beatty
Kenyen Xayasane-Kennedy, Ross Beatty
Alan Wegner, Ross Beatty
Daniel Popielski, Virtual
Jennifer Popieski, Advisor