About Us

The Community Foundation of St. Clair County is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping its donors achieve their individual charitable and philanthropic goals through the creation, management and administration of permanently endowed funds.

Much like planting a tree, by creating a fund or giving to our existing endowment funds, you are helping to plant a seed for future generations, building a source of strength for our community and creating an opportunity for growth and prosperity to be reproduced in the lives of others.

Our History

The Port Huron District Foundation was incorporated on November 8, 1944, by the following Board of Directors: Fred Riggin, E.W. Kiefer, Eugene Moak, Howard Acheson, Howard Crull, James MacTaggart, Louis Weil, Gerald Collins, Edward Moore, Francis Kiefer and William Walsh. Funds were solicited from the public at large and through money-raising activities. The purposes established by the foundation were to promote, encourage and aid the work of benevolent, charitable, hospital, scientific, literary, or educational organizations of the City of Port Huron and the vicinity. The Foundation completed a poll to determine wants and needs of the community. Thus, their initial projects were identified as: Girl Scout overnight camp cabins, land for Boy Scouts Camp, and the development of the Memorial Recreation Park. The Memorial Park project being their first priority. This project was completed in 1946 and was a great success. It was declared by National Recreation Association's, Wally Weber, "to be one of the best facilities in the midwest for high school use."

This photo was taken on November 12, 1945, at the "sod turning" ceremony for the Memorial Stadium Recreation Project. Pictured from left Robert Gibbs, who represented youth as president of Robert McVety Youth Center, Vice Admiral Frederick C. "Ted" Sherman (center), who was raised in Port Huron and whose Grandfather founded the Port Huron Times, and Fred L. Riggin, Sr. (right), then President of Mueller Brass Co. and Port Huron District Foundation.

On December 18, 1985, the Articles of Incorporation were amended to reflect the new name of the foundation as The Community Foundation of St. Clair County. The purpose of the foundation established therein was to receive and accept moneys and other properties, both real and personal, to be administered exclusively for charitable purposes, primarily in and for the benefit of the communities of St. Clair County, Michigan. Minor changes to the Articles have since been made; however the name and purpose of the foundation remain the same.

The Community Foundation of St. Clair County has grown considerably since its inception. Current assets exceed $30,000,000 in 100 endowment funds with grants in excess of $2,000,000 awarded in 2005. To handle the increased workload that is associated with this growth, the foundation staff has also grown from an Executive Director and one part time Controller to a President/CEO, a full time Controller, two Program Officers, and two part-time Office Administrators.

In addition to grant making, the Foundation owns a Youth Home, several properties within the boundaries of the Community Renaissance Program, half of Studio 1219 in partnership with the Port Huron DDA, and operates the Community Resource Center.

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