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Impact takes all of us.

Impact takes all of us. And when we support one another, we can create stronger communities in Michigan. On Monday, September 20, 2021, we hosted the 9th annual Lake Trust Foundation Invitational at Barton Hills Country Club. Our yearly golf outing helps us raise funds for the Foundation to support local projects and initiatives. Proceeds from the event support our scholarship program, community outreach programs, and help us award grants and donations to nonprofits in Michigan.

To help attendees understand how their presence and support makes an impact in Michigan, we invited Vinicius M., a 2021 Michigan Impact Scholarship recipient, to join us at the Invitational. Vinicius shared how receiving his full-tuition scholarship has had an impact on his life and his education. Neha A., a grant recipient for the University of Michigan Impact Investing Group, also spoke at the event and shared how the Foundation’s support of her student club helped their program.

Thanks to support from 27 sponsors, 140 golfers, and several other donors, the event concluded with a net revenue of over $90,000.

Golf Invitational Impact
  • Scholarship program: In 2021, we awarded a cumulative total value of $462,600 in college, trade school, and Cleary University scholarships.
  • University of Michigan Impact Investing Group: Our $5,000 grant to this student-led nonprofit helped small businesses in Detroit and Ann Arbor access affordable microloans and consulting services.
  • Community Housing Network: We donated $8,000 to the general fund to assist with housing emergencies for veterans, domestic violence survivors, and those with mental health issues.
  • Growing Hope: Our $10,000 contribution helped 16 teens attend the summer program where they work on an urban farm, participating in workshops, and expanding their knowledge of sustainable agriculture.
  • L.E.A.D. Foundation: A $5,000 donation helped underprivileged athletes access food, shoes, tutoring services, mentoring services, and more.

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I’m so happy. I feel like this opportunity is going to open doors for me in the future. I’ll be able to dedicate myself toward my passion for the community and learning more about local community and economic development.”

— Vinicius M., 2021 Michigan Impact Scholarship

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Moved By Good volunteer

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I’m so happy. I feel like this opportunity is going to open doors for me in the future. I’ll be able to dedicate myself toward my passion for the community and learning more about local community and economic development.

— Vinicius M., 2021 Michigan Impact Scholarship

Men golfing

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I truly want to help people and serve my community. And I think this [pursuing his paramedic license] is an honorable way to do that. And I love it. I truly do love the culture behind it, the people that work in this field, the kind of things that we do. I truly do believe that this is a great way to impact your community.

— Nael Hallak, 2021 New Beginnings Scholarship recipient

The power to dream bigger.

A new opportunity can create a new path for your future. But the financial cost of taking a chance on yourself and your dreams can be a difficult challenge to overcome. That’s why the Lake Trust Foundation scholarship program supports the dreams of people in Michigan. In 2021, a cumulative total value of $462,600 in scholarships was awarded through the Lake Trust Foundation and our partnership with Cleary University. By awarding a cumulative total value of $1.2 million in college and trade school scholarships since 2012, we hope to remind people that their dreams and ambitions matter.

Michigan Impact Scholarship

The cost of going to school or going back to school can be a big barrier for many potential students. Recognizing this need, we’ve partnered with Cleary University to offer full-tuition scholarships since 2018. The Michigan Impact Scholarship can be used toward any undergraduate or graduate degree program at Cleary University, either in-person or online.

In 2021, five individuals were awarded Michigan Impact Scholarships

  • Vinicius Marcelino | Howell, MI
  • Juan Ramirez-Ortega | Howell, MI
  • Colin O’Keefe | Howell, MI
  • Michael Lloyd | Ypsilanti, MI
  • Blake Strand | Brighton, MI

Check out our Michigan Impact Scholarship blog post to learn more about each recipient and their plans for the future.

New Beginnings Scholarship

There’s a great need for professionals who are versed in skilled trades, and encouraging these essential careers also supports Michigan’s economy. However, the high cost of tools, supplies, uniforms, and professional fees is a barrier for many people who want to get started or move up in these fields. That’s why the New Beginnings Scholarship is awarded each year to individuals who are interested in revitalizing skilled trade careers.

Six New Beginnings Scholarships worth $5,000 each were awarded to:

  • Brendan Hyatt | Muskegon, MI
  • Elisa Isaacson | Atlantic Mine, MI
  • Daniel Smith | Brighton, MI
  • Jared Speers | Fowler, MI
  • Nael Hallak | Holt, MI
  • Alexandra Kerry | Richmond, MI

Check out our New Beginnings Scholarship blog post to learn more about each recipient and their plans for the future.

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I truly want to help people and serve my community. And I think this [pursuing his paramedic license] is an honorable way to do that. And I love it. I truly do love the culture behind it, the people that work in this field, the kind of things that we do. I truly do believe that this is a great way to impact your community.

— Nael Hallak, 2021 New Beginnings Scholarship recipient

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We are Powered By Good.

The second Monday in October represents a special day for our team. For the past four years, we’ve asked our team members to join in a day of volunteerism during what would be a day off on a federal holiday. And each year, we’re astounded at the enthusiasm and compassion that our employees display in their desire to give back to Michigan communities.

In 2021, 74 percent of our team members joined us for Powered By Good Day and volunteered a combined total of 1,128 hours in one day. This year, we invited some of our business partners to join us in our volunteer efforts as well. We helped at three food banks, several food pantries, four agencies that assist with shelter, clothing & other essentials, and one agency that supports the re-entry of previously incarcerated individuals back into their communities.

In addition to volunteering, we also hosted a community shred day at our Downtown Lansing relationship center. This service was met with great enthusiasm from Lansing-area residents who could safely destroy old documents and reduce their risk of identity theft. In exchange for utilizing the industrial shred service, we asked people to consider donating to Meals For Michigan. The donations from this day totaled enough to provide 1,850 meals to those in need!

To make an even bigger impact, the Lake Trust Foundation also donated a total $29,400 among all 29 of the nonprofit agencies where our team volunteered.

By helping those who help others, we can create stronger, more connected communities. That’s the power in all of us.

Powered By Good Day Impact
  • Sorted and packed 7,000 lbs. of food at Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint.
  • Packed 600 meals, completed 28 delivery routes, and conducted senior wellness checks across Livingston County at Meals On Wheels.
  • Shredded 6,000 pounds of paper at the community shred event at our Downtown Lansing branch.
  • Read 27 books from home and shared these recordings with Brilliant Detroit to help youth with reading comprehension.

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Considering the current value of volunteer time is $28.54/hour,2 we helped local nonprofits save an estimated $32,193.12 in just one day.

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James Bell

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Considering the current value of volunteer time is $28.54/hour,2 we helped local nonprofits save an estimated $32,193.12 in just one day.

The power of giving back.

In Michigan alone, an estimated 1.5 million, or 38 percent of households, struggle to afford basic necessities, like food, housing, childcare, transportation, and health care3. To help fill this gap in fundamental needs, local nonprofits and community agencies offer services and supplies to support families in need. Volunteering in our communities gives us the opportunity to give back to these essential organizations, deepen our connections, and understand needs at a local level.
Hover over each area to learn more about how our team made an impact in specific areas of focus.

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Education
1,492 Hours

Our team shared their knowledge to help with education efforts in Michigan communities in the areas of business and financial education, as well as reading to and tutoring students.

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Food
990 Hours

More than 38 million people in the U.S. are food insecure.4 To make an impact, our team is passionate about volunteering at local food banks to stock and distribute food.

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Clothing
230 Hours

Foster Closet of Michigan has several locations across the state that provides clothing, outerwear, shoes, baby gear, toys, diapers, and more for children who are placed in the foster care system.

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Health
246 Hours

We’ve supported the Livingston County Community Connect event for the past four years by providing bottles of laundry detergent for neighbors in need.

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Shelter
188 Hours

SOS Community Services offers a Rapid Rehousing Program to help homeless families secure housing by providing rental assistance for one year.

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Other
1,044 Hours

By participating in community events and helping with local clean-up efforts, our team helps Michigan neighborhoods become the best places to live, work, and play.

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Community Engagement
1,029 Hours

By working with local Chamber of Commerce groups, we help to strengthen community connections by sharing knowledge and resources.

The estimated national value of volunteer time is $28.54/hour, meaning our total volunteer and community engagement hours are valued at over $148,950.2

5,219

Total Volunteer Hours

1Third party website. Lake Trust Credit Union is not responsible for the content, availability, security or compliance of any linked third party websites. In addition, the site's privacy policies may differ from those of Lake Trust.

2Value of Volunteer Time. (2022, March 17). Independent Sector. Retrieved from https://independentsector.org/value-of-volunteer-time-2021/

3The ALICE Project. (2022, March 17). Michigan Association of United Ways. Retrieved from https://www.uwmich.org/alice

4Facts about hunger in America. (2022, March 17) Feeding America. Retrieved from https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america