Thanks to Tom Wearing and the Tri-City Times for allowing 4CCF to reprint this story from August 08, 2018
After two decades at the helm of the Four County Community Foundation, President/CEO Janet Bauer has announced her retirement, effective Dec. 31, 2018. Bauer marks her retirement during the same year she celebrates her 20th anniversary with the foundation.
Established in 1987, Four County Community Foundation (4CCF) provides services and funding to teachers, students and community efforts in Almont, Armada, Capac, Dryden, Imlay City, Metamora, Oxford, Richmond and Romeo. Bauer arrived at 4CCF in 1998, succeeding former Executive Director, Peggy Hamilton. At the time, the 4CCF office was located in downtown Romeo, in the same building formerly occupied by the Romeo Observer newspaper.
“I had always been attracted to community service,” said Bauer, “and this position was then and still is my dream job.
“Of course I’ve always been surrounded by good people,” she continued. “I’m fortunate to have had a great staff and supportive Boards of Directors.
“I really consider our staff, volunteers and generous donors to be the three legs of the stool that continues to sustain and grow this foundation.”
Relative to growth, since Bauer’s arrival 20 years ago, the foundation’s assets have grown from $4.9 million in July of 1998 to $16 million today. As a matter of note, the Four County Community Foundation had awarded about $1.6 million in grant funds during the 11 years that preceded Bauer’s arrival; and more than $7.2 million in grants awarded during her tenure.
“I really need to thank my original Board of Directors for having the faith, confidence and trust to hire me as the executive director,” said Bauer. “Over the years we have all learned and worked together to support the communities and people we serve.”
Bauer pointed out that the beneficiaries of 4CCF grant funding include schools, teachers, student college scholarships, the arts, public safety, local food pantries and myriad other causes.
“We currently have 123 funds thanks to the generous benefactors, whose support and generosity have helped grow and sustain our programs,” Bauer said, adding that any size donation is welcome.
“Whether it’s 25 dollars or a million dollars, the money will be put to good use,” she said. “Small donations are very important to us, too.”
She fully expects that donations to the Four County Community Foundation will continue long after she retires.
“I’m confident the foundation will grow exponentially well into the future.”
Bauer feels she is leaving the organization in the hands of many good people.
“Our current Board and Board President John Brzozowski have been wonderful to work with,” she said, “as has my supportive staff.”
The Foundation’s current staff includes Sara Kruger, accountant; Micaela Boomer, program officer and Sarah Mousseau, Youth Advisory Board.
Bauer admits that she will miss many aspects of her job, including the opportunity to see and meet some of the foundation’s project recipients firsthand.
“One of the many great things my job offers is visits to our various project sites,” said Bauer. “We have been providing grants to Wolcott Mill/Farm and Stoney Creek in the Huron Clinton Metroparks and Seven Ponds Nature Center in Dryden.
“We collaborate with and have funded grants to all three parks and provided school field trips for elementary students, which is very satisfying,” she said.
With retirement beckoning, Bauer has been able to contemplate some of her future plans.
“My plans are to travel to Europe, drive Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, and to visit some U.S. states I’ve not yet gotten to,” said Bauer. “I want to finish visiting all 50 states and have been to about 30 so far.”
With Bauer’s retirement now imminent, 4CCF Board President John Brzozowski took the opportunity to acknowledge some of her many contributions to the organization.
“We’ve been fortunate to have someone that just lives and breathes the foundation,” said Brzozowski. “Everything she does is in the board’s benefit.
“She’s very committed and easy to work with,” he continued. “The donors love her and she has literally dealt with thousands of folks that have received grants.
“Janet has been involved in everything,” he noted, “so we have some big shoes to fill.”
Brzozowski said Bauer notified the 4CCF board and executive committee of her retirement plans about a month ago.
Since then, they have begun developing a plan to initiate a search for her successor.
“We’ve formed a search committee of current and past board members to begin that process,” Brzozowski said. “We hope to have someone in place by November 1, that would work alongside Janet.”
Brzozowski said Bauer had indicated she could stay on in a part-time advisory role through next spring and summer.
“We hope to have a real smooth transition and we’re very confident that will happen,” he said.
Tri-City Times Editor Catherine Minolli contributed to this article.
Tom Wearing started at the Tri-City Times in 1989, covering the Village of Capac as a beat reporter. He later served stints as assistant editor and editor. Today, he covers Imlay City and Almont as a staff writer. He enjoys music and plays drums and sings with various musical groups in the Detroit Metropolitan area.