About Us

Our Mission

The Community Foundation of St. Clair County’s mission is to build a more vibrant and prosperous region by leading boldly and engaging the community through philanthropy. We are committed to fostering collaboration, empowering individuals, and creating lasting impact to enhance opportunities and improve the quality of life for all.

These values shape and define our company culture

Bold
Collaborative
Inclusive
Leaders
Ethical
Innovative

Our Core Focus

Purpose: Build a more vibrant and prosperous region.

Niche: Leading boldly and engaging community through philanthropy.

Vision Statement

We enhance the spirit of philanthropy in our community by identifying opportunities for collaboration that transform both the people and our place. By uniting the resources of our donors with the efforts of passionate “doers,” we help drive positive change across St. Clair County.
Through the creation, management, and administration of endowments and project-specific funds, we support the work of our donors, volunteers, partners, and friends, all working together for the common good. Our goal is to tackle the big challenges facing our region while seizing new opportunities that help improve the lives of St. Clair County residents.

Since 1944, the Community Foundation has been dedicated to building community capital through the strategic application of philanthropic funds and the passion, dedication, and talents of county residents.

The Community Foundation of St. Clair County is the largest grantmaking foundation in Michigan's Thumb Region and manages multiple endowment funds that benefit every corner of St. Clair County.

Current assets exceed $100,000,000 and include hundreds of endowment funds as well as buildings and real estate. We make grants throughout the year and often award 1,000 plus grants annually totaling several million dollars.

The Community Foundation family of assets also includes:

The Blue Water River Walk
Community Funds in Algonac/Clay, St. Clair, Marysville and Port Huron
School Funds for Algonac, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, East China, Holy Cross and Port Huron
Knowlton Museum
The Atrium

Our History

The Port Huron District Foundation was officially incorporated on November 8, 1944, by an esteemed Board of Directors that included Fred Riggin, E.W. Kiefer, Eugene Moak, Howard Acheson, Howard Crull, James MacTaggart, Louis Weil, Gerald Collins, Edward Moore, Francis Kiefer, and William Walsh. The foundation sought public contributions and organized fundraising activities to support its mission. Its original purpose was to promote, encourage, and assist the efforts of benevolent, charitable, hospital, scientific, literary, or educational organizations within Port Huron and its surrounding communities.

To better understand the community's needs, the foundation conducted a comprehensive poll, which identified key initial projects: constructing Girl Scout overnight camp cabins, acquiring land for a Boy Scout camp, and developing the Memorial Recreation Park, with the latter becoming the foundation’s top priority. The Memorial Recreation Park project was completed in 1946 and was celebrated as a resounding success. Wally Weber of the National Recreation Association even praised it as "one of the best facilities in the Midwest for high school use."

This historic photo, taken on November 12, 1945, captures the "sod-turning" ceremony for the Memorial Stadium Recreation Project. Pictured from left to right are Robert Gibbs, president of the Robert McVety Youth Center and a representative of local youth; Vice Admiral Frederick C. "Ted" Sherman, a Port Huron native and grandson of the founder of the Port Huron Times; and Fred L. Riggin, Sr., then-president of Mueller Brass Co. and the Port Huron District Foundation.