Mackinac Island Community Foundation is proud to partner with donors of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, as well as a local resident and dental practitioners, to create a new fund focused on providing dental services to Mackinac Island residents. 

“It is my absolute pleasure to be able to work with long time island friends and use my donor advised fund to help launch The Smiles Fund,” said Gerry Kramer.

The Smiles Fund will provide dental assistance to Mackinac Island youth and support for emergency dental services for qualified island residents. 

Kramer and his wife Mino are members of the Mackinac Island Yacht Club and donor advised fundholders with the Community Foundation of St. Clair County. Kramer’s generosity was instrumental in moving The Smiles Fund forward through MICF. 

Another instrumental person in the fund creation was Mackinac Island year-round resident John Kissane, a friend of the Kramers and pianist at the Island House Hotel. Mr. Kissane, who has benefited from emergency dental services in the past and wanted to give back to the community that supported him, is offering wooden bowties for sale with the proceeds benefiting the new fund. The bowties can be purchased from John at the Island House Hotel’s 1852 Grill Room. 

“The Mackinac Island Community Foundation is so pleased that we can partner with our friends at the Community Foundation of St. Clair County to carry forward the wishes of mutual donors and meet a community need,” said Stephanie McGreevy, Executive Director and CEO. 

Through support from the Smiles Fund, practitioners in the Straits region will partner with MICF to help provide dental services to residents in need.

For more information on supporting the Smiles Fund at the Mackinac Island Community Foundation, visit micf.org