The Community Foundation of St. Clair County has announced the hiring of Natacha Hayden, who will join the Foundation team in January of 2025. She is currently the Director of the Port Huron Downtown Development Authority. According to the Foundation, Hayden will become their new Program Officer for Community Impact, a new position at the Foundation.

“We’re happy to have Natacha join our team,” said Randy Maiers, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “She has developed a great reputation while at the DDA and her hiring coincides with the launch of our 3-year Strategic Plan at the beginning of 2025, and she will play an important role in the strategic initiatives of our new plan.”

Hayden joined the City of Port Huron in 2018 and has been the director of their DDA since 2021. “I’ve really appreciated the time I’ve spent at the City of Port Huron,” she said. “Those years have given me the chance to strengthen my relationship with local businesses and stakeholders and broaden my experience with local projects, initiatives, and event planning. I am grateful for the opportunity that City Manager, James Freed, gave me with the DDA.” She added that one of her favorite memories was seeing people smiling as they walked throughout Downtown Port Huron and enjoyed the events, shops, and atmosphere. “It has been an honor to host multiple events and initiatives that added value to our great Downtown and brought our community joy,” she said.

Hayden moved to Michigan from Brazil back in 2010 when she participated in a cultural exchange program as an Au Pair. She then earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Walsh College before finally joining the City of Port Huron staff.

“While I love Port Huron and everything this community has done for me, I’m excited to join the Foundation where I can expand my involvement and support of philanthropy and community prosperity throughout our region,” she added.

The Community Foundation has a current staff of eleven and is the oldest and largest grantmaking foundation in Michigan’s Thumb Region. The Foundation also owns the Knowlton Museum, Blue Water River Walk and the building housing the Ally Center on the south side of Port Huron.

 “This is an exciting time for our region and our foundation,” said Maiers. “We’re fortunate to live in a very generous region and adding Natacha to our team will help us serve more donors and invest back in a multitude of programs, projects, and organizations.”