By Don Rush

Well, that didn’t take long.

On Aug. 10 the Oxford Leader announced a special luncheon for community leaders that was to take place just six days later. The purpose of the lunch was to tell our community that if we raised $7,500, the Four County Community Foundation (4CCF) would match that amount to create an Oxford Community Foundation to last “in perpetuity.”

It was settled. At the Aug. 16 luncheon and Red Knapp’s American Grill, Oxford Township Supervisor Jack Curtis handed over a check from the Lifted Industrial Partner’s group to 4CCF Executive Director Kathy Dickens. Lifted Investments has applied for a Medical Marijuana license in Oxford Township.

“It was a terrific moment when that $7,500 match was provided. Boom! An endowed fund for Oxford,” Dickens said. “That $15,000 will never be touched, as this is what is endowed. Interest earned on that $15,000 becomes funding we can grant moving forward. The larger the fund grows, the more we can grant from it. This is in addition, of course, to the many funds we already use to grant to Oxford.”

The Four County Community Foundation was started with the sale of the Community Hospital in Almont to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. Funds from that sale were put into an endowment.

“The $2.5 million original endowment from the hospital sale has grown to more than $20 million,” the foundation’s website states. “In 35 years, the Foundation has invested $10 million back into the community through grants and scholarships. Over 145 funds have been created to support various charitable purposes. By bringing together the resources of individuals, families, and businesses, Four County Community Foundation creates a permanent source of community capital that can benefit our local region forever.”

They serve the corners of Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland and St. Claire counties. In Oakland County the communities the Four County Community Foundation serves are Oakland County – Addison, Brandon, Oakland, Orion, and Oxford tonships. They give to non-profit and charitable organizations.

Since 1987, the foundation has given over $150,000 in grants to the Oxford community.

To help the new Oxford Community Fund grow (aside from donating) Dickens said, “One other element that will be very helpful for the growth of this fund is for interested Oxford leaders to volunteer to be a 4CCF Volunteer on our Proactive Committee. This Committee oversees our Community Funds. We need a few dedicated volunteers from Oxford to sit on this committee.  They can inform the committee of current needs in Oxford and can help review grant applications that come from Oxford.”

For more information on how to donate or join, visit their website, www.4ccf.org or call them at 810-798-0909.