City Leaders Form Clawson Community Foundation

Clawson residents will soon be introduced to a initiative designed to help organizations and projects within the city.

The Clawson Community Foundation has been formed to serve as a resource for groups that may not be eligible for tax exemption. Acting as an umbrella for groups, such as the Clawson Farmers Market, the CCF will provide a way to give back, with a monetary contribution or property donation, to the little city with a big heart.

The Beginnings

The Clawson Community Foundation was incorporated in July 2011. Farmers Market director Travis Cochran brought the idea to life with help of city attorneys John Kingsepp and Lauren Trible-Laucht.

Cochran said the initiative is an asset to Clawson because there is no other organization that supports cross-functional community endeavors.  

Cochran said the CCF will mean “having an on-the-shelf structure in place for current and future civic functions and to spur action from residents to step forward with ideas of improving life in Clawson and for that resident to take action."

"The CCF will be a great asset to the Clawson community because it will be a tool for fundraising and projects initiated by community groups or residents themselves," Trible-Laucht said. "This will allow the community to identify projects it feels are important and use the CCF as a vehicle to achieve those goals."

A Time of Change

Persons in support of the city, including residents and business owners, are invited to be a part of the CCF. Those with backgrounds in law, accounting, business and charitable work are encouraged to join.

Current board members, representing cross sections of the Clawson community, include Joan Horton of the Downtown Development Authority, Kevin Turner from the Clawson Public Schools, Helen Beamer of the Clawson Historical Society, Donald Michel of the Fourth of July Committee, John Chisholm of the Clawson Chamber of Commerce, Clare Mann of the Friends Blair Memorial Library, and Cochran representing the Clawson Farmers Market.

“This representation was sought in order to meet the objective of a cross-functional community organization," Cochran said. "My role, along with the other board members is to get momentum started and held build the CCF to become a viable entity."

With this support mechanism, residents will now be able to make endowments and donations to help the city with scholarships, park improvements and other initiatives.

Moving Forward

The board hopes that the foundation will encourage residents to share their ideas on improving the city. If the resident chooses to take further action, the support system would already be intact.

"The group wants to help anyone who wants to help our city," said Clare Mann, president of Friends of the Library. "It's an opportunity for the citizens of Clawson to demonstrate their love for the city by endowing a foundation with funds to improve life in Clawson."

For future projects, the CCF will be available to support civic functions as they come about. For example, if an organized group demonstrates the ability to undertake a project, it can reach out to the CCF for financial support.

“The CCF will always be aligned with the city and its mission to support activities and projects for the betterment of Clawson," Cochran said. “Clawson will be a step ahead and ready for future activities that will bring benefit to the greater community.”

To find out more information on the Clawson Community Foundation, contact a board member. Donations are being accepted to encourage the endeavor.