Inland Lakes Schools Home of the Bulldogs

Inland Lakes Educational Foundation: Quality Efforts for Quality Futures

What does the ILEF do?
The Inland Lakes Educational Foundation was organized to seek contributions and to provide a source of funding for educational programs, activities and events for the enrichment and benefit of the Inland Lakes students.  The Foundation funding does not replace tax-supported programs; but enhances educational opportunities for area young people.  A scholarship program has been the major focus of the Foundation to date.

What is the Scholarship Program?
Scholarships for both vocational and academic studies are awarded to graduates of Inland Lakes Schools.  The scholarship recipients have pursued career goals ranging from nursing to engineering to vocational careers.

How is the Foundation financed?
The foundation depends upon contributions such as memorial gifts, wills, trusts, and other means from individuals, organizations and businesses to support its activities.  Because the ILEF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, contributions are deductible under the Internal Revenue.  To ensure a permanent source of funding contributions are placed in an endowment fund.  The interest paid on this fund is used for the scholarships awarded each year.  As the endowment fund increases so does the number and size of the scholarships.

What has the Foundation accomplished?
Scholarships awarded in 2009:

                 Number         Amount         Total
                 8                  $3,000           $24,000
                 28                $1,000           $28,000
TOTAL:       36                                     $52,000

Scholarships to Date:              418
Scholarship Awards to Date:    $420,600
Endowment Fund Balance;      $1,191,157
(as of Oct. 2008)
Administrative Costs:              <1%
 

Scholarships to be awarded in 2010:

                 Number             Amount        Total

                      8                  $3,500         $28,000

                     28                 $1,100         $28,800

Total:             36                                    $56,800

The Inland Lakes Educational Foundation is an autonomous non-profit corporation established under the laws of the State of Michigan in 1986 by Indian River citizens.  It is governed by a volunteer board of trustees who are responsible for establishing program policies and for raising, investing and dispensing funds.

Board of Trustees:
Richard deVore             President
Sue Fisher                   Secretary
John Hatfield               Treasurer
Larry Biddinger            Trustee
Larry Renaud               Trustee
David Sackett              Trustee
Jeff Swadling               Trustee
Hamilton Schirmer       Trustee
Ron Berg                     Trustee
Sukey Stump               Trustee
Jennifer Andrew           Trustee
Mary Jo Dismang          Ex-officio
(Superintendent of Schools)
John Mesenbourg         Ex-officio
(President of School Board)

Although the Foundation operates entirely independent of the inland Lakes Board of Education, it encourages program suggestions from Inland Lakes’ staff and community members.


For more information, contact:

Inland Lakes Educational Foundation
PO Box 2142
Indian River MI  49749
231-238-6868