CCF opens office, names Allen Executive Director

Clare City officials and business people met Wednesday morning to celebrate the Grand Opening of the new Clare office for the Clare Community Foundation and new Executive Director Jim Allen.

Shown above is the Clare Community Foundation Board of Directors including (seated from left) Carl Schwind, Executive Director Jim Allen, Board Chair Dan Timmins and Rod Loomis. Standing (from left) are Michelle Neff, Amy Stark, Jim Doherty, Tammy Chaffee, Ann Smith, Bret Cook and John Wilson. Not pictured: Mike Jenkins, Tom House, Harold Walls, Larry Barco and Lesa Bentley.

Established in 1997, the Foundation raises fund for grants and scholarships in the community and is governed by a 16-member board of directors.

Jan McGuire, president and CEO of the Midland Area Community Foundation said this is the first home for the organization, which is affiliated with Midland.

Board Chairman Dan Timmins introduced Allen, who worked at Chemical Bank for 38 years and has been instrumental in many community organizations including the Industrial Development Corporation, the Downtown Development Authority, Main Street, the Brownfield Authority and the Building Authority.

Timmins reported that the CCF awarded $20,000 in grants in the past year and many scholarships. “This is a new era,” he said. “We now have our own office space and a new Executive Director to lead the organization.”