Sturgis Area Community Foundation celebrates a defining year for all of St. Joseph County

At its 2026 Annual Meeting on October 15, the Foundation honored longtime volunteers, presented the 45th John E. Oster Award for Excellence in Teaching to Anna Northam, and welcomed new Executive Director Ashley Magnus.

Residents in every corner of St. Joseph County now have a community foundation built to serve them. This year, the Sturgis Area Community Foundation (SACF) expanded its Board of Trustees and committees to include volunteers from across the county, who now help shape decisions about grants, scholarships, and shared priorities such as housing, childcare, education, and economic development. As the Foundation grows, local funds continue to support local needs, and each community keeps its own identity.

The Foundation celebrated that milestone at its 2026 Annual Meeting at Covered Bridge Farm. The evening  was dedicated to philanthropy and to everyone who gives their time, talent, and resources to the county. Board Chair Erin Melchi-Baker shared the Foundation’s impact over the past year: more than $3 million in grants to nonprofits, $192,000 in scholarships, and more than $12 million in gifts from donors. Total assets have grown from a first gift of $500 in 1962 to $54 million today. 

“That $500 seed was planted in Sturgis. Today its roots run through all of St. Joseph County, and every community here is part of what grows next,” said Melchi-Baker.

The evening also marked the first Annual Meeting for Ashley Magnus, who became the Foundation’s Executive Director on October 12 following a nationwide search. A St. Joseph County resident, Magnus most recently served as Executive Director of the Acorn Center for the Performing Arts in Three Oaks, Michigan. In her remarks, she spoke about the Foundation’s momentum and growing countywide focus.

“As we look ahead to the Foundation’s 65th anniversary, we have an incredible opportunity to celebrate the generosity and vision that have shaped this organization while building on that legacy to make an even greater impact across St. Joseph County,” said Magnus. “I’m inspired by the thoughtful leadership of our Board, the generosity of our donors, and the extraordinary work being done by nonprofit organizations throughout our communities. I’m excited to build on that momentum, strengthen partnerships, and ensure the Foundation continues to be a meaningful resource for the people and places that make St. Joseph County such a special place to call home.”

During the annual business meeting, led by Erin Melchi-Baker and Treasurer Kim Bontrager, trustees approved last year’s minutes, the committee rosters, and the following countywide officers and trustees for the year ahead:

• Officers: Chair Erin Melchi-Baker, Vice Chair Mike Hughes, Treasurer Kim Bontrager, and Secretary Mollie Felt
• Trustees: Derek Betts, Melissa Bliss, Ron Buckhold, John Carmichael, Joe Haas, Ned Haylett, Eric Jones, Anita Lopez-Schlabach, and Christy Trammell

Dr. Art Ebert, Superintendent of Sturgis Public Schools, presented the 2026 John E. Oster Award for Excellence in Teaching to Anna Northam, a seventh- and eighth-grade math teacher at Sturgis Middle School. Established in 1982 in memory of Sturgis attorney John E. Oster, the award honors a Sturgis Public Schools teacher who exemplifies high professional standards and extraordinary devotion to students, the profession, and the Sturgis community.

A Sturgis High School graduate, Northam brings 18 years of teaching experience to her classroom and serves as the school’s math department chair. Looking through the list of past Oster Award recipients, she found many of her own former teachers.

“I don’t see this award as something that belongs only to me,” Northam said in her acceptance remarks. “I see it as a reflection of all of the people who have helped me along the way, because teaching is not something you do alone.”

The Foundation also thanked outgoing Trustee Frank Perez for four years of service on the Board of Trustees. He will continue serving on the Support Grants Committee.

With its new countywide structure, the Foundation recognized members of its community advisory boards, many of whom will continue serving on Foundation committees:

• Constantine: Rob Beachy, Karen Heimann, Mark Honeysett, Doug Mathews, Jennifer Platz, Dan Sorensen, and Megan Sorensen
• Three Rivers: Larry Daugherty, Allison Ertman, Kevin Kane, Kim Losik, Kelsey McClish, Matt Nowak, and Diana Weed
• White Pigeon: Jackie Krull, Shelly McBride, Bobette Melchi, and Barb Niblock

The SACF 2026 Annual Meeting was made possible by sponsors Sturgis Bank & Trust, Oakleaf Financial Services, Stifel Ray Financial Group, Century Bank & Trust, and IPEX Investment Performance Evaluation Experts.

About the Sturgis Area Community Foundation

The Sturgis Area Community Foundation is a $54 million foundation committed to serving the charitable needs of its communities and enriching the quality of life for all people in St. Joseph County, Michigan. Through philanthropic services, strategic investments, and community leadership, the Sturgis Area Community Foundation helps people support the causes they care about now and for generations to come.