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Building Brighter Futures Together |
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BACKGROUND
Organized in 1949 as the Fremont Foundation under the leadership of William Branstrom, Herman Schuiteman, and Bessie Slautterback, the original intent was to provide the youth of Newaygo County with educational opportunities.
In 1971 The Fremont Foundation became two separate legal entities, one being a community foundation titled The Fremont Area Foundation and the other NCCS (Newaygo County Community Services).
Since 1972, NCCS, a private, nonprofit organization, has been improving the lives of the residents and communities of rural Newaygo County. Because of the scope and impact of over 50 programs, it is a truly unique, community-based organization that directly reached the lives of 44% of the county’s population in 2002.
NCCS focuses its efforts in four areas of programming: Family and Household Services assist families in need with food, heat, safe and affordable housing, and other basic household needs; Youth Development and Cultural Enrichment Programs include mentoring, camping, youth involvement programs as well as arts and music programs that enhance the limited arts experiences offered in local schools. Community Enhancement Programs consist of services for older adults, a countywide Volunteer Resource Center, and collaborations that address a number of community needs, from housing to emergency preparedness. The organization’s mission is to serve as “the communities’ crossroads where caring people come together to restore reshape and enrich lives”.
ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY
As an independent, not-for-profit agency, NCCS succeeds because over 1,076 individuals and/or groups volunteered 58,356 hours of their time in 2005. Their contribution doubles the human capacity of the organization’s staff and makes NCCS the largest volunteer effort in Newaygo County.
NCCS staff and volunteers offer local solutions in the areas of homelessness, housing, family self-sufficiency, emergency needs, and youth development. In addition, NCCS offers community enrichment services in the arts and volunteerism that improve the quality of life in the entire county.
NCCS operates as a vital and responsive organization that serves the positive development of individuals and their communities. Capitalizing on the combined strengths of local people, NCCS strives to be the model for rural community organizations by effectively taking on today’s challenges in order to seize tomorrow’s opportunities.
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NCCS - 6308 S. Warner Ave - PO Box 149 - Fremont, MI 49412 (231) 924-0641 phone - (231) 924-5594 fax - info@nccsweb.org
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