RUSSELL ISLAND FOUNDATION
Established October 1987
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About the Foundation
Since its inception the Foundation has been effective in supporting costly projects needed to maintain and improve our quality of life on Russell Island through use of your tax-deductible dues and contributions. Examples include: Anderson Island bridge, the seawall project, ferry landing, new playground equipment, the beach and pavilion project, and the green space initiative.
None of this will be possible without the support of all Islanders. Please join us by mailing your dues today and by remembering the Foundation as you consider your charitable giving.
Our Mission
Capital Improvement
Maintain, keep in good repair and replace as needed the public roads, walks and bridges on the Island.
Oversight
Conserve, restore, protect and regulate the natural resources of Russell Island.
Preservation
Preserve the public areas of the Island through the control of shore erosion and other water damage.
Public Facilities
Construct, Replace, Repair and Maintain facilities of the Island park, the ferry dock and any other facilities used in common by land owners.
By the Numbers
Years
The Russell Island Foundation was formed in 1987 to support costly, public good projects for the Island.
Donated
To date, the Foundation has provided over $700,000 in funding to projects that would have been impossible otherwise.
Member Cottages
Our goal is to get 100% participation. Each cottage can help us sustain the Island for generations to come.
MAJOR PROJECTS
The Foundation has funded more than 15 projects that would be impossible without our support. Click here for more details.
An Update from the Foundation President
August 2022
Dear Islanders,
Thank you to all who participated in the Memorial Day ceremony and to Kathy Engelhart and her crew for organizing the event. The Junior Color Guard of St. Clair County added some pageantry to the ceremony that was appreciated by all. The kids and families of the Color Guard had never been to Russell Island, and they were charmed by our wonderful setting. We hope to get them back next year with their play clothes and bathing suits!
During the Memorial Day ceremony, we also honored our island veterans from the Vietnam War. And we created a handout listing information from all our living and deceased island veterans. All in all, it was a very moving day.
Thank you to Missy Poynter for chairing the very successful RIF Silent Auction at the Belmont Stakes party. She did an awesome job, and we could not have done it without her!
I am looking forward to the Musicfest on Saturday, August 13th, details below. Dave Mason is organizing this event, keep your fingers crossed for good weather, and see you there for an afternoon of music, dancing, food, drinks, swimming, and fun!
Also, our annual meeting of the members is coming up on Labor Day weekend, details below. I hope to see all of you there.
Warmly,
Karen Ridgway
Karen Ridgway, President
Newsletter Archive
Foundation Members
September 2020-August 2021
- Mary Abramson
- John and Mary Sue Adams
- Joel and Denne Bacow
- Peter and Kathy Bardin
- Jim and Barb Bierbusse
- Jeff Brannon
- Tom Breyer
- Michael Cameron
- Angela Caponi
- Claude and Denise Caponi
- Eilene Caponi
- Conrad Clippert
- Karen Crespi
- Bob and Pat Degrieck
- Augie and Dee Engelhart
- Steve and Kathy Engelhart
- Robb Fleischer
- Bob and Donna Garrison
- Andrea and Matt Gill
- Judy Glancy
- Tim and Midge Glancy
- Shannon Glancy
- Brad and Katie Goike
- Bill and Beth Gratopp
- Georgene Grattan
- Deborah Grosfield
- Phil Hale
- Erik Hall
- Rob and Margaret Hall
- Virginia Harrington
- Wade and Gina Hawkins
- Dan and Starr Hickey
- Emil and Kim Holka
- Ken and JoAnn Hollowell
- Mary Hufford
- Melanie Izokovic
- Jim and Melanie Jackson
- Paul and Paula Kaip
- Richard and Anne Krus
- Brian and Christina Knudson
- Joe and Lisa Korte
- Henry Kurczewski
- Theresa Lazar
- Carly Leasia
- Edge and Bev Leasia
- Rosemary Leckie
- Harvey Lefevre
- Anne and John Lichtenberg
- Mike and Pam Loomis
- Gene and Jeanne LoVasco
- Dave and Diane Mason
- Heather Mayernik
- John and Pat McLoed
- Tom and Rebecca Mcleod
- Rich McMann
- Bill Moosekian
- Joe and Karen Moosekian
- Rachel Moosekian/Cyndi Compton
- Joe and Angela Munroe
- Gary and Donna Musto
- Margaret Mutch and Bill Fisher
- Mick and Lynda North
- Bernie Ohlert Sr.
- Mike and Amy Ohlert
- Vince Ohlert
- Dan and Katherine Pareizs
- Brian and Niki Peltier
- John and Sylvia Pfender
- Peter and Laurie Psarianos
- Emily and Alex Quail
- MaryLou Reaume
- Karen Ridgway
- Tony Ruggirello
- Cathy Sarb
- Jeremy and Lindsay Schroeder
- Kathryn Schroeder
- Robert and Mary Schroeder
- Norma Siedlik
- Randy and Kat Skotarczyk
- Phil and Liz Sloan
- Robert and Amy Sloan
- Kim Smith
- Rob and Janice Smith
- Delphine Sroka
- Diane Stanbury
- Warren and Anne Steel
- Dan and Diane Stock
- Ralph and Maria Szejbach
- Bob and Paula Tatti
- Derek and Vickie Teetsel
- Greg and Ann Tignanelli
- Tom and Coreen Traister
- Mark and Theresa Warner
- Susan Zick
Meet the Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
Jeanne LoVasco
SECRETARY
TREASURER
TRUSTEE
TRUSTEE
TRUSTEE
Robert Sloan
TRUSTEE
Robert Smith
TRUSTEE
Steve Engelhart
RIPOA PRESIDENT
Library
Articles of Incorporation | RIF
Download Articles of Incorporation Attachment to Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation
Green Spaces | RIF
Preserving Our Green Space The Foundation wants to keep Russell lsland beautiful! Due to the Foundation's status as a 501(c)(3) organization, a donation of property is deductible for Federal income tax purposes. Your accountant can advise you further on your specific...
Contribute Today
There are lots of ways to support the mission of the Russell Island Foundation. The simplest of all gifts is outright gift of cash. You can use the form below to donate via PayPal (consider adding the transaction fee to your gift) or pledge a paper check. You can also support the Russell Island Foudnation through Kroger Community Program or the Amazon Smile Program (more information below). If you want to contribute using a different type of planned gift, read more below.
Planned Giving
- Outright gift of cash. Simplest of all gifts to implement. Just transfer cash, write a check or fill out a credit card charge slip. Gift is fully deductible up to 50% of AGI with a 5-year carryover of any excess deduction.
- Outright Gift of Long-Term Capital Gain Property. Also easy to implement. Just transfer possession and any document of title to charity. Gift is fully deductible up to 30o/o of AGI. with a 5-year carryover provision. No capital gains tax on the appreciation.
- Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT). CRAT receives gift and pays back to donor or other beneficiary at least 50% return on initial principal for life or for a period of up to 20 years. Can pay out tax-exempt incorne, but cannot receive subsequent contributions. No capital gains tax if appreciated property is used. Donor can deduct immediately the present value of charity’s remainder interest, subject to the 50% or 30% limitation.
- Pooled Income Fund (PIF). PIF pays an income to donor, proportionate to his or her share of fund earnings. Can be funded with smaller gift amounts than CRAT or CRUI and can receive subsequent contributions. No capital gains tax if appreciated property is used, but cannot pay out tax-exempt income. Donor can deduct immediately present value of the charity’s remainder interest, subject to the 50% or 30%o lirnitation.
- Charitable Gift Annuity. Donor transfers gift to charity and receives back a guaranteed lifetime (or joint lifetime) income. Income amount is based on age(s) of beneficiary(ies) and is partly tax-free when received. If appreciated property is given, some of the capital gain is recognized ratably over donor’s life expectancy. Donor can deduct immediately the value of the income stream from the annuity, subject to the percentage limitations.
- Life Insurance. Donor can use life insurance in many ways to make tax-wise charitable gifts. An irrevocable assignment of a life insurance policy to charity can generate an income tax deduction for the policy’s cost basis or cash surrender value, with future premiums also deductible on policies that are not paid-up. Life insurance can also be used as wealth replacement for charitable trusts and to leverage gifts with discounted premiums.
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Contact Us
Russell Island Foundation
P.O. 361322
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236