| Five generations of the Miller family have summered in Charlevoix, starting with Jeff's grandmother, and continuing through Anne and Jeff's six children and 13 grandchildren. "Even though we're scattered all over the country, we still look forward to spending time together up here," Jeff says of their almost 100-year history with the community.
When not in Charlevoix, Anne and Jeff live near Baltimore, where he retired as a curator at the Smithsonian. It was in Maryland that the Millers first learned about community foundations, and why they decided to become donors. "We like the idea of building up the local foundation here, since it's a place that's so meaningful to our family," explains Anne.
|
A couple of years ago, Anne and Jeff started a donor advised fund that will allow them to have a say in deciding what kinds of issues their grants will address.
Having a fund that's flexible enough to match their diverse interests and, eventually, those of their children was appealing. Jeff, an ardent fly fisherman and ecologist, hopes to direct some grantmaking to conservation and river cleanup efforts; Anne's interest lean more toward the arts. And both are strong supporters of this area's healthcare programs. "The important thing is that we can participate in choosing what to support, so if the community's needs change or our own interests evolve, we're not locked into a single cause," Anne explains.
|
