Thought-Provoking Speakers, Cutting-Edge Topics & Green Gala Combined To Make CMF 36th Annual Conference “One Of The Best Ever”

Whether learning about new ways to help address Michigan’s economic problems, navigating today’s investment markets or predicting the impact of climate change on the Great Lakes, grantmakers from around the state came together to find new ways to help their communities at the CMF 36th Annual Conference: Achieving Michigan’s Transformation.

Held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place in Grand Rapids October 12-14, 2008, more than 700 trustees, executives and staff of Michigan’s foundation community enjoyed the wisdom, wit and musical memories in poignant keynote addresses from:

• Dan Rather, award-winning journalist, author and philanthropist on what the presidential election has in store for Michigan and how grantmakers will continue to be the visionaries for the state and nation
• Scott Page, professor of complex systems, political science and economics at the University of Michigan, who brought a new perspective about how diversity is in fact the key to problem solving and sustainable change, based on a mathematical model
• Breannah Alexander, member of the Michigan Community Service Commission and CMF’s Michigan Community Foundations’ Youth Project Committee, and Craig Ruff, senior policy fellow at Public Sector Consultants, leading a Town Hall-style session as part of a Michigan’s Defining Moment campaign by asking how well the state is transforming its government, social systems and economy in these trying times
• Angela Glover Blackwell, founder & CEO, PolicyLink; Bruce Katz, vice president of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institute; and The Kresge Foundation President & CEO Rip Rapson providing their insights into how philanthropy can spark Michigan’s transformation through human capital, innovation, quality places and infrastructure
• Singer Judy Collins and actress Ruby Dee, two inspirational philanthropists and activists, on how one individual or one foundation can be a dynamic force for change in Michigan’s transformational process while also taking their audience on a trip down memory lane filled with songs, poetry and personal stories

“This conference brought together the best of new ideas, insightful speakers and an opportunity for all of us in philanthropy to share our thoughts on how best to make the needed meaningful changes to move Michigan forward,” says Melonie Colaianne, president of the MASCO Corporation Foundation and new CMF Board chairperson. “It was one of the best annual conferences ever.”  

Robert S. Collier, CMF’s president and CEO, said the annual conference was “a truly remarkable event that brought together forward thinking foundation leaders and experts in many fields to help find new ways to transform Michigan for the future.”