Cook Family Foundation

Community leaders are coming together to investigate the opportunities and challenges of recycling. A series of public engagement sessions were held throughout Shiawassee County during February, March, and April to learn what citizens think. 

 “We are all leaders,” said facilitator Kari Krantz, “and we wanted everyone’s input. Future successful recycling initiatives throughout the county can only happen if they are supported by area residents.” 

Key stakeholders in the effort, representing local governments, business groups, and community nonprofits, are working together to identify opportunities, build a sustainable economy, create jobs, reduce environmental impacts, and improve the quality of life for all residents. The Cook Family Foundation is providing logistical support for the collaborative effort.  

“We already have a number of strong recycling assets in our community,” said Tom Cook, Executive Director of the Cook Family Foundation. “They include the DJ Root Recycling Center and the Greater Laingsburg Recyclers. Businesses like Great Lakes Fusion are discovering the economic opportunities in sustainable practices.”

A new State law (Part 115 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act) requires Shiawassee County to submit a comprehensive plan that demonstrates new mechanisms to reduce existing materials waste presently going to landfills. Plans must include a description of how communities are engaged in the planning process. Development of the plan is the responsibility of the Shiawassee County Materials Waste Management Committee.                   

Twenty-two individuals, representing 14 organizations, have joined in this collaborative effort by signing a Charter outlining the mission, vision and goals they have to promote the economic, environmental, and community benefits of recycling. The Shiawassee Community Recycling Workgroup is not a governmental entity and lacks any authority to make changes in public or private practices.  Rather, the group exists to provide a central clearinghouse for information, to gain input from the public, and to help participant organizations achieve their own goals.

Those organizations adopting the Charter include:

• City of Corunna
• City of Owosso
• Cook Family Foundation
• Fleis & Vandenbrink
• Greater Laingsburg Recycling
• Michigan Recycling Coalition
• Resourceful Recycling
• Shiawassee Community Foundation
• Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners
• Shiawassee County Health Department
• Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership
• Shiawassee Health and Wellness/DJ Root Recycling
• Shiawassee Materials Management Committee
• Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Shiawassee Regional Education Service District
• The Arc Mid-Michigan

Public input began with a series of Youth Engagement Sessions, designed to tap into the ideas of local high school students. A culminating outcome of these sessions involves high school students from all county districts in developing unique recycling initiatives with start-up funds allocated for each district. High school students from Corunna, Morrice, and Owosso working on recycling projects to be implemented this spring.

For additional information about the Community Engagement Sessions or the High School youth activities, please email Kari Krantz, at info@kskconsultancy.com or call (989) 277-6531.

For general information about this county-wide effort, please email Lorraine Austin, at lorraine@cookfamilyfoundation.org or call (989) 277-7337.

The Cook Family Foundation continues to grow and evolve to better serve the community.  We are happy to announce the addition of several new staff members and two new board members. They each bring their unique skills to the “family” that carries on the legacy of our founders, engages with our partners, and guides our future philanthropy.  None of us alone is as smart as all of us together, and the Foundation embodies this philosophy in its staffing and governance. 

Rachel Osmer is our new Associate Director and will support the nonprofit and community organizations that work on the ground to improve Shiawassee County.  She will also work closely with Yvette Collard, Director of Scholarships, who serves Shiawassee area students looking toward an education at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, UM-Flint, or UM-Dearborn.  

Rachel grew up in Owosso and moved back several years ago.  She obtained her undergraduate degree from UM in Ann Arbor with scholarship help from the Cook Family Foundation.  She also has a Masters in Social Work from Eastern Michigan University.  You may know her as a newly-elected Owosso City Council member (Congratulations, Rachel!).  Most recently, she worked at UM-Flint supporting undergraduates who’ve experienced time in foster care. She is also on the Board of Shiawassee Hope. In her free time, she enjoys being an auntie to her three nieces, loves reading and exploring the public library, and savoring her daily coffee fix – especially from Ollie’s and Foster Coffee Co.

“I am excited about starting with the Cook Family Foundation because it almost feels like coming “home” for me. I am passionate about working with nonprofits, especially those that serve marginalized folks in our community. Working with the CFF is the perfect blend of returning home to work with my community, and also putting my macro level social work skills to use.”

Anna Owens and Tom Cook are now sharing the role of Executive Director for the Foundation.  After 25 years as the sole Executive Director, Tom is now getting the help of his spouse, who will use her complementary skills to champion new community initiatives.  Tom Cook will concentrate more of his efforts on the environmental priorities of the Foundation.  Together, and with the support of an active board, they will direct the work of the Foundation.

Anna has an extensive track record in sales and fundraising in the community, having worked as a Vice President at Wolverine Sign and on the boards of the Lebowsky Center and the Shiawassee Family YMCA. She is excited to work with the Board and staff of the Foundation to help address community needs.

Lorraine Austin joins the team as Executive Assistant to support the increasing amount of work undertaken by the Foundation.  Lorraine was born and raised in Owosso and completed her undergraduate degree at Purdue University and Master’s at UM-Flint. Most of her professional career was spent in conservation education, most notably at the Staten Island Zoo, where she orchestrated and marketed the organization’s educational programs (including ecotourism trips to  Panama, Tanzania, Australia/New Zealand, the Peruvian Amazon, Alaska, and many whale watching excursions along the East Coast). Most recently, you may have seen her as the Interim Director of the Friends of the Shiawassee River. She lives in Owosso with her mother and her kitty companion Pearl.

“Working with the CFF allows me to flip from my life-long employment with nonprofits to serving them. One of the most exciting parts of the job is working in a strengths-based environment where we each excel and use our skills to better the organization as a whole.”

One new Trustee will further define the community orientation of the Cook Family Foundation.  They join the board of Paul Cook, Tom Cook, Anna Owens, Bailey Leppert, Susie Philips, and Matt Van Epps, bringing to an even four the number of family members and community members on the board. 

Ken Algozin lives in Owosso with his partner Linden Martin and completed his undergraduate degree at Purdue University, Master’s at MSU, and PhD at University of Illinois. He is currently retired, but has served as the Land Protection Specialist at Mid-Michigan Land Conservancy and Executive Director at DeVries Nature Conservancy. Most people who know Ken will recognize the value he brings to the CFF Board to provide focus on local environmental programming. Ken is an avid reader and enjoys backpacking in beautiful wild places.

“I am excited to serve on the CFF board for the opportunity to be involved in providing critical resources to organizations in our community that collectively contribute to the resiliency of our citizens and our natural resources.”

Let us celebrate these talented individuals and work collectively as essential parts of the Cook Family Foundation mission “to promote a more equitable society and positive community change”. We look forward to facing opportunities and challenges, progress and pitfalls, and successes and setbacks as a community. Together.