Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Awarded $60,000 from Corewell Health Foundation Southwest Michigan

December 26, 2024

St. Joseph, Michigan – The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber is proud to announce it has been awarded a total of $60,000 from the Corewell Health Foundation Southwest Michigan to support two of its 501(c)3 subsidiaries, the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Foundation and Discover Southwest Michigan. 

The award will help strengthen the Chamber's overall efforts to foster economic growth, attract and retain talent, and address critical community needs across Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties. 

“On behalf of our board and our members, we are greatly appreciative of Corewell Health Foundation’s generous investment in our mission,” said Arthur Havlicek, President & CEO of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber. “This funding will enable us to deploy impactful programming across the community, with the goal of increasing prosperity and population throughout Southwest Michigan.”

$50,000 was awarded to the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Foundation to support programming across the Chamber’s four pillars of service: Leadership Development, Business Development, Community Development, and Economic Development.

$10,000 was awarded to Discover Southwest Michigan, the Chamber’s initiative aimed at increasing population growth by showcasing Southwest Michigan as an ideal place to live, work, and raise a family.

"Corewell Health is enthusiastic about backing the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Foundation’s efforts to advance leadership, economic growth, business, and community progress,” said Soroya Pierre-VanArtsen, President of the Corewell Health Foundation Southwest Michigan & Vice President of Philanthropy for Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals. “We are equally eager to support the Chamber’s Discover Southwest Michigan initiative. We firmly believe that Discover Southwest Michigan will be a groundbreaking initiative to draw in talent, thereby expanding our workforce and community. A vibrant community functions as a dynamic system in which individuals feel a sense of belonging and support, and where their needs are fulfilled.”

Corewell Health Foundation Southwest Michigan presents Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber (SMRC) with a $50,000 check for the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Foundation.

(Front row L to R: Soroya Pierre-VanArtesen, President, Corewell Health Foundation Southwest Michigan & Vice President, Philanthropy for Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals; Olivia Starks, Starks Family Funeral Homes & incoming SMRC Board Chair; Arthur Havlicek, SMRC President & CEO; Christine Vanlandingham, Corewell Health South Board Chairman; Natalie Baggio, RN, President & COO Corewell Health South. Back Row L to R: Molly McFadden, SMRC Resource Development Manager; Leanne Brownfield, Sturgis Bank & SMRC Foundation Board of Directors; Jasmine Hansen, SMRC Membership Engagement Manager; Ron Sorce, Four Winds Casino & SMRC Board of Directors; Dr. James Gendernalik, DO, Family Physicians of St. Joseph, P.C. & SMRC Board of Directors; Sarah Spoonholtz, SMRC Director of Membership & Events.)

Corewell Health Foundation Southwest Michigan presents Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber (SMRC) with a check for Discover Southwest Michigan.

(Front row L to R: Soroya Pierre-VanArtesen, President, Corewell Health Foundation Southwest Michigan & Vice President, Philanthropy for Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals; Olivia Starks, Starks Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, and incoming SMRC Board Chair; Arthur Havlicek, SMRC President & CEO; Christine Vanlandingham, Corewell Health South Board Chairman; Natalie Baggio, RN, President & COO Corewell Health South. Back Row L to R: Molly McFadden, SMRC Resource Development Manager; Leanne Brownfield, Sturgis Bank & SMRC Ambassador & SMRC Foundation Board of Directors; Jasmine Hansen, SMRC Membership Engagement Manager; Ron Sorce, Four Winds Casino & SMRC Board of Directors; Dr. James Gendernalik, DO, Family Physicians of St. Joseph, P.C. & SMRC Board of Directors; Sarah Spoonholtz, SMRC Director of Membership & Events.)

Corewell Health South Board Chairman Christine Vanlandingham presents Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber President & CEO Arthur Havlicek with a check for Discover Southwest Michigan.

Corewell Health South Board Chairman Christine Vanlandingham presents Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber President & CEO Arthur Havlicek with a check for the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber Foundation.

About the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber: The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber is a non-profit business advocacy and collective-impact organization serving Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties. Established in 1954, the Chamber works to strengthen regional assets, advocate for regional priorities, and cultivate an economic ecosystem that prepares the region for future opportunities.

About Discover Southwest Michigan: Discover Southwest Michigan is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated solely to business and talent attraction in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties. Its mission is to grow the region’s population through: Regional Marketing that positions our region as an ideal destination to live, work, and raise a family; and Relocation Services that engage external talent, convert them into long-term residents, and help integrate them so that they may build fulfilling personal and professional lives within our community.

About the Corewell Health Foundation Southwest Michigan: The Corewell Health Foundation Southwest Michigan works with individual donors, families, corporations, and area foundations to generate resources through grants, charitable donations and bequests. These resources provide new equipment, expansion and renovation of hospital facilities, support for quality health care services and beyond.