Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation

For good. For ever.

306 South University Avenue Mount Pleasant, MI, 48858 United States

(989) 773-7322

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Isabella County, now and for generations to come, by attracting and holding permanent endowed funds from a wide range of donors, addressing needs through grant making and providing leadership on key community issues.

Autism Advantage Fund

Courtney Heitmeyer has a strong passion for serving those with autism and their families. “It has always been a dream of mine to create change in my community,” Courtney said.  “I found a passion for autism seven years ago and I committed myself to making change within the autism community by creating awareness, advocating for services, and providing support financially and emotionally.”

In 2017, she decided to spearhead fundraising efforts to provide resources and services for individuals with autism in Isabella County. Autism Advantage is an innovative practice devoted to working with adolescents and adults with autism, helping them to understand their unique personality styles and teaching those individuals how to use their gifts to overcome social challenges and associated anxiety and depression. Courtney, her parents, and her sister are graduates of Central Michigan University. Her fiancé, Tyler Stegman, has strong ties to the central Michigan community. “The focus on this community is personal,” Courtney added.

Courtney and Tyler Stegman

More than 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder. Courtney hopes to create more awareness and understanding about autism, as well as provide financial support to families who have to travel to receive services, or for whom services are not covered by health insurance. The Autism Advantage Fund was founded in 2017 as a field of interest fund to provide grants to charitable organizations for programs addressing the needs of adults and adolescents with autism in the Central Michigan area.