Denison Unrestricted Fund

Rollie and Olga Denison were children of the Depression and appreciated the opportunities that Mt. Pleasant afforded them. They felt it was important to support the community that had given them so much. It is a remarkable but true statement that their greatest financial priority was meaningful community philanthropy, and they backed up their financial offerings with gifts of their time and wisdom.

To us at the Foundation, Rollie’s name will be uniquely treasured as that of one of our founders, as a board member and our first president, and as our judicious guide through the challenges of starting a new foundation and leading its steady growth. He and his wife, Olga, were extraordinary benefactors, leaving a legacy through their many contributions to our community, including the establishment of the Denison Unrestricted Fund in July of 2000.

Rollie and Olga Denison, an older couple, posed on the lawn outside of their brick house, in the background.

The Denisons expected their community impact fund to benefit our changing community, now, and for years to come. They championed the idea of truly unrestricted endowment funds that could meet needs not met by other, more specific, funds. To date, the Denison Unrestricted Fund has helped to provide caregiver workshops at the Isabella County Commission on Aging, emergency food through the American Red Cross, security lighting for the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen, travel assistance for those with cancer through Community Cancer Services, and so much more. We thank them for having the foresight to plan ahead for our community.