This past Monday evening, Sept. 14, Saginaw Community Foundation hosted its 2026 Annual Celebration at Saginaw Valley State University. We gathered together to share how it takes each of us to help build a flourishing community for all.
A staple at our Annual Celebration is the presentation of several community awards. The Joseph W. Madison Youth Award was presented to Brendan Chislea, a 2026 graduate of Freeland High School; the Mridha Foundation Teacher of the Year Award was presented to Matthew Berchert of Saginaw Career Complex; the Saginaw Community Foundation Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Scott Ellis; and the Frank N. Andersen Spirit of Philanthropy Award was presented to Terry Duperon and Tammy Bernier – the first father/daughter dual awardees for this award.
Joseph W. Madison Youth Award
Brendan Chislea, a recent graduate from Freeland High School, was awarded the 2026 Joseph W. Madison Youth Award at our Annual Celebration.
Established in 2007, the Joseph W. Madison Youth Award recognizes an area youth who has given a little more and went above and beyond to serve the community. A longtime community volunteer and champion, Joseph Madison spent countless hours giving back to help make Saginaw County a better place and remarked: “Everybody’s got something to give. There are so many ways to take your skills and talents and help the community.”
Brendan was nominated by Ms. Jessica Harrold, counselor at Freeland High School. She had this to say about Brendan:
“Brendan is very deserving of the Saginaw Community Foundation Youth Award because of his exceptional commitment to service, leadership, and mentorship he has given to the young students in Saginaw County and at Freeland Community Schools. He has completed an exceptional amount of community service hours throughout high school, and I know he plans to continue to be involved and volunteer for the Robotics STEM experiences moving forward. Brendan consistently volunteers his time to mentor younger students, sharing technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and encouragement with patience and enthusiasm. He serves as both teacher and role model, helping new team members develop confidence while fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. He willingly invests countless hours to ensure others have opportunities to learn and contribute.”
Mridha Foundation Teacher of the Year Award
Matthew Berchert, a teacher from Saginaw Career Complex, received this year’s Mridha Foundation Teacher of the Year Award.
“I want to I want to thank the Saginaw Community Foundation, Saginaw Public Schools and Saginaw Career Complex (for this award),” said Matthew Berchert. “When I retired as a law enforcement officer after 31 years, a lot of people asked me, ‘why are you stepping back?’ I don’t believe it was a step back. I believe it was a step-up.”
“Every day I get the opportunity to watch young men and women who are showing their potential, their dreams, their desire to help their communities and give back to their communities. I thank my lucky stars every day that I’m able to provide one small part in that drive to achieve their dreams.”
Founded in 2010 by Dr. Debasish Mridha, the Teacher of the Year Award was established to help teachers inspire students to reach beyond their potential.
Teacher’s receiving this award will be presented with a grant to be used for continuing education and professional development.
“Teachers are one of our community’s greatest assets,” said Dr. Mridha. “They inspire confidence, build character, and sometimes change the course of a young person’s life.”
Saginaw Community Foundation Volunteer of the Year Award
Scott Ellis was named the Saginaw Community Foundation Volunteer of the Year. Scott currently serves on the SCF Board of Directors and is a member of the Community Engagement and Inclusion Council Leadership Team and the Community Improvement Initiative and Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) Committee.
“I was really fortunate to be exposed to philanthropy at a young age and have been able to carry that experience into my professional career,” said Scott Ellis. “It’s been such a privilege to be part of the Saginaw Community Foundation. To have the opportunity to work alongside all of you. And I really do appreciate it. And then to my fellow board members and everyone in this room who gives up their time, talent and treasure to support our hundreds of organizations in the Great Lakes Bay region. Thank you for doing that work. The work that you do matters. Thank you (for this award). This is so, wonderful.”
Established in 2024, this award is presented annually to someone who exhibits a desire to better the community, holds a passion for SCF and being a strong advocate for community improvement.
Frank N. Andersen Spirit of Philanthropy Award
Terry Duperon and Tammy Bernier were named this year’s recipients of the Frank N. Andersen Spirit of Philanthropy Award, marking the first time the award was presented to a father/daughter duo.
In 1994, the Frank N. Andersen Spirit of Philanthropy Award was created to honor Mr. Andersen. The award is presented annually to an individual or individuals who have a history of outstanding philanthropic leadership and have demonstrated their generosity of time, talent, and dollars. This award honors its recipient, who, like Mr. Andersen, is a philanthropist in the truest sense of the word – with a personal commitment to making a difference here in Saginaw County.
Upon learning they were the recipients of this award during the program, Tammy Bernier remarked: “I can’t even say what it means for us to receive something like this. I will say that one of my dreams was to be a philanthropist, and when I think of all the people who have received this award in the past, I can’t imagine that I am part of (the list) as well.”
Community Improvement Initiative Grant Award Announcement
The SCF Board of Directors’ Community Improvement Initiative (CII) $40,000 grant was awarded to Buena Vista Charter Township Parks & Recreation for improvements to the Duane J. Fairris Community Center.
This grant award will be part of a larger capital funding campaign that will address critical needs at the community center. The project includes replacing aging HVAC components, install energy-efficient LED pool lighting, add a new ADA-compliant pool chair lift, and upgrade fans in the pool area and gymnasium. Once complete, the community center expects to serve over 1,000 direct recipients, from youth and families to seniors who rely on the Center for wellness programming and social connection.
“Getting this grant will going to be huge for our community center,” said Bill Wheeler, director of Parks & Recreation, Buena Vista Charter Township. “Our community center serves a number of people from very different walks of life and this grant will be very helpful.”
In a surprise announcement, FORCE, SCF’s Youth Advisory Committee, presented the CII Grant Runner-Up project, Rotary Club of Saginaw Crayola Park Restoration, with a $40,000 grant.
“When the members of FORCE learned that the Crayola Park project was not the recipient of the 2026 CII grant, the members called an emergency meeting to propose the idea of supporting the project ourselves,” said Maia Bierlein, FORCE member. “Because the Crayola Park Project supports youth in our community, which is our focus, we felt compelled to do something to make sure this project was successful.”
The Rotary Club of Saginaw, in partnership with the City of Saginaw, is moving forward with the full restoration of Crayola Park, the beloved crayon-themed playground that has served Saginaw children since 1997. Part of a $636,000 restoration effort, the project will replace worn and unsafe play structures with new, durable, and fully accessible equipment – including barrier-free features like the Flex Swing and sensory-friendly elements such as the Cozy Dome Climber – designed with direct input from local kids. Expected to serve about 5,000 children annually and nearly 8,750 family members and caregivers, the restoration will make Crayola Park a safe, welcoming destination for generations of Saginaw youth to come.
“I am truly speechless,” said Daniel McKuine, president, Rotary Club of Saginaw. “Thank you to the Saginaw Community Foundation as a whole. We also appreciate you serving as our fiscal sponsor as we collect funds for Crayola Park. You know, some of you have heard me say this before, but we live in a world where people say, ‘well, someone’s got to do something about this.’ We are somebody. Everyone in this room is someone.”
Thank you to our event sponsor the Saginaw Spirit, our entertainment sponsor Clarence and Sarah Rivette, and our dessert sponsor Duperon Corporation for helping make our Annual Celebration possible. And special thank you to Sweet Home Chicago – The Blues Brothers Experience for providing live music entertainment for our guests.