Community Impact
Monroe County is a special place, and we believe in making it even better. At the Community Foundation of Monroe County, we’re dedicated to creating lasting, positive change in the areas that matter most—education, health and well-being, and community enrichment. Together with our donors and partners, we’re strengthening lives, fostering opportunity, and building a community where everyone can thrive.
If you share our vision, we invite you to join us. Your support can spark real change and bring hope to every corner of Monroe County.
Behind the Scenes of Our Community Impact.
What does CFMC actually do?
The honest answer is: a lot.
We listen. We connect. We partner. We help people, organizations, and communities turn good ideas into meaningful action.
And because that work does not always fit neatly into one sentence, we created The Community Foundation — a video series that takes you behind the scenes of CFMC’s work across Monroe County.
Through this series, you will get to know our team, visit local projects, hear from community partners, and see a few of the unexpected ways CFMC helps make things possible.
From rural communities to youth voice, donor generosity, and big ideas taking shape close to home, The Community Foundation offers a closer look at what it means to be powered by community and driven by purpose.
Check out our latest episodes below!
The Fellowship of the Rural
What exactly is a Rural Engagement Fellow?
For Melissa Fox, CFMC’s Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation Rural Engagement Fellow, the answer begins with something simple: showing up.
Melissa spends her time traveling across Monroe County, meeting with residents, listening to local leaders, and building relationships in rural communities. Her work helps CFMC better understand what matters most to people in each community — not from a distance, but through real conversations and firsthand connection.
In Episode One of The Community Foundation, we introduce Melissa’s role and take a closer look at what rural engagement means in practice: listening first, building trust, and helping turn community ideas into action.
The Dirt on the Play
The kids helped design it.
The volunteers helped build it.
And Melissa showed up with plenty of confidence.
In this episode of The Community Foundation, we travel to London Township for a KABOOM! playground build that brought together neighbors, volunteers, partners, and a whole lot of community energy.
The result was more than new playground equipment. It was a safe, welcoming place for local children to play, dream, and gather — built by the community, for the community.
This episode highlights how CFMC helps connect local needs with larger opportunities, and how partnerships with organizations like KABOOM! and Landscape Structures Inc. can help bring big ideas to life in Monroe County.
News
Highlighting the latest stories of CFMC impact.
Last Updated May 26, 2026
Breaking the Ripple Effect
Making a Splash for Safer Swimming
Last Updated April 10, 2026
Rooted, Reimagined, and Ready: Monroe County Shows Up for Its Future
Last Updated March 9, 2026
Transformation & Impact: Beyond the Barn Door
Last Updated September 16, 2025
Honoring a Trailblazer: The Dr. Elizabeth C. Crosby Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Community Foundation of Monroe County (CFMC) is honored to announce the establishment of the Dr. Elizabeth C. Crosby ...
Last Updated July 29, 2025
2025 Philanthropy Playoffs
Game On: The Philanthropy Playoffs Are Here! We’re turning giving into a team sport — and you’re invited to play. From August 1 to October 2, the Com...
Last Updated July 2, 2025
Advancing Health and Equity in Monroe County—$180K+ in Grants Awarded
Five innovative projects selected to strengthen access, equity, and wellness across the region
Last Updated May 2, 2025
Celebrating Bright Futures at St. Charles!
This week, we had the distinct pleasure of visiting St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Newport to pres...
Last Updated May 2, 2025
G.R.O.W. Spring Gathering: A Night of Community, Connection, and Over $10,000 in Local Grants
On a beautiful spring evening at River Raisin National Battlefield Park, more than 100 women gathered for one of our favorite nights of the year—the
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Be a Part of the Change
Together, we’re making Monroe County a place where everyone can flourish. Whether you give, volunteer, or advocate, your support helps us build a stronger, brighter community for today and tomorrow.
Let’s create something extraordinary—together.
