Longtime Lakeshore Excellence Foundation Chair JC Anderson is reflecting on his time leading the organization as one of growth as he serves his last year in the position.
The LEF announced this week Anderson will step down at the end of the year after 14 years at the helm. Anderson, who turned 80 back in October, tells us when he came on as chair of the LEF, they raised about $215,000 per year for Lakeshore Public Schools. Now, it’s more like $650,000. He says that growth was accomplished by seeking out major donors with a stake in the community.
“We developed a list of businesses and individuals, and we talked to them very directly and asked for X amount of dollars from them based on their position within the community,” Anderson said.
Anderson says the LEF has also raised awareness of itself and its mission. He says it’s necessary because Lakeshore is at a bit of a disadvantage relative to other districts.
“Lakeshore, for a lot of different reasons, is in the bottom 15th percentile, believe it or not, when you evaluate the funding they receive from the state of Michigan on a revenue per student basis.”
Throughout the years, Anderson says all of the work done by the LEF has been to benefit students, and it’s made a difference.
“There is not a student, there is not a teacher or an administrator, that has not benefited from a grant, from a project, from an activity that the LEF has funded.”
Among major accomplishments of the LEF during his tenure, Anderson says a $660,000 renovation of the high school auditorium is a highlight.
Anderson became involved in the foundation due to his support of educators and the fact his grandsons were students at Lakeshore at the time. Come January 1 of 2027, he will move into the role of vice chair of fund development and LEF board member Himanshu Ganjoo will become chair.
Anderson says Ganjoo brings a younger, dynamic perspective to the job, making him the right choice.
