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What is Pay it Forward?

Pay It Forward is a new print and online MiBiz feature that will salute community volunteerism by area business people. Our intent is to illuminate the varied and meaningful contributions business people are making to improve our communities and the lives of our fellow residents. This feature is not about signing checks, serving on boards or sponsoring corporate events... this is about individuals in the trenches, sleeves rolled up, busy making a difference day-by-day.

Companies and not-for-profits will be encouraged year-round to nominate appropriate business individuals or groups. All nominations will appear in print and online. Select nominations will be featured with a photo and short story printed in MiBiz and posted on this page when the first nominee is selected. In addition, all photo stories will be reprinted in the 10/13/08 MiBiz “Not For Profit Organizations” Supplement.

Click here to nominate!

PAY IT FORWARD SPOTLIGHT

Craig Van Ess

Published in MiBiz September 02, 2008

Craig Van Ess
Vice President, Senior Wealth Management Advisor
Fifth Third Bank

As a super fundraiser for community organizations, Craig Van Ess has some rules of thumb. Although most could probably come up with 100 people to solicit funds from, Van Ess has 600 folks on his list.

"I don’t solicit from those I don’t know," Van Ess said. "I’ve been truly blessed and have met a lot of wonderful folks through my professional activities."

He also only asks for money once a year from those on his list.

By day, Van Ess serves the ultra-high net worth individuals and their families as a vice president at Fifth Third Bank. But in his spare time, he trains and participates in triathlons and raises money for worthy causes.

"I figure on average, I probably spend 5-6 hours a week on volunteer activities, but it ebbs and flows," Van Ess said.

He sought out community organizations after feeling a little selfish doing all the training required for the athletic competitions. He had decided to get in shape after graduating from law school and finding himself becoming inactive and overweight. He found a way to turn his training into a fundraiser.

Last year, by participating in two iron man triathlons (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bicycle and 26.2-mile marathon run), he raised about $90,000 for YMCA Healthy Kids.

"It’s a program that focuses on primarily inner-city kids who might not otherwise have certain advantages," said Van Ess.

About 300 third through fifth graders were selected from an inner-city elementary school. The kids hopped on a bus for a trip to the YMCA twice a week for three months. They trained for a mini-triathlon, learned about nutrition, healthy lifestyles and eating habits.

"A lot of the kids didn’t even have tennis shoes," said Van Ess, noting that Spectrum Health donated 300 pairs of running shoes and others bought socks for the youngsters.

Van Ess’s fundraising efforts since 1997 have mostly benefited Habitat for Humanity of Kent County. To date he has raised $585,000 for the organization, an amount equivalent to 14 new homes. He said nearly 100 percent of those on his donor list are very receptive to supporting Habitat’s cause.

Van Ess has served on numerous other boards and committees for community organizations including the West Michigan Trails and Greenways Coalition, Camp Henry and Abundant Life Ministries.

In his position at Fifth Third, Van Ess acts much like a personal CFO for wealthy customers, utilizing an array of services including legal, accounting, investment and portfolio management

Van Ess’s biggest supporters are his wife Alice and daughters, Katerina and Olivia.

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View Past Nominees

Baudville’s winning performance

Eloise Luyk, VP of Human Resources, Northern Air Inc., Northern Jet Management

Jose Hernandez, Retired supervisor, General Motors

Jane Owen, Employee Benefits Services, Beene Garter LLP

Tina Cao, RN, Advantage Health Physician Network

 

HONOR ROLL LIST-Current individuals nominated.

  • David Kettler
    Media Place Partners, Grand Rapids
    Volunteers for: VSA Arts
    Pro-bono marketing services
    www.vsagr.org
  • Jeff Tow
    Jeff Tow Creative, Rockford
    Volunteers for: VSA Arts
    Pro-bono marketing services
    www.vsagr.org
  • John Kailunas
    Regal Financial Group, Kentwood, MI
    Hunt for a Cure
    Co-founder: Raises funds to find a cure for the terminal disease cystic fibrosis
  • Pete Odland
    White's Bridge Tooling,
    Lowell, MI
    Hunt for a Cure
    Co-founder: Raises funds to find a cure for the terminal disease cystic fibrosis
  • Tim Britt
    W. Soule & Company, Kalamazoo, MI
    Volunteers for: Project Home Again
    Displays posters of local missing children on service vehicles
    www.projecthomeagain.com
  • Craig Clark
    Clark Communications, Grand Rapids, MI
    Volunteers for: VSA Arts
    Pro-bono marketing services
    www.vsagr.org
  • Mark Bird
    Bird Design, Grand Rapids, MI
    Volunteers for: VSA Arts
    Pro-bono marketing services
    www.vsagr.org
  • Frank Blossom
    Frank Communications, Grand Rapids, MI
    Volunteers for: VSA Arts
    Pro-bono marketing services
    www.vsagr.org
  • Jeff Hage
    Green Frog Photo, Grand Rapids, MI
    Volunteers for: VSA Arts
    Pro-bono marketing services
    www.vsagr.org
  • Jim Stroop
    Lakewood Construction, Holland, MI
    Volunteers for: Wings of Mercy
    Uses license & plane to provide free air transportation to patients who need treatment at distant medical facilities
    www.wingsofmercy.org
  • Sara Bigelow
    Warner Norcross, Grand Rapids, MI
    Volunteers for: McKenzie’s Animal Sanctuary
    Volunteer
    www.mackenzies.info
  • Lucienne Lightfoot
    5/3 Bank, Grand Rapids, MI
    Volunteers for: Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding
    Volunteer
    www.equestcenter.org
  • Gwen Genzink
    Volunteers for: Very Special Arts, Grand Rapids, MI
    Volunteer as Artist Aide
    www.vsagr.org
  • Cal Van Oyen
    Kerkstra Precast Management, Grandville, Michigan
    Volunteers for: Learning to Give
    Started pilot program in Hudsonville High School
  • Robert Wood
    Volunteer
    Volunteers for: American Cancer Society, Hope Lodge, Camp Catch a Rainbow
    Dedicated volunteer and advocate for 30yr.
    www.acs.org
  • Tina Cao
    Volunteers for: God’s Kitchen, Women’s Resource Center, Kentwood Public
    Schools, Relay for Life, American Cancer
    Society, American Heart Association
    Volunteers for:
    www.ccwestmi.org
    www.grwrc.org
    www.relayforlife.org
    www.cancer.org
    www.americanheart.org
  • Maria Besta
    Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI
    Volunteers for: Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Association
    Runs organization, provides and promotes competitive and recreational wheelchair sports for children and adults with physical disabilities.
    www.grwsa.com
  • Daniel D. Hartley
    The Company Jet
    Volunteers for: Boy Scouts of America, FIRST Lego League & assistant coach.
    Volunteers 150-200 hours a year with multiple organizations for the benefit fo children ages 9-17.
  • Eloise Luyk
    Northern Air, Grand Rapids, MI
    Volunteers for: Touchstone Innovare
    Assists organization with human resources expertise.
  • Jane Owen
    Beene Garter LLP, Grand Rapids, MI
    Volunteers for: Pursuing a Dream
    Involved in creating a community of able-bodied and disabled people who, together, share a love of the great outdoors.
    www.pursuingadream.org
  • Rhonda Abood
    St. Vincent Catholic Charities, Lansing, MI
    Volunteers for: St. Vincent Home for Children
    Plans, organizes and overseas all fundraising events and other volunteer events for the charity.
    www.stvcc.org

Click here to nominate!