Allegan Co. Lakeshore Women Who Care support HeartSafe
- Julie Cowie
- Nov 20
- 2 min read
The Allegan County Lakeshore Women Who Care, a philanthropic group of women that meets quarterly, held their 4Q25 meeting at Saugatuck Brewery on Thursday November 13 at 5:30 pm. A crowded Barrel Room hosted leaders from three different non-profit organizations there to educate the members: Saugatuck Center for the Arts (SCA), Allegan County Legal Assistance Center, and Saugatuck-Douglas HeartSafe. The top vote-getting non-profit organization was Saugatuck-Douglas HeartSafe.
Joann DeYoung spoke about Heartsafe. The goal of the non-profit organization is "to create a community that's heart-safe," DeYoung said. The Saugatuck-Douglas organization trains residents in CPR and provides AED units throughout the community.
Led by Tony Schippa, a retired EMT with 35 years "on the street," as Schippa said, "someone assisted my family member" and he wants to ensure that can happen for other loved ones who are experiencing a medical event.
Schippa also informed the listeners about Pulsepoint, an organization that has an app to record locations of AEDs in the community. As the top vote-getting non-profit, Schippa and Saugatuck-Douglas Heartsafe plan to purchase another AED with funds collected from Allegan County Lakeshore Women Who Care.
Saugatuck Center for the Arts Development Director Meagan MacCready also presented. Describing SCA as a "multi-disciplinary community powered organization," MacCready talked about SCA's community outreach to youth. Allegan County youth are classified as underserved in terms of their access to the arts. Director MacCready explained how SCA serves youth at risk through presence and programming at community events and a "mobile out" truck. SCA provides "creative engagement that builds empathy and confidence," MacCready said, and the SCA has served 8,000 youth in grades 1-12 through community outreach.
Julie Cowie spoke for the Allegan County Legal Assistance Center on the theme, "justice for all." She provided a history of the Center, an effort led by Judge Margaret Bakker of the Allegan County Circuit Court. The Center opened in 2012 and has served over 34,000 residents by helping people navigate the court system. Staff counsel people on how to complete and file forms, how to serve other parties, and what to expect at court hearings. Of those requesting assistance from the center, 71% have incomes of $40,000 or less. Linda Teeter, Director of Finance and Fundraising for the Allegan County Legal Assistance Center, answered questions from the audience.
The Allegan County Lakeshore Women Who Care has supported non-profits in Allegan County with $321,925 in donations since 2012. The group's next meeting is scheduled for Thursday March 12, 2026 at the Saugatuck Brewery. Newcomers are welcome. Each member has one vote and members commit to supporting the organization receiving the most votes with a $100 check.