Supporting the Canton Community

Welcome to the Jim and Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation

Enhancing the Vibrancy of the Community We Call Home

Founded in 1997, the Jim and Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation was created to improve the quality of life right here in our community. Gifts to the Foundation grow over time thanks to the benefit of a pooled investment that generates long-term asset growth.

Through the power of endowment, more than $100,000 has been granted to nonprofits and causes throughout the Canton area since our founding, touching the lives of people right here at home.

OUR MISSION

The Jim and Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation pursues opportunities to improve lives and strengthen our community. Organizations who serve our youth and senior citizens, as well as those dedicated to important causes such as education, the arts, cultural enrichment, historical preservation and more are all made stronger thanks to support from the Foundation.

Our History

In 1997, Caroline Deinema enlisted the support of community members, including longtime Canton resident and local banking executive Mike Broderick, to establish the Foundation following the death of her husband, Jim. Her hope was to honor his life and his legacy of care by helping to improve the quality of life for the Canton community — for good, for ever.

Local Impact

A few of our recent grant recipients include:

• Canton Senior Citizen’s Center: To support the addition of a certified fitness trainer whose main focus will be to help seniors stay active. Research has shown that active seniors maintain the independence necessary to stay in their own homes longer.
• Canton High School: The grant will support the Strength and Conditioning Program.
• Carnagie Center for Arts, Culture and Education: The grant will support a traveling musical production by the Missoula Children’s Theatre. The production will be held in the Canton High School Theatre this coming summer.
• Rural School Historical Society: To support ongoing maintenance and upkeep on the Grand Valley Historical Living History Museum.
• Boy Scouts of America Troop 60: This grant will support the purchase of paint and supplies to update the new Scout Room inside Canton's Carnagie Library.

Interested in applying for a grant from the Jim and Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation? Grant applications are now being accepted. Applications are due by Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. Apply for a grant today.

Our Board

We're grateful to the following community members who volunteer their time to serve on our board:

• Karla Lems (Chair)
• Mike Broderick (Vice Chair)
• Eric Hohman (Secretary)
• Jonathan Toso (Treasurer)
• David Amundson
• John Devick
• Steve Deinema
• Sterling Heath
• Cheryl Johnson
• Bob Lier
• Edith Nelson
• Leah Peterson
• Brenda VanZee