Thank you, September supporters
by Melanie Jongsma, Publisher
LANSING, Ill. (October 2, 2022) – I’ve spent many hours doing data input this month. As a growing business, The Lansing Journal made the decision to invest in a system that will help us keep track of our financial supporters. We feel it’s important to know who is giving, and why, and how often. I also like to make sure each supporter gets a thank-you. I want to communicate about how those donations are being used. I want people to understand the difference they are making.
So I’ve been transferring data from the cobbled-together series of spreadsheets I was using into this new, more professional system. And it’s already making a difference.
I’ve come across supporters who have given every month since 2018, and people who responded to specific needs, and people who have given randomly whenever they were able. Some of our supporters give just a few dollars at a time, but monthly over four or five years, it adds up! Others have been able to infuse larger amounts either randomly or consistently, and that has been life-giving to the Journal as well.
Lansing Journal supporters are a diverse community, much like Lansing itself. You give for different reasons, in varying amounts, from a range of incomes, on different schedules, using credit cards, Facebook, Apple Pay, checks, and sometimes cash.
I didn’t fully realize this diversity until I began reviewing and inputting all that data. And it makes me really grateful.
I’m grateful for your deep history of giving as well as your recent decisions. I’m grateful for the variety of reasons you have for keeping this newspaper going. I’m grateful to see young, old, new, wealthy, fixed-income, Black, Brown, White, religious, political, retired, hard-working, non-tech-savvy, dog-loving, bee-loving, and chicken-loving people all working together to keep our community informed and connected.
Thank you, all.
The names listed below are just the people who gave this past month. Their support empowered us to publish 129 articles in September that were viewed over 90,000 times.
If that kind of data makes you grateful too, will you join me in thanking them?
Thank you, Facebook friends
On August 13 we launched a special “Five and Forward” fundraiser on Facebook with a goal of raising $5,000 by September 13, in recognition of five years of service, and in anticipation of moving forward. We didn’t reach that goal, but these friends did their part, and we are grateful:
- Andrea Arthur
- Nancy Vroom Bales
- Yvette Johnson Bickcom
- Wynne Cook
- Denise Cox
- Eric Crump
- Geary Depue
- Barbara Tereba Dust
- Richard Dust
- Pamela Edrington
- Sue Henning Ekkebus
- Jennifer Fischer
- Pat Frederickson
- Michael Gaffney
- Miguel Gutierrez
- Beth Henning
- Eric Himmel
- Helen Hnatusko
- Jim Janssen
- KB Jongsma
- Melanie Jongsma
- Leann Lange
- Jean A McCall
- Ken Newberry
- Hilda Onate
- Ellen Osterman
- Julie Peddy
- Donna Pyritz
- Carol Meyer Schaap
- Sandra Schultz
- Beverly Schweitzer
- Carolyn Scofield
- Wilma G Straatman
- Raymond Sutorius
- Jim Sweeney
- Venkat Tipirneni
- Linda Eckstein Todd
- Virginia Ulaszek
- Karen Vrdolyak
- Tiffany Roberts Wells
- Christine Widstrand
- Ron Wolford
- Korey Ziemkowski
Thank you, September sustainers
These special people are more than just donors. They are sustainers. They have made a commitment to invest in this community newspaper with faithful monthly gifts, and we are grateful. Thank you to each person listed below whose financial support arrived again during September:
- Anonymous Supporters
- Anonymous Friends
- Anonymous Reader
- Anonymous Donor
- Adam Barker
- Adrienne Winchester
- Agatha Hason
- Alexa Edwards
- Anita and John Kowalisyn
- Ann Schenkel
- Anne Marie Stole
- Antoinette DeLaurentis
- Arlo and Brenda Kallemeyn
- Arlyn VanEk
- Barb Dust
- Barbara McKinney
- Beverly Wilhelm
- Bob Boer
- Bob Forner
- Bob and Jean Wood
- Brian Hanigan
- Brian and Kathy Hardy
- Bruce Langman
- Caleb Lyzenga
- Cam and Megan Harvey
- Carey Halsey
- Carla Rispens
- Carol McFarland
- Carol Schaap
- Chanta Manson
- Char Zralka
- Chris Zdanowski
- Christine Merchat
- Chuck Murach
- Connie Jordan
- Connie Simon
- Cynthia Krusza
- Dan Bergan
- Dan Stamper
- Dan and Kristy Bootsma
- Dave Badali
- Dave and Janice Schurman
- David Larsen
- David Wilford
- Debbie Boroviak
- Debbie Terpstra
- Debra DeNardo
- Dehlia Mendoza
- Denise Cox
- Diane Costello
- Don Dykstra
- Don and Mary Beth Palka
- Donna Huizenga
- Donna Marshall Attinello
- Edward Gonzalez
- Edwin H. Lugowski, Jr., AIA, Architect
- Fine Tune Auto
- Fran Duffy
- Frank Fetters
- Frank Knittle
- Freddie Simmons
- Frieda Smits
- Gabriel Pierce
- Geraldine Giglio
- Gerrit Veenstra
- Grant Oppenhuis
- Greg and Jane Compeau
- Gregory Ott
- Hollis Napoli
- Irene Sepiol
- Irma Vela
- Jacob Gourley
- James Van Milligen
- Jan Hansen
- Jane Roseen
- Dr. and Mrs. Jasper Gulotta
- Jay and Chris Popp
- Jean Klacik
- Jean Qualls
- Jeanne Benson
- Jennifer Avenatti
- Jennifer Saia
- Jennifer Yos
- Jerome Ellis
- Jerry and Judi Haan
- Jill Laboy
- Jill Van Kuiken
- Jim Sweeney
- Jim and Judy Friesema
- Jim and Suzanne Long
- Joanne Pritchard
- John Long
- John Stole
- Joseph Bugajski
- Judy Lohr-Safcik
- Judy and Karl Koch
- Julie Hiskes
- Karen Adams
- Karen and Gammon Trimuel
- Kathleen Maanum
- Kathleen and William Clausing
- Kelsee Stallinga
- Ken Varnes
- Kerry Czarobski
- Kristin Russell
- Laurel Clausing
- Linda Todd
- Lindsey and Saad Abbasy
- Lionel Valencia
- Lisa Doorn
- LouAnn Dommer
- Luci Lugowski
- Lynda Mendoza
- Margaret Evans
- Marilou Ooms
- Marjorie Holme
- Mark Hornung
- Mark and Missy Krygsheld
- Marlene Biesboer
- Marlene Cook
- Marsha Bultema
- Martha Montiel
- Martina Eldsmoe
- Maryann Centracchio
- Master El
- Melanie Jongsma
- Michael and Dana Wood
- Michelle Smith
- Mike and Denise Skrbina
- Moira Peterson
- Morris Lewis
- Nancy and Bob Wojcik
- Nick Maloni
- Nicole Kleidon
- Noel Zupancic
- Owen Deckinga
- Pamela Edrington
- Pamela Lancy
- Pat Kremer
- Patricia Deckinga
- Patricia Yos
- Patrick Baker
- Patty Grigutis
- Penelope Rellis
- Pete and Shirley Schurman
- Phyllis Warsen
- Reba Spilis
- Rich and Diane Lund
- Richard Dust
- Richard Smits
- Rob and Sandy DeVries
- Robert Parrent
- Roberta Schopp-Coe
- Roberto Mendoza
- Rose Rivas
- Roseann Dykstra
- Rosemarie Polgar
- Ruth Cook
- Sandra Wagner
- Sandy Schultz
- Sandy Vree
- Scott Wagner
- Shirley Rucker
- Slaughter & Associates
- Smilja Ivancevic
- Stefanie DeYoung
- Stephanie Jansma
- Susan Planer
- Susan and Daniel Bovino
- Ted and Helen Hnatusko
- Theresa Bresnahan
- Thomas Panichi
- Tim Vermeer
- Tina Funchion
- Todd Simon
- Tricia DeBlock
- Vinell Jones
- Virginia and John Ulaszek
- Waters Edge Aquascaping
- Wendy Van Der Aa
- Wes and Joy Blocker
Thank you, September supporters
Not everyone can give on a regular schedule, and some people prefer to respond to specific requests for help. This month, we received special support from these friends, and we are grateful for their investment too:
- Carl Anderson
- Clem and Barb Lessner
- Dave Wilford
- Dolores Samples
- Herman VanDerWoude
- Joyce Mulder
- Larry Gillard
- Lorraine Przybyl
- Mary Bell
- Raymond Sutorius
- Rebecca Furlong
- Sharon Giles
- Dr. Sophia Jones-Redmond
- Susan Berkowicz
- Tina Arteaga
- Tom Shepherd
All the data that I’ve been immersing myself in this month tells the story of real people who are part of the story of The Lansing Journal. I am grateful for each number and each name and each member of this community.
I appreciate your dedication to LANSING, and your skillful journalism; I am not in a financial position where I can offer much but my heartfelt thanks.
Thank you, David. Your heartfelt thanks goes a long way! We like knowing there are readers out there who appreciate the work we do. Thank you for taking the time to post this comment and let us know.