Community Foundation Awards Dr. Jim Jacobs with 2013 Mariam C. Noland Award for Nonprofit Leadership

DETROIT - June 12, 2013 - PRLog -- The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (http://www.cfsem.org) announced that Dr. James (Jim) Jacobs, president of Macomb Community College, was selected for the 2013 Mariam C. Noland Award for Nonprofit Leadership.

Named after the Community Foundation’s first and current president, this third annual award recognizes a nonprofit president or CEO in southeast Michigan whose service exemplifies the importance of nonprofit leadership, not only to his or her organization, but also to the wider nonprofit community.  

As recipient of the Mariam C. Noland Award for Nonprofit Leadership, Macomb Community College will receive a grant of $10,000 from the Community Foundation with the preference that the funds be used for Jacobs to continue his professional education, take a personal sabbatical for career renewal or engage in philanthropic leadership activities.

“We are pleased to recognize Jim Jacobs for his visionary leadership,” said Community Foundation Chair Allan D. Gilmour.   “Jim understands the power of collaboration and has successfully brought together the education and economic development communities in a strategic way to drive positive change in southeast Michigan.”

Jacobs has more than 40 years experience at Macomb Community College and became president in 2008.  Specializing in the areas of workforce skills and technology, economic development, worker training and community college workforce development, he has demonstrated local, regional and national leadership on the vital role that community colleges can play in supporting social, cultural and education policy.  

Macomb Community College, which has three campuses and a Michigan Technical Education Center in Macomb County, provides learning experiences to more than 48,000 annually.  It is the largest grantor of associate degrees in Michigan.

The Grosse Pointe resident is widely known for the Macomb County Economic Forecast, which he has presented annually for 29 years for the coalition of county’s chambers of commerce.  Currently, he serves on the Governor’s Talent Investment Board, which advises Michigan Governor Rick Snyder on job creation and talent development and retention.  Jacobs also sits on several local boards, including the Center for Automotive Research, Metropolitan Affairs Council and Detroit Institute of Arts.

Additionally, he is a past president of the National Council for Workforce Education, a national post-secondary organization of occupational education and workforce development specialists, and a member of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Assessment of Career and Technical Education. He also is a member of the Community College Advisory Panel to the Educational Testing Service in Princeton New Jersey.  

The Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan established this award in 2010 to recognize Mariam C. Noland on her 25th anniversary as president of the Community Foundation.  While Noland’s accomplishments to date as president are many and noteworthy, the Board acknowledged her leadership in the broader philanthropic community and the many other charitable causes and entities that she has supported, nurtured and counseled.  Previous recipients have included Midtown Detroit Inc. President Susan Mosey (2011) and University Musical Society of the University of Michigan President Kenneth C. Fischer (2012).

Under Noland’s leadership, the Community Foundation has granted more than $600 million through more than 45,000 grants.  Assets have grown to more than $650 million and the Foundation now holds endowments for more than 180 organizations and more than 1,000 funds from individuals and businesses throughout the country. The organization is now one of the 20 largest community foundations in the country.

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations committed to the future of southeast Michigan.  The Foundation works to improve the region’s quality of life by connecting those who care with causes that matter.  The Foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development and civic affairs.  Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $600 million through nearly 45,000 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair and Livingston counties.  For more information, please visit http://www.cfsem.org.