We are pleased to bring the "Best Of" Awards Ballots 2012

Show your support of the Allendale community!  Go ahead and vote for your favorite places to patron and visit around Allendale!  You can download the ballot HERE or wait for it to arrive in the June issue of The Announcer.  Get it back to us and enter your name for a chance to win a really great local gift certificate! 

For Immediate Release: Allendale Community Foundation receives $2,500 through America's Farmers Grow Communities

Allendale Community Foundation receives $2,500 through America’s Farmers Grow Communities^SM 

Allendale, MI. February 28, 2012 – The Allendale Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that addresses critical community needs, received a $2,500 donation  through America’s Farmers Grow Communities^SM. The donations are made available through the Monsanto Fund. Through the program, winning farmers designate a local nonprofit organization to benefit from the donations. Jamy Sietsema of Allendale has been selected as a winner in the program, and he designated the $2,500 to The Allendale Community Foundation.

“We are very pleased the Grow Communities Program is supporting local philanthropy,” said Holly Johnson, VP of Development for the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation.  “We are proud of Sietsema Farms and the work they do to give back to the community, and we are happy to be their partner in philanthropy.”

Grow Communities was created to benefit nonprofit community groups such as The Allendale Community Foundation that are important to America’s farmers.  For Jamy Sietsema, a farmer in Ottawa County, the opportunity to help grow his community became a reality when he was selected as a Grow Communities winner during the second annual program. Sietsema decided on The Allendale Community Foundation because it’s an organization that he and his family support.

                “They give back to the community that I grew up in,” he explained.

In a ceremony held February 27 at Sietsema Family Farms, Sietsema got the chance to present The Allendale Community Foundation with the $2,500 donation.

In 1,245 eligible counties, farmers could win $2,500 for their favorite community nonprofit. The Monsanto Fund expects to invest more than $3.1 million in local rural communities this year alone. In total, more than $91,000 has been donated to nonprofits in Michigan.

Visit www.growcommunities.com to learn more about America’s Farmers Grow Communities.  This program is part of a broad commitment by the Monsanto Fund to invest in farm communities, in order to highlight the important contributions farmers make every day to our society.  To view all of the winners, visit www.growcommunities.com.

About the Monsanto Fund

The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the farm communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Visit the Monsanto Fund at www.monsantofund.org.

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Attached Photo Info:

From left to right:  Angie Barksdale – Allendale Community Foundation Trustee, Roger Feenstra – Allendale Community Foundation Trustee, Holly Johnson, VP Development – Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, Eric Sietsema – Sietsema Farms, Jamy Sietsema - Sietsema Farms, Rick Sietsema - Sietsema Farms, David Winkel – Monsanto Company, Bill Ritter – Green Valley Agricultural, Carl Piersma – Chair, Allendale Community Foundation, Jim VanderVeen – Vice-Chair Allendale Community Foundation.

Congratulations to our 2011 Business Award Recipients!

The recipients of the 2011 Business Awards were announced at our December Quarterly Luncheon, hosted by the Main St. Pub & Leprino Foods today, December 13 2011.  We would like to congratulate the following businesses for their continued dedication to both the Chamber & Allendale Communities! 

New Business of the Year:  Brusveen Chiropractic Clinic & Therapy

Business of the Year: Allendale True Value

Community Service & Involvement Award:  Peppino's Ristorante

As you patron these businesses, congratulate them and thank them for all they do!

Congratulations to all of our 2011 "Best Of" Allendale Business Award Winners!

We appreciate all of you who sent in your ballots to recognize your favorite places to patron around Allendale!  Below are the results!  Just look for this logo at all of these great businesses and congratulate them!

Best Burger:  Main St Pub

Best Pizza:  Peppino’s

Best Hot Dog:  Grand Coney

Best Ice Cream:  Dairy Queen ~ Orange Julius

Best Breakfast:  Murphy’s

Best Coffee:  BIGGBY COFFEE

Best Place to Eat Cheap:  McDonald’s_

Best Ethnic Food:  Los Aztecas

Best Restaurant Overall:  Main St. Pub

Best Hair /Nail Salon:  The Rouge Salon

Best Place to Workout:  Snap Fitness

Best Place for Clothing/Shoes/Accessories:  Goodwill

Best Place for Furniture/Home Accessories:  Broene’s

Best Nursery/Greenhouse:  Countryside Greenhouse

Best Place for Automotive Sales/Service:  Tolman’s

Best Place to Worship:  LifeStream Church

Best Place for Your Money:  Lake Michigan Credit Union

Best Place for Insurance:  State Farm– Bob Visser

Best Place to Store your Stuff:  Allendale Mini Storage

Best Place to buy Groceries:  Family Fare

Best Local Organization : Love I.N.C.

Best Sports Team (Youth-Adult):  GVSU Football

Best Place for Sporting Goods/Apparel:  Grand Valley Sporting Goods

Best Place for Dentistry: Meade-Zolman Family Dentistry

Doctor’s Office: Campustown Family Practice

Chiropractor: Dr. Doran

Optometrist: Allendale Eye Care

Best Place to Go Outdoors:  Allendale Township Park

Best Place to Buy a Stamp:  Post Office

Best Place to Gas Up:  Mobile Gas Station

Best Customer Service:  Family Fare

Best Local Business:  Allendale True Value

Favorite “Go-To” Store:  Walgreen’s

Best Anticipated Local Event:  4th of July Celebration

Best New Business:  The Red Door

 We also want to congratulate Kim Matz for being the recipient of our Ballot Entry Drawing!  Congratulations Kim!

Join us to celebrate the opening of two new Allendale businesses