This is the official organizational records of The John Goodrow Fund (JHGF), from its 1985 establishment to its 2020 dissolution. The records include founding documents, dissolution materials, meeting minutes, agendas, reports, budgets, communications (emails and correspondence), fundraising documentation for the annual dinner and golf scramble, insurance, tax, and policy materials. Documentation of Sally Goodrow’s 2009 retirement and 2022 obituary, and a few newspaper clippings (copies) are also included. The records are organized topically and chronologically, according to original order. The collection is in excellent physical condition.
Researchers may be interested in additional materials documenting JHGF and Fr. Goodrow found in the St. John’s Episcopal Church (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) Organizational Records and the Fr. John H. Goodrow Papers, which are both housed in the Clarke Historical Library. Newspaper articles about the JHGF may be found by searching digitized Mount Pleasant area newspapers.
Processing Note: Duplicates, cancelled checks, and newspaper articles were withdrawn during processing. Copies of the articles were retained in the collection.
Organizational History:
On November 30, 1985 Sally Goodrow invited George and Frances Rouman to join her for a gathering “to become a part of the transition of the emergency food program operated for many years by Father John Goodrow at St. John’s Church to a more expanded program” … “to be called John Goodrow Emergency Services, Inc.” In 1986 the steering committee began to plan fundraising. The Goodrow Board created regulations for and directed the distribution of funds through accounts with Isabella County vendors including gas stations, pharmacies, department stores, and grocery stores. By 1988 the fund was officially established as The John H. Goodrow Fund (known as JHGF); it served as a way for the parish to minister to the community. People in need called Listening Ear of Mount Pleasant which contacted JHGF volunteers, who then contacted the client. Volunteers, entry data people and Listening Ear were critical to the success of the JHGF. George Rouman and Sherman Rowley were founding and lifelong members of the JHGF. Sally led the Fund until she retired from it in 2009. The JHGF then had several paid directors and, finally, a volunteer director. The first director in 1986 was Barbara Nadobny. From 2012 or 2013 to 2020 Sharon Bolton Appleby served as last president of the Board and became the volunteer director of the JHGF. Overtime the JHGF became a 501c and received funding from United Way of Gratiot and Isabella counties, local churches, private contributions, grants, and fundraisers. The JHGF provided assistance to Isabella County residents for emergency in situations when they did not qualify for other types of assistance, including transportation, housing, medical, utilities, and household and personal care. The JHGF was dissolved in 2020 due to the lack of someone willing to serve as board president and volunteer director. There were also concerns about fundraising challenges due to COVID-19. An endowed fund was then established at the Mount Pleasant Area Community Foundation and named the Sally and John Goodrow Fund. During its existence, the JHGF and the volunteers associated with it were highly respected by those within and beyond the county lines. The JHGF positively impacted the lives of thousands of people it assisted. (This information is from the collection. Special thanks to Sharon Appleby Bolton who reviewed and added to the history for clarification.)
Biographical Information:
The Reverend John H. Goodrow (February 27, 1929-September 14, 1985) served as rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, from 1962 until his death in 1985. He was a pivotal priest in the parish and community. During his tenure, he strongly supported "Food with Friends," a Commission on Aging program providing lunches in the parish hall. He was also responsible for many other community outreach initiatives, including the St. John’s Emergency Food Program. Father Goodrow had begun assisting community people in need in the 1970s. He had envisioned a fund as a building from which multiple agencies and services would be provided, originally based in St. John’s original rectory.
He died suddenly in 1985. The John H. Goodrow Fund (JHGF) at St. John’s was established by his widow, Sally Goodrow, and the community and named in his honor as a tribute to him. (This information is from the St. John’s Episcopal Church, Mount Pleasant, Organizational Records, He died suddenly in 1985. The John H. Goodrow Fund (JHGF) at St. John’s was established by his widow, Sally Goodrow, and the community and named in his honor as a tribute to him. (This information is from the St. John’s Episcopal Church, Mount Pleasant, Organizational Records,
Sally Ellen Lewis Goodrow was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on July 16, 1933. Her family moved to Michigan in 1943 and she graduated from Royal Oak High School in 1951. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Wayne State University in 1959 and her Master’s degree from Michigan State University in 1972. Sally worked with the Michigan Children’s Aid Society in Detroit, the Gratiot-Isabella Intermediate School District, and Alma Public Schools. She retired in 1994, but continued to work as an on call worker until 2000. John and Salley wed in August of 1959. In 1962 she and John moved to Mount Pleasant when he became rector of St. John’s. Together Sally and John had three children: Katherine, Ellen, and John. After John’s death Sally was known as the driving force behind the JHGF. She was the initial organizer and served on the board of directors, forming ties with Listening Ear and later with United Way. After retiring from JHGF, Sally moved to Nebraska to be with family. She died there on July 11, 2022. The Goodrows are both buried in Riverside Cemetery in Mount Pleasant. (This information is from the collection and ancestry.com.)
