Dr. Neil Hawkins has resigned from his role as president of the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation to spend more time with his family and pursue his passion for teaching and advising. Over the past four years Neil’s dedication, leadership, and expertise have been evident across more than $50 million in Foundation...
Category: Foundation News
Tara Tuomaala Selected for 2023 PLACES Fellowship
Tara Tuomaala, arts program officer, was selected to be a 2023 PLACES fellow for The Funders’ Network. The cohort will visit and learn from communities across the country over the next 10 months to better understand issues of race, equity, and inclusiveness as they relate to grantmaking. PLACES fellows visit four communities in the U.S....
Celebrating 100
To honor Fred A. Erb’s 100th Birthday and Commemorate $100M in Grants, the Foundation Will Plant 100 Trees and Make Other Improvements to the Royal Oak Arboretum By John Erb, Chair, and Leslie Erb-Liedtke, Trustee On February 11, 2023, our family will celebrate what would’ve been our father’s (Fred A. Erb) 100th birthday. There’s no...
John Erb Receives Michigan Executive of the Year Award from Mike Ilitch School of Business
The Erb Family Foundation is excited to announce that our chair, John Erb, is the 2022 recipient of the Michigan Executive of the Year Award from the Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business. He will be honored at the Ilitch School’s 42nd annual Recognition and Awards Program on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022 at...
Melissa Damaschke Wins Environmental Achievement Award from Alma Mater
Melissa Damaschke, vice president of programs, was presented the Environmental Achievement Award in September 2022 from her alma mater, Northland College. Melissa graduated from Northland College in 2003 with a degree in Environmental Studies. She was a member of the Environmental Council and served as a senator, trustee, and president of the Northland College Student...
Dianne Warren Joins Erb Family Foundation as Grants Manager and Office Manager
Dianne Warren recently joined the Erb Family Foundation team as the Grants Manager and Office Manager. She brings over 20 years of experience in database management and office administration. Dianne will assist grantees with the grant application process, manage the office, and provide administrative support to Foundation staff. She reports to Neil Hawkins, president of...
A Transformational Decision
The EFF Board of Trustees recently determined that it is in the best interest of the Foundation, its stakeholders, partners, and the community for our organization to transition from an ongoing, perpetual foundation to one that has a planned, spend-down approach over the next 12+ years. This transformational decision follows a detailed analysis and assessment...