ShareCare of Leelanau has been recognized as business of the year by the Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.
ShareCare of Leelanau Executive Director Dawn Bousamra accepted the award at the chamber’s annual meeting and dinner at French Valley Vineyard in Cedar Oct. 17.
ShareCare of Leelanau was incorporated in 1994 and celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year. According to the organization’s website, their mission is to “support and enhance the well-being of seniors in Leelanau County through a network of volunteers and community partners,” such as the county’s senior services department.
“I’m very grateful. Thank you so much, everyone, for giving ShareCare this opportunity,” Bousamra said.
Bousamra was joined at the chamber’s annual dinner by other staff and board members from ShareCare, including board President Dale Lersch, Volunteer Manager Jennie Arguello, and their “marketing and graphic design guru,” Sally Bancroft.
While accepting the business of the year award on behalf of the organization, Bousamra recapped some of ShareCare’s recent accomplishments and programs. These included their move from Leland to Hansen Plaza in Suttons Bay in July, and the monthly “Memory Cafés” for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia and their caregivers. The first Memory Café was held in August.
“Probably everyone here knows someone who’s affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia. And so, once a month, we have a gathering of caregivers and their person with memory loss,” Bousamra said. “Everyone already knows that someone may ask the same question 10 times, or go to the bathroom five times, or look at you and just smile, and that’s all they do. We already know that’s happening. So, it’s a safe place.”
Bousamra also said the organization’s new office in Suttons Bay gives them about four and a half times as much square footage as their previous location in Leland, and it has helped them attract more visitors.
ShareCare delivers many of its services through volunteers, including providing rides for seniors, running errands, spring and fall cleanup events, and taking care of seniors while their caregivers get some respite. Bousamra added that they are looking for people to join the board.
Jamie Jewell, executive director of the Leelanau Peninsula chamber, said the business of the year title is awarded based on their number of years in business, contributions to the economic health of the community, track record for growth, and taking “a leadership role by participating in community service and contributing to nonprofi ts throughout the year,” among other criteria.
“This year’s recipient (of the business of the year award) exemplifies all those qualities and more,” Jewell said.
This year, Jewell said the chamber has been supporting its members through its partnership with the Leelanau Peninsula Economic Foundation. She highlighted the foundation’s “great strides” in bringing broadband to unserved addresses, and work on a housing action plan with Housing North and other organizations.
Jewell added that the peninsula chamber has “initiated some conversations” with the Elmwood Empire, Glen Lake, Leland, Suttons Bay, and Northport-Omena chambers of commerce to increase collaboration and reduce overlaps between the seven associations.
“The goal is to explore ways we can collaborate and support each other while providing the best service for our business members,” Jewell said. “We collectively recognize the financial burden on our businesses to join multiple chambers. We’d like to address this in some thoughtful way that will strengthen our chambers.”
Also at the chamber’s annual meeting, local businesspeople re-elected John Schoelles, business finance controller for Black Star Farms, to the chamber board of directors. French Valley Vineyards hosted the event and Catering by Kellys of Williamsburg, Michigan, served dinner. About 75 local business owners and staff attended this year’s annual meeting.
