Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, and it can change in the blink of an eye. When it comes to travel, car seats are crucial for keeping young passengers secure when the unexpected occurs. The Corewell Health Child Passenger Safety Program provides families in Montcalm County with free/ reduced-price car seats and safety education delivered by certified technicians. The goal is simple: protect children from injury and death in motor vehicle crashes. GACF funded the program in 2023 through the Meijer Children’s Health Care Fund.  

Kimberly Wall has served as a program safety technician for 20 years. She knows families appreciate the car seats, however, a phone call in 2023 from a past client underscored the importance of the program. Traveling for the holidays, the client and her family were involved in a serious collision. Rescue units had to use the jaws of life to remove the client’s three-year-old daughter from the vehicle. But thanks to the properly installed car seat, the child was unscathed.  

“The car seat that we provided to her AND the education of how to properly install it- saved the child’s life. The number of people impacted by this program is immeasurable and the impact of this program is priceless. Lives have literally been saved,” Kimberly shared.  

By bringing together funding and programing, GACF and the Corewell Health Foundation Greenville ensure local needs are met while fostering a stronger, safer community.  

“The GACF is a partner in the overall health and wellbeing of our community. We value the relationships and programs we have built together and look forward to those we will build going forward,” shared Shelly Westbrook, Corewell Health Greenville Hospital Foundation Director, “Philanthropy by way of grants and charitable donations is critical, and we are grateful for the partnership.”  

As GACF celebrates its 35th anniversary, we bring together the collective stories of donors, nonprofits, students, and community members to demonstrate the power of philanthropy in creating lasting impact and a stronger future.