Welcome to the MICOCF June Newsletter! Summer has officially arrived, and things are heating up here at MICOCF! Tune in to see how we’re kicking off the sunny season, celebrating local generosity, and continuing to make Miami County a wonderful place to live, work, and grow.
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Check out this month’s spotlight events!
🚗 Shifting Gears for Reagan: 8th Annual Passport Cruise
I am incredibly honored to feature a fund and an upcoming event that are deeply close to our hearts.
Many of you in our community know the story of Regan Johnson, who tragically ended her own life in December 2017. Out of every parent’s worst nightmare, Regan’s parents – BJ & Jeremy Wilson and Mark Johnson – chose a mission of profound purpose.
In 2018, they started Shifting Gears for Reagan, a non-profit fund right here under the Miami County Community Foundation, to fund and develop suicide awareness and prevention initiatives throughout the Kansas City area.
To continue supporting this life-saving mission, it is time for their 8th Annual Passport Cruise!
Event Details:
- 🗓️ When: Saturday, June 6th
- 📍 Starting Location: Louisburg Cider Mill
- 🎟️ How to Join: Participation is open to families, friends, and individual cruisers alike!
Whether you want to bring your entire family, jump in the car solo, or round up a group of friends, everyone is welcome.
The cruise kicks off at the historic Louisburg Cider Mill, and leads to several wonderful locations across the county. At each stop, you’ll get your passport stamped, enjoy fun activities, and find great items to purchase.
Grab your tickets, support a beautiful cause, and let’s make a real difference together.
👉 [CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS & LEARN MORE]
🌟 Save the Date: Match Day Celebration 2026!
Mark your calendars for September 26th!
Our annual Match Day Celebration is returning to Town Square Events in Paola, and I am already excited.
We have a massive goal ahead of us this year: we are aiming to raise $200,000! If we reach our goal, the Patterson Family Foundation, who has supported us last year as well, has pledged a matching grant of $100,000, meaning we have the potential to fund meaningful change through our local non-profits and community projects.
Dinner will be catered by the BBQ Shack and our challenge this year won’t be trivia but… Dueling Pianos.
The official registration link isn’t live just yet, but it will be ready soon. Keep an eye on our updates so you can reserve your spot the second it opens!
The Miami County Non-Profit Gathering Returns This Fall
I said, “Stay tuned for the date”: now the day is here!
Following the success of our spring gathering, I am honored to invite you to join us for a day dedicated to strengthening the roots of our local non-profits.
This fall, we are moving beyond introductions to focus on the core pillars that help your organization thrive.
Event Details
- 🗓️ Date: Friday, August 21st
- 📍 Location: Wildwood Outdoor Education Center
- 🕒 Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- 🎟️ Cost: FREE (Lunch is provided!)
Stay tuned for more information about this exciting gathering. I hope to have at least as much fun as last time!
💖 Local Recipe Spotlight: Greg Lewis’s Famous Salmon Croquettes
June 21st is the day where we pause to celebrate the wonderful fathers, grandfathers, and father figures who shape our lives.
If you know our Foundation President, Peter Murphy Lewis, you know what an incredible family he comes from. His dad, Greg Lewis, not only looks quite alike to him, but they share that same wonderful, kind, and hardworking spirit!
In honor of Father’s Day, Peter was kind enough to share his dad Greg’s favorite comforting family recipe: golden, savory Salmon Croquettes. They have just the right crunch on the outside, a tender and flavorful inside, and are perfect for a special Father’s Day meal!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4-6 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 (14-ounce) can of pink Salmon
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- ⅓ cup of cornmeal mix
- ½ cup of buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons of self-rising flour
- ⅛ teaspoon of garlic salt
- 2 cups of vegetable oil (for frying)
Instructions:
- Prep the Salmon: drain the liquid from the can of pink salmon. Place the salmon in a bowl and use a fork to flake it gently, removing any large skin or bones if desired.
- Make the Mixture: add the lightly beaten egg, cornmeal mix, buttermilk, self-rising flour, and garlic salt to the flaked salmon. Mix everything together thoroughly until the ingredients are completely combined and hold together well.
- Shape the Croquettes: shape the mixture into small, even patties or croquettes (usually about 2 to 3 inches wide).
- Fry to Golden Perfection: heat the 2 cups of vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Carefully place the croquettes in the hot oil. Fry for about 3 to 5 minutes per side, turning carefully, until they are beautifully crispy and golden brown on both sides.
- Drain and Serve: remove the croquettes from the skillet and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil. Serve warm!
If you fry up a batch of Greg’s special salmon croquettes for Father’s Day, make sure to take a picture and tag us on Facebook so we can see how they turned out! 📸
If you don’t know me
I am Tammy Booe, Executive Director of MICOCF. You can read about me in this article. I’m so excited to get to know you all better and continue making a difference together!
Stay Connected with Me and the MICOCF Family
I love getting to know more of you and seeing all the ways we can work together to make Miami County even better. Keep following along, sharing our updates, and letting me know what you want to see in future newsletters! We’re in this together, and I’m so grateful to be on this journey with you.
Have a local talent or small business you’d like to spotlight? Know a hidden gem in Miami County that everyone should visit? Or maybe you have a fall season tip or fun activity you love to do in the County?
Drop us a message, and we might just feature you in our next newsletter or social media!
Sending you all the love,
Tammy Booe