Font size:
Mrs. Margaret “Peg” Simmons, from Traverse City,
has been an active participant in all her communities throughout the years. A
resident of New Jersey for over 40 years, she and her husband Gordon moved to
Traverse City in 1983. Since then, the Grand Traverse Pavilions, the Grand Traverse
Heritage Center and St. Patrick Catholic Church have all benefitted from her
generosity.
Mrs. Simmons’ has been honored with the Empire Bank Good
Neighbor Award, the 2001 Distinguished Senior Award of the National Cherry
Festival, the 2008 Rotary Paul Harris Award and was selected in 2005 as Zonta’s
Woman of the Year in Traverse City.
Most notably, Mrs. Simmons volunteered for the American
Red Cross for 73 years.
By this time, I am sure
you must be curious about Mrs. Simmons’ age. At 101 years young, Mrs. Simmon’s
energy and commitment are something to applaud.
Two years ago, “Peg” became a financial supporter of the Mackinac
Center.
“I love anybody that agrees with me,” she jokes. In a more
serious vein, she notes that she contributes “because I’m learning more about
Michigan every time I read your materials.” She likes the idea of “A small
group of citizens working towards a better, more understandable government.”
As 2011 draws to a close, the Mackinac Center is fortunate to have many
individuals from throughout Michigan who financially support us in the work
that we do.
Mrs. Simmons is a wonderful example of the type of people
who regularly supports the Mackinac Center … passionate, engaged and positive
about the future of Michigan.
Often, I am asked how the Mackinac Center is funded. By choice, the Center does not receive
funding from any government entities.
Instead, the Board of Directors made the decision 23 years ago to
operate based on the financial support of individuals who believe in these
principles — free markets, limited government and personal liberty and
responsibility. This continues to be the case today.
This year, several thousand individuals have already made
donations to the Mackinac Center — a number which has grown significantly over the past five years.
Peg Simmons is a very special person. May she
inspire each one of us … to contribute in any and every way that we can. If you would like to join her in financially
supporting the Mackinac Center this year, please go to our website at
www.mackinac.org or contact me directly at 989-631-0900 or at
white@mackinac.org. I hope that you will
join us in the fight to make Michigan an even better place to live.
