Chalfonte Foundation

Arts and Culture: 1. Visual and Performing Arts - Plan, produce, and present cultural arts programming for children, youth, families and community members. The program involves hosting exhibitions, lectures, concerts, arts and crafts classes and activities, and visits to museums and cultural events. 2. Cinematic Arts - New to the organization since acquiring a historic 300 seat cinema, presenting exhibitions of contemporary and classic films, student film festivals, and works by independent film makers.

Broadcast Media Arts - 1. Produced live internet based television broadcasts of concerts and performances at the Chalfonte Theatre. 2. Began broadcasting on a new FCC licensed low power community radio station at 99.7 on the FM dial in Elk Rapids, MI. This program includes 10 adult radio DJs and 4 youth DJ interns ages 10 to 17. The radio station broadcasts music from local, national, and international artists and provides public service announcements for local nonprofits and community centers.

Health & Healing: In 2024, the Chalfonte Foundation provided health and healing programs including yoga and Reiki sessions for youth and adults, along with books, materials, and subscriptions that supported wellness education at the Chalfonte House and Ryan Giannini Park. The Foundation also supplied program-related products and staff development resources to strengthen its capacity to promote well-being for children, families, and community participants.

Food & Agriculture: In 2024, the Chalfonte Foundation supported sustainable food and agriculture programs by maintaining garden and foraging areas at Ryan Giannini Park and making cabin improvements to help facilitate future onsite educational programming. The Foundation also promoted local agriculture through its partnership with Chateau Chantal at the Chalfonte Theatre, where the wine tasting room highlighted Michigan-grown products and advanced community awareness of locally sourced food and agricultural practices.