Contributed photo by Cassidy Avery
Article submitted by Mason County senior centers
LUDINGTON — Mason County’s four senior centers will share proceeds from Ludington Lake Jump 2025 which attracted more than $33,000 in donations and a large, enthusiastic crowd at Stearns Park on April 26.
“The event exceeded our expectations, with a great crowd and total donations of $33,353,” said Free Soil Senior Center Director Sherry Hasenbank, who managed the donations for the event and announced the final result. “Our sponsors underwrote our event with more than $18,000, and the participants raised the rest through their own donations, plus support from family and friends. It was a great demonstration of community support.”
“We thank the Lake Jump Board for selecting our seniors centers as the beneficiary this year,” said Ludington Senior Center Director Andrea Morrell. “We especially thank our great sponsors—more than 40 businesses and individuals–and all who participated and raised donations to make this year’s Lake Jump a big success.”
Champion fundraiser was Dale Horowski, well-known educator and Rotary Club member, who attracted more than $2,500 in donations from fellow Rotarians and others, which was matched by another $2,500 sponsorship donation from the Rotary Club itself—the leading sponsor organization. Other leading donors were the County Quilters, who meet at the Scottville senior center, Safe Harbor Credit Union, West Shore Bank, and West Shore Eye Care. Many sponsor organizations had individual participants who jumped in the lake.
The day of this year’s Lake Jump dawned chilly, with a strong north wind whipping up sand along the Lake Michigan shore.
“When we saw the weather that morning, we worried about how many would attend,” said Tallman Lake Senior Center Director Sandy Varnes. “But as the jump time drew near, the community came out in great numbers to support our seniors. They came and they kept on coming, it truly did exceed our hopes.”
Varnes verified that the Lake Michigan water was very cold, indeed. She, Morrell and Scottville Area Senior Center Director Bill Kerans, all splashed into the big lake with a long line of jumpers. Hasenbank had to stay ashore to take in the many donations that were turned in as the jump approached.
Kerans said he was most impressed by the fact that people of all ages joined in the fun, from pre-school kids to teens to adults to seniors. Estimates of how many went into the lake varied, as jumpers and their supporters mixed together on the beach, but Hasenbank noted that 100 waivers were turned in by those planning to jump.
The senior center directors reported that many people told them, after coming out of the lake, that it was even more fun than they imagined, and that the cold was less than they anticipated. Some “jumpers” said they planned to do it again, regardless of who is selected as a future beneficiary.
The proceeds will be split equally by the four senior centers. They announced in advance that the extra funds would enhance the health and wellness programs at their centers, as well as initiatives to counteract isolation and loneliness among Mason County’s senior population.
Contributed photo by Rep. Curt VanderWall
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