Jackson Magazine

There is still time to sponsor the 2026 Impact Awards! This is a wonderful opportunity for area businesses to increase their visibility while supporting community members who are making a difference in the Jackson area.

Interested in learning more? Call Brooke Roberts at 517.783.2647 or email her at [email protected].

“Giving back to the community was my main goal,” said Laura Hauenstein, director and founder of Reality’s Chance Rescue & Sanctuary.

Opened in 2010, Reality’s Chance is a multifaceted farm in Pleasant Lake that began as a horse sanctuary and rescue. In addition to housing 26 horses along with a few goats and donkeys, the farm now contains an arena, coffee and gift shops, and an award-winning yurt as well as a pavilion and beautiful outdoor event spaces.

As the child of a struggling single mother, Hauenstein always knew that if she had the means to do something wonderful in the world, she would seize the opportunity. Now, powered by the love and passion of its founder along with a team of committed volunteers, Reality’s Chance offers both animals and humans the space to heal and thrive.

Read the article: loom.ly/xlsDSck

Awarded to an individual or organization that has made a substantial and positive impact on Jackson County through leadership, advocacy, or innovation. The work may be conducted locally or beyond county lines, provided the results directly benefit Jackson County residents.

Criteria:
Individuals must live, work, or volunteer within Jackson County, Michigan. Organizations must operate within or serve Jackson County, Michigan.

Nominate now: loom.ly/778bqPg

In this month's Pulse of the Community, you can find updates from around the communities that make up Jackson County. Discover the updates here: loom.ly/QegGNo0

Go out and support The Salvation Army - Jackson, MI youth camps by getting a donut this morning and tagging them in a post!

American 1 Credit Union

In 1990, David Nagy, Sr. took a big chance.

He decided to purchase a building in Brooklyn that would soon become Irish Hills Collision & Service. That leap of faith has now turned into a blossoming, family-run body shop business that demonstrates how growth can come with both a profitable expansion of services and a commitment to continuity of excellence.

Read the article: loom.ly/z_fnJPo

The Kiwanis Club of Jackson is sponsoring free admission at the opening day of the Cascades Splash Pad. Partnering with Little Caesars and Cascades Ice Cream Co., the club is also providing free pizza and ice cream to attendees on the first day of the season (while supplies last).

The splash pad will open to the public on Friday, June 5th at 11:00 AM, with Kiwanis members and other volunteers handing out ice cream and serving delicious pizza to the kids – with free admission for all attendees.

Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Dark Horse, will visit the Discount Tire store at 901 N West Ave ahead of the Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway this Saturday, June 6. The decorated driver holds many accomplishments, most notably his 2022 Daytona 500 Champion title.

Sierra Carter is an author and Jackson resident. When her son, Carter, died in 2016 of Mitochondrial Disease, she made a promise to carry his legacy forward, eventually culminating in a book series that honors her son's life, shares his legacy, and offers comfort, understanding, and connection to families walking similar paths.

When her son entered hospice care, Carter ― whose last name was given to her through marriage in 2021 in a twist of fate that honored her son ― looked for children’s books about death and heaven. Finding none, she resolved to create The Carter Series to give parents a tool to help their children understand death when it touches their world.

Read the article: loom.ly/gC3usWw