Innovation for Good

Another IFG video produced last spring to raise awareness around adult illiteracy in Muskegon County.

Read Muskegon: Carl's Story Carl began his work with Read Muskegon in our classes at West MI Works. Today, he works one on one with a volunteer tutor. His goal now is to become a motivational…

Honored and excited to be producing the videos highlighting some of Read Muskegon's hard-working program participants. Please come and learn more about how we can all improve adult literacy in Muskegon County!

Don't miss this fun evening of music featuring 2016 Jammie Album of the Year award winner, Vox Vidorra, and our favorite band of local teachers, The EduKators. Tickets are on sale now through Star Tickets or the Frauenthal box office. All proceeds directly benefit the work of Read Muskegon.

Please attend and see Spring Lake students share why we need to reduce, reuse and recycle! Proud to be a part of this video!

Spring Lake students are proud to present to you their Too Much Trash video! Monday's premier will discuss the Zero Waste Landfill movement, and why it is important here in West Michigan.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1506932079600600/

Exciting news - new website that combines IFG and Kelly Ruffing Photography! Please check it out and share with anyone who wishes their organization, school, club or agency had a video that tells their story. I love working with youth on videos and adults aren't bad either! ;)

Innovation for Good "That video was terrific. I'm sitting here at my desk crying. Please tell your students that they ARE making a difference. I will be sharing it with my class." - 3rd Grade Teacher, Spring Lake, MI

So excited for the release of a new video featuring darling children like these who are hoping to educate their classmates on the perils of creating too much trash. I learned so much during production. Can't wait to share more!

Heading to a Stuff the Bus competition in Kalamazoo organized by caring Success Coaches wanting supplies for their kids. The commitment of these MDHHS staff never ceases to amaze me!

Hey everyone - this is the video we completed awhile back featuring teens doing great work in the Tri-Cities area!

We're finally able to share it! Please share so other teens are inspired to either join a YAC (they're all over the state and country) or get involved in improving their communities in other ways!

The YAC: For youth. For good. For ever. If you, or a young person you know, would like to explore joining the YAC, please visit http://www.ghacf.org/initiatives/youth-advisory-council to learn more...

I forgot to share this on the IFG page! I'm branching out to provide child and family, event, and party/special occasion photography. Liking this page and sharing it with friends would really make my Friday! Thanks!

Kelly Ruffing Photography Child and family portraits, senior pictures, headshots and philanthropic photography.

In honor of teacher appreciation week I wanted to share this awesome TED presentation. This woman had never heard of TED when they asked her to open their show on education. She did not rehearse and I just read, she passed away a couple months after giving this talk. Boy, did she leave a legacy. She exemplifies why teaching is one of the toughest, thankless and MOST IMPORTANT jobs out there! Please watch and share with a teacher!

Every kid needs a champion Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, "They don't pay me to like the kids." Her response: "Kids don't learn from people they don’t like.’” A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.

You know that video I've been telling you about that features caring teens engaged in community improvement? Well, you'll see these three darling Lakers who are all about being nice!

I was at Spring Lake High School a couple days ago and today I filmed at Grand Haven High School. As a mom of elementary and intermediate school kids, this was my first time going deep in either. I was HUGELY impressed! Not only with the sweet students and staff but also with the buildings themselves! High school seems eons away but when my kiddos get there, I know they'll be in good hands.

Check out these wonderful Grand Haven Area Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council (YAC)members "on set' at Grand Haven High School. They were great today! Can't wait for you to see their video!!

Another video comin' down the pike! (Is that the right word?!) This time we're swapping 6th graders for high school students. Same great be kind work and then some!

Wait until you see these youth in action!