Thank You, Jon: A Tribute and a Transition

Jon Kizer greets a Care Center Friend at a Mobile Pantry outreach.

By Cara Augspurger, Foundation Executive Director

In 2017, Jon and I sat around a table, staring down the unknown. Grace Care Center Foundation was still just a vision—we didn’t even have our 501(c)(3) status. 

We joined the Foundation Board with no roadmap, just a shared passion for all the things happening at Grace Care Center, a desire to serve, and a sense that something meaningful was beginning. 

We didn’t know what we were doing, but God did.

Celebrating Jon’s Dedication to Grace Care Center Foundation

Jon has brought wisdom, humility, and steady leadership through every chapter at Grace Care Center Foundation since that moment. He’s been more than a Board member…he’s been a partner, a truth-teller, a question-asker, and a servant-leader in every sense of the word. 

When Jon stepped into the role of Board Chair in late 2023, it wasn’t because it was convenient or easy. It was because he sensed we needed him and he was right.

At that time, Grace Care Center Foundation had some giants to face. And in true Jon fashion, he led us forward with courage and conviction. I’ll never forget the day he reminded us to “rush our giant with a God-saturated heart,” as he shared his thoughts about a Bible passage about David and Goliath. That image has shaped us. And Jon has, too.

Even after retiring from his professional career, Jon hasn’t slowed down. 

He volunteers at Grace Care Center three days a week, pouring into others with compassion, consistency, and deep faith. If you’ve visited the Choice Food Pantry, chances are, you’ve seen Jon loading groceries, offering encouragement through coaching in the Co-op, or driving a box truck on a route to rescue food from local retailers.

Jon concluded his Foundation Board service in June 2025, after generously extending his term several years beyond the standard limit. We celebrate his incredible legacy and the countless lives he’s touched.

What’s Next: Leadership Transition and Nomination Process

At the conclusion of Jon’s term, longtime Board Member and current Vice-Chair Cathy Foley stepped into the role of Interim Chair. She and I will work closely together to ensure continued momentum over the next few months.

In the weeks ahead, the Executive Committee will begin the work of nominating a new Board Chair, to be finalized by the August 19 Foundation Board meeting. Once selected, the incoming Chair will be supported by Cathy throughout 2025 as she resumes her role as Vice Chair. The Board will also seek a candidate to step into the Vice Chair position beginning in 2026.

This transition also marks an opportunity to strengthen the Foundation Board governance practices. The Board is working to formalize a clear nomination and selection process for future Board leadership, ensuring healthy succession and continued alignment with our mission and values.

We’re so grateful for Jon…for his example, his presence, and his fearless trust in where we’re headed. We step into this next season with full hearts, carrying forward the vision that’s shaped us since the beginning.