At its Spring Grants Celebration held on Wednesday night at the Holiday Inn, Marquette’s Superior Health Foundation awarded over $205,000 worth of health-related grant funding. Acrisure proudly hosted the event.
Superior Health Foundation has awarded grants totaling $123,895,17 for spring, $57320,69 to indigent health care, and $24,466.71 towards pilot projects and equipment.
The Upper Peninsula non-profit has given out more than $6 million dollars in grants to U.P. non-profits that are health-focused.
We value these celebrations of grant awards. “They are the highlights of our foundation’s calendar,” Jim LaJoie said, the outgoing executive Director of the Superior Health Foundation. We’re honored to provide much needed, health-centered grants to an array of groups across the Peninsula. These grant dollars are being spent wisely to help improve the health and wellbeing of those who call this place home.
The Superior Health Foundation presented spring grants totaling $123,895.17 to 11 nonprofit organizations from the U.P. at the event. :
- Northern Lights Child Advocacy Center (24 948.00 dollars) Northern Lights Child Advocacy Center receives funding to purchase iRecord equipment and provide installation, training, and technical assistance for their interview and observation rooms. Northern Lights, a children’s advocacy center, offers a child-centered, trauma-informed space in which teens and kids can be interviewed forensically, in collaboration with police, child protection services, and prosecutors. Children’s advocacy centers like Northern Lights offer a child-centered, trauma-informed space where children and teens can be forensically interviewed in partnership with law enforcement, child protective services and prosecutors’ offices. The grant will enable the organization to upgrade its technology.
- Women’s Center, Inc. ($15,028): The funding will be used to purchase an accessibility ramp for Harbor House that is ADA-compliant. Harbor House, the Women’s Center’s emergency shelter for temporary housing in an emergency situation is operated. The shelter’s old ramp suffered severe damage in 2022 after it was struck by a car. This new ramp ensures safe access to the Harbor House at least for the next fifteen years. The ramp is not only for shelter residents but also for emergency workers, staff and community members.
- Special Olympics Michigan Area 36 (Fifteen Thousand Dollars) Special Olympics Michigan receives $5,000.00 annually for three years for year-round training in sports and competitions for adults and children with intellectual disabilities. The athletes are provided with opportunities to improve their physical fitness, athletic ability, show courage, feel joy and share gifts, skills, and friendships among themselves, as well as other Special Olympic Athletes, families and caregivers.
- Trillium House (13 776.82 dollars) The funding will be used to purchase two blanket warmers for residents as part of a person-centered plan. Many elderly adults, and especially those who have life-limiting diagnoses, struggle to maintain a comfortable body temperature. The warming stations provide caregivers the tools to improve residents’ physical, emotional and mental well-being. Warming blankets can also improve nerve responses, joint and muscle function and pain levels.
- Gladstone Parks and Recreation (10 000 dollars) Gladstone Sail School will receive funding to upgrade boat rigs and sails as well as hardware, allowing for greater accessibility by individuals with disabilities. The school will take safety measures by updating older equipment, including essential life-saving tools such as Personal Floatation devices, lighting, signaling, and communication gear. Storage sheds will be converted into multi-use structures that are fully accessible to the handicapped and can serve both as storage and classrooms during bad weather.
- Marquette Chapter of National AMBUCS (10,000 dollars) The funding will allow the organization to complete its New Chapter 10 for 10 Program. This program allows them to order 10 adaptive trykes for free and purchase 10 for themselves. AMBUCS’ mission is to empower people with mobility challenges to achieve independence and freedom through its nationwide volunteer network, which includes physical, occupational, and speech therapists.
- Healthy Youth Coalition of Marinette & Menominee Counties (9,080 dollars) The funding will support school-based prevention in Menominee County School Districts during the school year 2024-2025. The “Strategic Prevention Framework” is used by the coalition to help prevent planners find solutions for urgent substance abuse problems in their community.
- Negaunee public schools ($8,500). The funding will go towards purchasing supplies for the Lakeview School Garden Growing Gardeners Project. This will allow the garden become more interactive and hands-on, as well as accessible to the local community.
- Courage Incorporated (7,572) Funds will support outdoor adventures for the group in 2024, and even early 2025. This includes food, fuel and other expenses. Courage Incorporated offers free wilderness excursions to individuals with disabilities and chronic/terminal illnesses. These programs, which are all based on camping, include activities such as fishing, canoe/kayaking, hiking, ice-fishing, ATV riding, outdoor cooking, and much more.
- Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp (7,340.35 dollars) The funding will be used to create a new position for Mental Health Support Coordinator on the Fortune Lake Summer Staff, and provide mental health training for both staff members and campers. Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp offers outdoor ministry opportunities for all people, regardless of age or background. Campers can live together, unplug from technology, reconnect with nature, find their gifts, develop relationships, and gain independence through these activities.
- CASA Menominee/Marinette (2,650 dollars) This grant is intended to support training, retention and service for more children. The funds will be used to cover the costs of printing and publications, National CASA’s fees, volunteer manuals, professional material, miscellaneous items, dues or membership payments, as well as other materials. CASA of Menominee/Marinette’s mission is to serve children aged 0-18 involved with the court system and/or Child Protective Services for reason of abuse or neglect.
SHF also announced six recipients of its Indigent Care Grants at the event:
- Cancer Care for Marquette County (10,000 dollars) The funding will be used to provide services for cancer patients who cannot afford the high healthcare costs associated with the illness and treatment.
- Great Lakes Recovery Centers, Inc. ($10,000) The Compassionate Care Fund will be replenished with the funds. The fund is used to help cover costs for those who don’t have other means of payment.
- Medical Care Access Coalition of Dickinson & Iron Counties (10,000 dollars) The funding will be used to support the Here to Help Voucher Program which offers emergency medications to people in need.
- Trillium House (10 000 $) The funding will be used to support the Dan Mazzuchi Care Fund. This fund provides financial aid to people who are nearing the end of their lives and have financial obstacles.
- Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital (nine,537.50 dollars) The funding will be used to support Schoolcraft Memorial Homecare and Hospice – Hospice Fund. This fund helps hospice patients and families alleviate their financial burdens and improve quality of life.
- McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation (7,783.19) The funding will be used to support the Patient Assistance Program which assists residents in the Upper Peninsula with accessing medical care.
Superior Health Foundation has also granted grants for pilot projects and equipment to the following organisations:
Find Your Voice, LLC, Gwinn Seed Library, Marquette County Habitat for Humanity, Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice, Northern Lights Child Advocacy Center, U.P. Superior Smiles and Vietnam Veterans of Alger County
Superior Health Foundation has a mission to help with “unmet healthcare needs” and provide health education and programs that promote health and prevent illness in the Upper Peninsula.
SHF is accepting grant applications for equipment and pilot projects every month.
The deadline for applications to the Fall Grant Cycle is July 1. Visit the website to learn more about funding and how you can apply. www.superiorhealthfoundation.org