The Community Foundation of Marquette County, including five affiliate funds for Negaunee, Big Bay, Greater Ishpeming, Marquette, and Gwinn Area, granted more than $85,000 to 51 Marquette County nonprofit organizations this year in its annual competitive grant cycle.
The Foundation has awarded $11.6 million in grants benefiting communities in Marquette County since it was founded in 1988.
Grant distribution events have been held for the Gwinn, Ishpeming and Negaunee affiliates to celebrate the grantees and donors making an impact on the residents of Marquette County. The Marquette grant distribution event will be held on June 7 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at Presque Isle Park Pavilion.
More than $16,000 was granted to youth and education related programs, including: U.P. Children’s Therapy for its summer speech program, 8-18 Media for podcast equipment, and Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency (Maresa) to fund its Child Development Associate (CDA) Scholarships this summer. Health, wellness, and recreational programs, such as a hydroponic garden at Negaunee Public Schools, scholarships for Superiorland Soccer Association, and the youth rodeo for Great Lakes Rodeo received grants totaling $27,500.
More than $12,000 funded human service programs, including: Holiday meals for Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly, the family support program with Ronald McDonald House Charities West Michigan, and U.P. Pink Power’s Paying It Forward program. Arts, culture and music programs received $12,750, including the Music for All Kids at Great Lakes Recovery Center, Powell Township Schools Music program and the Marquette Choral Societies’ fall performance.
Zosia Eppensteiner, CEO of the Community Foundation said, “In this grant cycle, we’re funding a variety of important community needs throughout Marquette County, including MARESA’s childcare certification program, the restoration of the K.I. Sawyer Fitness Trail, and Big Bay’s music education program, ‘Music Makes Us Smart and Happy.’ There are wonderful projects happening countywide, and the Community Foundation and our affiliates are proud to support initiatives that are benefiting so many people in our communities.”
Volunteers from each of the Community Foundation’s affiliate fund form committees to review applications and recommend grants to the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Eppensteiner added, “We appreciate the work of volunteers on our grants committees who help Foundation staff and our Board ensure that we are supporting projects that can make the most significant impact in our community.
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