The Superior Health Foundation (SHF) in Marquette awarded more than $205,000 in health-centered grant funding at its Spring Grants Celebration on Wednesday evening at the Holiday Inn in Marquette. The event was proudly presented by Acrisure.
The Superior Health Foundation awarded $123,895.17 in spring grants, $57,320.69 in indigent care grants and $24,466.71 in pilot-project and equipment grants.
In its 12-year history, the Upper Peninsula-wide, non-profit organization has awarded more than $6.6 million in grant dollars to health-centered, non-profits in the U.P.
“We truly value our grant celebrations. They are the highlight on our foundation calendar,” said Jim LaJoie, outgoing executive director of the Superior Health Foundation. “We’re incredibly honored to award much-needed, health-centered grant funding to a broad array of organizations across the peninsula. We know these grant dollars will be judiciously spent to improve the health of people who live in this beautiful place we call home.”
At the event, the Superior Health Foundation awarded $123,895.17 in spring grants to 11 non-profit organizations in the U.P.:
- Northern Lights Child Advocacy Center ($24,948.00): Northern Lights Child Advocacy Center is receiving funding for iRecord technology equipment, installation, training and technical support for its interview room and observation space. Children’s advocacy centers like Northern Lights offer a trauma-informed, child-centered space where children and teens can be forensically interviewed in partnership with law enforcement, child protective services and prosecutors’ offices. Giving children the opportunity to share their experiences safely can minimize the trauma of an investigation and improve case outcomes. This grant funding will allow the organization to make these important technological upgrades.
- Women’s Center, Inc. ($15,028): Funding is being used for the purchase of an accessibility ramp that is ADA compliant for the Harbor House shelter. The Harbor House is the emergency temporary shelter operated by the Women’s Center. In 2022, the shelter’s previous ramp was heavily damaged after being struck by a vehicle. The new ramp will ensure safe entry into the Harbor House for at least the next 15 years. In addition to shelter residents, the ramp will allow for increased accessibility for staff, community members and emergency personnel who enter the premises.
- Special Olympics Michigan Area 36 ($15,000): Special Olympics Michigan will receive $5,000.00 per year for three years to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Athletes are given continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness and athletic skill, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes, and the community all without a single cost to the athlete, family or caregiver.
- Trillium House ($13,776.82): Funding will purchase two medical blanket warming stations to assist residents with thermoregulation and comfort as part of their person-centered care plan. Many older adults and those with life-limiting diagnosis, especially at the end of life, have difficulty maintaining a suitable body temperature. These warming stations will provide caregivers with the resources to make residents comfortable and improve their overall physical, mental and emotional well-being. The warming blankets have also been shown to improve pain levels, nerve response, muscle and joint function, and other benefits allowing individuals quality of life.
- Gladstone Parks and Recreation ($10,000): The Gladstone Sail School is receiving funding for various upgrades including updating boat rigs, sails, hardware and enhancing accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Safety measures will be taken by replacing older equipment and including modernized essential life-saving devices such as Personal Floatation Devices, lighting and signaling tools, and communication equipment used at the school. The school’s storage shed will be transformed into a multi-use structure that is fully handicap accessible and will serve as both storage space and a classroom during unfavorable weather conditions.
- Marquette Chapter of National AMBUCS ($10,000): Funding will complete its New Chapter 10-for-10 Program, which allows the organization to purchase 10 adaptive trykes and order 10 more for free. The mission of AMBUCS is to inspire people to conquer mobility and independence challenges through a nationwide network of volunteer chapters, working in partnership with physical, occupational and speech therapists; by providing Amtryke adaptive trykes, scholarships for therapists, and many forms of community service.
- Healthy Youth Coalition of Marinette & Menominee Counties ($9,080): Funding will help support the organization’s school-based prevention strategies in Menominee County school districts during the 2024-2025 school year. The coalition uses the “Strategic Prevention Framework.” This framework was developed to assist prevention planners’ solutions to urgent substance misuse problems facing their communities.
- Negaunee Public Schools ($8,500): Funding will purchase supplies for the Lakeview School Garden: Growing Gardeners project to allow the garden to become more interactive, hands-on and accessible to the community through three related initiatives: first, a healing garden that is a calm, safe space will be created; second, they will be participating in the Negaunee Farmer’s Market, and third, a Fall Harvest Gathering event will welcome local businesses and families.
- Courage Incorporated ($7,572): The funds will be used to support the organization’s outdoor adventure excursions for 2024 and early 2025, including food, fuel, licenses and miscellaneous expenses. Courage Incorporated provides free outdoor wilderness-based excursions for individuals and veterans with physical disabilities, and those living with chronic/terminal illness. The programs are rooted in camping and include fishing, boating, canoe/kayaking, hiking, ice fishing, ATV rides, outdoor cooking and more.
- Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp ($7,340.35): Funding will create the new position of Mental Health Support Coordinator for the Fortune Lake summer staff, as well as mental health support training for staff and campers. Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp provides outdoor ministry experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds. Through these experiences, campers live in community, disconnect from technology, connect with nature, discover their own gifts, build relationships and learn independence.
- CASA of Menominee/Marinette ($2,650): The grant will support the training and retention of volunteers and the service of a greater number of children. Funds will cover printing & publications, National CASA fees, volunteer training manuals, professional materials, miscellaneous materials and dues or affiliation payments. 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.
At the celebration, SHF announced the six award recipients for its Indigent Care grants:
- Cancer Care of Marquette County ($10,000): Funding will provide patient care services to those with a cancer diagnosis who are unable to respond to the catastrophic healthcare costs caused by the disease and its treatment.
- Great Lakes Recovery Centers, Inc ($10,000): Funding will replenish the Compassionate Care Fund. This fund helps to cover the cost of services for individuals who do not have another means to pay for services.
- Medical Care Access Coalition of Dickinson & Iron Counties ($10,000): Funding will support the Here to Help Voucher Program, which provides emergency life-saving medications to individuals.
- Trillium House ($10,000): Funding will support the Dan Mazzuchi Care Fund, which provides financial assistance to those at the end of life who are unable to stay at home and face financial barriers.
- Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital ($9,537.50): Funding will support the Schoolcraft Memorial Homecare and Hospice – Hospice Fund, which supports hospice patients and their families to alleviate financial burdens and enhance quality of life in profound ways.
- McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation ($7,783.19): Funding will support the Patient Assistance Program, which helps residents of the Upper Peninsula access medical care.
The Superior Health Foundation also awarded pilot project and equipment grants to the following organizations:
906 Adventure Team, Alger County Commission on Aging, Dickinson Iron Community Services Agency, Doulas of Marquette, Faith Lutheran Church, Find Your Voice, LLC, Gwinn Seed Library, Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice, Marquette County Habitat for Humanity, Northern Lights Child Advocacy Center, U.P. Superior Smiles and Vietnam Veterans of Alger County
The Superior Health Foundation’s mission is to “assist with unmet healthcare needs, with health education, and with programs and research on preventing illness and promoting health throughout the Upper Peninsula.”
SHF accepts grant proposals monthly for pilot project and equipment grants.
Applications for the fall grants cycle will be accepted from June 1-July 1. To learn more and apply for funding, visit www.superiorhealthfoundation.org
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