MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Community Foundation of Marquette County distributed over $120,000 in grants this year through its annual competitive grant program. Since 1988 the foundation has awarded over $12.8 million in grants and this year’s distribution has been said to be a big milestone for the Foundation.
“On an annual basis the community foundation distributes over a million dollars in grant dollars and scholarships,” said Community Foundation CEO Zosia Eppensteiner. Eppensteiner and the selection committee look over each project and its potential to face challenges within the community. These awards are in recognition of the work these organizations and nonprofits do for the people in the UP.
“They’re so far stretched there is so much need in the community and it continues to grow when you think about our food pantries, our homeless shelters all these needs across Marquette County,” continued Eppensteiner.
Negaunee Highschool Band will now be able to replace marching band uniforms, $1,000 in grant funds will go towards senior support with the Caregivers Incentive Project and $5,000 will go towards feminine hygiene products for schools through The Queen’s Heart of Marquette.
“Being able to hear first hand and experience the passion of these agencies and these volunteers that are putting kids in bikes that are providing us with continued education who are thinking about the future of our county and what are some of the services that we really need,” said Eppensteiner.
906 adventure team is also among the 49 recipients and plans to expand its base camp on lakeshore drive. Adventure Coordinator Tara Gluski commented that these dollars open up exciting avenues to bring more outdoors to the public.
“Two back acres turned into an adventure and bike park that we would love to have open to the public sort of expanding our mission which is to empower people to become the best versions of themselves through outdoor adventure,” commented Gluski.
These dollars help support ideas that bring innovation, collaboration, and meaningful impact to a community that commented the foundation has been there every step of the way.
Below is a full list of recipients and projects from the Community Foundation.
Click here for more information on applying for a grant or scholarship.
