“The Superior Health Foundation is honored to be in position to provide funding to so many incredible health-centered causes across the region,” SHF Executive Director Jim LaJoie said in a press release. “Our U.P.-wide board of directors and team recognizes substance use issues in the Upper Peninsula and their complexities. We feel strongly we have chosen four projects that will ultimately reduce the incidence of drug use and/or provide treatment options in our communities.”

The foundation awarded slightly more than $26,800 in mini-grants, nearly $100,000 in large grants, $10,000 in indigent care grants and about $306,500 in funding to address substance use issues in the Upper Peninsula. All told, roughly $443,300 was dispersed to organizations across the region.

“On behalf of the board of directors of the Superior Health Foundation, we’re pleased to award these grants to so many incredible organizations across the U.P.,” said Bruce Seely, Ph.D., president of the SHF Board of Directors, in the release. “To award more than $440,000 in an evening is incredible. We like to feel we’re doing our part in improving the lives of people.”

At the awards celebration, the SHF recognized 17 organizations across the Upper Peninsula that received mini-grants:

Jim LaJoie, executive director of the Superior Health Foundation, welcomes attendees to the event. The event was presented by 44 North. (Journal photo by Corey Kelly)

The foundation awarded large grants to the following organizations:

≤ Just Believe (up to $3,000)

≤ Great Lakes Recovery Centers ($6,000)

≤ Public Health, Delta & Menominee Counties ($14,500)

≤ 906 Adventure Team ($15,000)

≤ Michigan Fitness Foundation ($15,000)

≤ Feeding America West Michigan ($21,456)

≤ Western Marquette County Health Foundation ($25,000)

≤ Lake Superior Hospice ($5,000)

≤ Marquette County Health Department ($5,000)

≤ Marquette County Cares ($5,503)

≤ Healthy Youth Coalition of Marinette & Menominee Counties ($6,000)

≤ Dickinson Area Community Foundation ($19,000)

≤ Great Lakes Recovery Centers ($44,000)

≤ Aspirus Ironwood Hospital & Clinics Inc. ($107,000)

≤ Northcare Network ($125,020.35)

SHF also awarded funding to its first two Indigent Care Fund recipients. In the spring, SHF and the-then Medical Care Access Coalition signed an agreement in which $1.2 million in MCAC funds were awarded to SHF. Beginning this spring, interest earnings from this investment will be awarded in the form of grants.

Sheri Davie, chairwoman of the SHF Grants Committee and member of the SHF Board of Directors, said the number and quality of the grant application for the fall cycle was “incredible.”

“We had no shortage of quality grant proposals to review,” Davie said. “The committee feels very strongly that the projects we funded will play an immeasurable role in improving the lives of people all across the Upper Peninsula.”

The SHF will begin accepting applications for its spring 2019 grants cycle in mid-December, with a deadline set for Jan. 15.

For more information on the Superior Health Foundation, visit its website at www.superiorhealthfoundation.org or call 906-225-6914.