Community foundation celebrates grant recipients
MARQUETTE — The Community Foundation of Marquette County awarded checks to its successful 2019 competitive grant cycle applicants during its spring grant distribution event at the Presque Isle Pavilion in Marquette on Wednesday evening.
Dinner was provided by Border Grill, ice cream from Jilbert’s Dairy and music entertainment from Michael Waite and Friends. Community funds generated through a multitude of donor gifts invested over the last 30 years resulted in funds for Marquette, Negaunee, Ishpeming, Gwinn and Big Bay.
“Anywhere you look in Marquette there’s likely to be some evidence of the generosity of the citizens of Marquette County through the Community Foundation,” said Gail Anthony, chief executive officer for the foundation.
Anthony said it was an “honor” to award $63,129.21 to 62 organizations across the county.
Vice president of the Zonta Club of Marquette Kia Richmond and past president Darlene Kyto were in attendance to receive a grant for $1,500 on behalf of the group. The Zonta Club is an organization that works to empower women and girls. Richmond and Kyto hope to pair this funding with an international grant that the organization has applied for and use it to put on an event that informs and educates the public about human trafficking. Richmond said the evening was “phenomenal” and that she was so excited to attend on behalf of the organization.
“I was really excited to meet so many people from other nonprofits who are getting grants and it was exciting to visit with them and hear about their programs. It was really fun,” Richmond said. “It also gave us a chance to talk about Zonta to people who may have never heard of it before.”
Funds will go to projects that range from energy efficiency programs for Habitat for Humanity to funding for Partridge Creek Farms to build gardens at Teaching Family Homes.
Corey Kelly can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 243.