This photo of Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp young adult summer staff was taken in the summer of 2021. FLLC was one of the groups that benefited from the Paul F. Blewett Legacy Funds. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Rasner, Camp Director at Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp)

By Journal Staff

MARQUETTE — The Paul F. Blewett Legacy Funds, established by the Community Foundation of Marquette County in 2010 to provide support to multiple local and regional organizations, distributed almost $76,200 this year, the CFMC announced.

Following the wishes of the donor, the fund supported 18 organizations this year, including: Bethany Lutheran Church; the Michigan Education Association; the National Education Association Foundation; national Planned Parenthood; Ishpeming High School; Ishpeming Skiers Training Facilities Inc.; the Bark River-Harris School District; the American Civil Liberties Union; WNMU FM 90 Radio; National Public Radio; the American Cancer Society; the national Alzheimer’s Association; the American Heart Association; the American Diabetes Association; Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp; the Salvation Army and Salvation Army-Ishpeming; and the American Red Cross.

For more information regarding this fund, visit www.cfofmc.org.

Amanda Rasner, camp director at Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp, said in a news release, “Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp is honored to receive money through the disbursement from the Paul F. Blewett Fund through the Community Foundation of Marquette County. These funds have been earmarked for a young adult retreat emphasizing self-care that will take place in February of 2022 at Fortune Lake.”

The main hurdle for hosting this event, she said, had been funding, as young adults might not have the financial resources to attend a full weekend retreat.

“With the reception of the Blewett funds, this hurdle has been removed, and we can continue to prepare for what we hope will be a first annual retreat,” Rasner said. “The money will provide sponsorships for up to 23 young adult participants from throughout the U.P. and northern Wisconsin.”

Born in Ishpeming in 1940, Paul Blewett studied at Michigan Tech University and Northern Michigan University, where he received a master’s degree in mathematics.

He enjoyed a nearly 43-year career as a math teacher at Bark River-Harris High School. He also gave back as a volunteer and officer in many different education associations, most notably as a member of the board of directors for the Michigan Education Association for 24 years.

According to the CFMC, Blewett’s biggest fulfillment came from seeing the students he taught excel at school and in life. Blewett was a lifelong member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Ishpeming, where he enjoyed taking photographs of weddings and church functions.

He died in 2009, leaving behind his legacy of giving back to the community and organizations he loved and respected.

The CFMC is a tax-exempt, nonprofit, publicly supported philanthropic organization with the long-term goal of building permanent, endowed funds for the broad-based public benefit.

A steward of the community’s charitable resources since 1988, the foundation works with donors to establish charitable funds and support nonprofit organizations through a variety of grant-making efforts.

The foundation connects people, resources and causes to promote sustainable impact toward the betterment of Marquette County.

Currently, the CFMC holds over 160 different funds that benefit worthy charities and charitable causes in Marquette County.

For more information, visit cfofmc.org or call 906-226-7666.