Jim LaJoie, executive director, Superior Health Foundation

MARQUETTE — After the Superior Health Foundation had its 10th anniversary on Sept. 1, its celebration on Wednesday featured food and beverages for staff as well as its board of directors from past and present.

The SHF, previously the Marquette General Foundation, changed its name following the sale of the then nonprofit Marquette General Hospital to for-profit Duke LifePoint of Brentwood, Tennessee.

“We’re just starting,” said SHF Executive Director Jim LaJoie. “We have a long way to go yet. We have a lot of people to help along the way. We look forward to playing a role in improving the health and well-being of people all across the (Upper Peninsula).”

In the last 10 years, the SHF has awarded more than $4.5 million in grant funding to multiple nonprofit, health-centered organizations across the U.P.

The foundation has several annual fundraising events, including an annual golf outing, 31 days of Painting the Peninsula Pink and an annual gala.

The 11th annual gala will be on Oct. 1 in the Northern Michigan University Northern Center ballroom. The event will see $15,000 donated to District 10 Lions to support its Childhood Cancer Program.

SHF is a stand-alone corporation. Its mission is to assist with unmet health care needs, health education and with promoting health.

For more information, visit superiorhealthfoundation.org.

Brennan White can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. His email address is bwhite@miningjournal.net.