Congratulations to the organizations that were awarded grants at The Superior Health Foundation’s celebration and thanks to the SHF for continuing to do great good in our area.

At the celebration, some 18 grant awards totaling over $272,000 were distributed to health-focused organizations serving the Upper Peninsula.

As reported by Journal Staff Writer Ryan Spitza, the grants were presented at a reduced-capacity, socially distanced ceremony at the Holiday Inn in Marquette. Around $126,000 was distributed in spring grant funding, while nearly $100,000 was awarded to address children’s mental health in the U.P. through a partnership with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Michigan.

Also, $15,000 was distributed for indigent care grants, while other funding was awarded to various organizations for equipment and pilot projects.

“We are elated to offer invaluable funding to so many incredible, deserving organizations across the region,” SHF executive director Jim LaJoie said in a news release. “With COVID-19 and the worldwide pandemic, many nonprofits are facing some incredibly challenging times. We’re hopeful this funding plays a role in helping our health-centered friends and neighbors with carrying out meaningful and invaluable projects that improve the health and well-being of people.”

At Wednesday’s event, LaJoie told The Mining Journal he was pleased the SHF was able to hold an in-person celebration again, and that awarding grant money to local health organizations is more important than ever.

“We were unable to hold a spring grants celebration last spring, and this past fall, we hosted a virtual event,” he said. “We are so thankful to do an in-person event to visit with our friends and colleagues and have that fellowship many of us have desperately missed.

“The Superior Health Foundation’s mission is to ‘assist with unmet health care needs, with health education, and with programs and research on preventing illness and promoting health in the Upper Peninsula.’ Our SHF team and U.P.-wide board of directors are deeply committed to improving the health and well-being of residents all across the peninsula. These have been trying, difficult times for many. We feel blessed and incredibly honored to award grant funding at a time when organizations really need it.”

Spring grant awards were distributed to Great Lakes Recovery Centers, the Caregiver Incentive Project, Feeding America West Michigan, Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula, Marquette County Habitat for Humanity, and DAR Boys and Girls Club of Menominee and Marinette.

Receiving funding for children’s mental health initiatives were Catholic Social Services of the Upper Peninsula, The Lakes Community Health Center Inc., Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency and the YMCA of Marquette County.

Three organizations received indigent care grants, including GLRC, Trillium House and Marquette County Habitat for Humanity. Each of these organizations received $5,000 in indigent care funding.

We thank SHF for all the amazing work it helps to fund in our community, even in pandemic times.

To learn more about the Superior Health Foundation and its initiatives, or to apply for funding, visit www.superiorhealthfoundation.org.