Clark Lambros’ Beach Park Fund Donor Story

It’s Tuesday afternoon, and Vango’s is alive with friendly conversation and the warm smell of pizza dough. The Marquette restaurant has served as a gathering spot for the community for decades, in large part because of the generous and dedicated work of Michele Butler.

Michele O. Butler, co-owner and partner of Vango’s in Marquette, gives back beyond what she even admits to, through various donations and gifts to the community. Just one of these donations includes the popular Clark Lambros’ Beach Park, 10 acres of land along Lake Superior and Lakeshore Boulevard. She and her life-long partner Clark Lambros both knew they wanted the property to be accessible and shared with others.

Arriving to the United States from Greece originally, Clark Lambros, a longtime businessman, settled in Marquette.  He loved the people and the natural beauty of Lake Superior. A true American story, Mr. Lambros opened his own business, Vango’s Pizza and Cocktail Lounge, and through generous local involvement, became a community philanthropist. Years later, when his son, Clark Lambros Jr., passed away in a car accident, he wanted to create a park for the community in his son’s memory. Unfortunately, Mr. Lambros himself became ill and passed away before he was able to.

Ms. Butler continued these efforts to donate and dedicate the park in memory of Clark Lambros Jr., as well as her partner Mr. Lambros.  Ms. Butler donated the property and applied for a DNR Trust Fund grant, using those funds, along with her own personal contributions to reinvest into building the park. With the forward thinking of Bill Sanders, the project’s landscape architect and engineer, the park was designed with several amenities including picnic tables, barbecues, a paved parking lot, restroom facilities, handicap accessibility, and an accessible kayak launch on the Dead River.

The park, which opened in August of 2016, has become a popular place for all to enjoy.

“The outpour of people to say thank you has been phenomenal,” explains Ms. Butler.

“One of the reasons we committed to the city to have an endowment is we want the park to go on forever,” she adds.

Through the endowment set up through the Community Foundation of Marquette County, the park leaves a legacy that can be enjoyed for future generations. Upkeep and maintenance of the park is ensured through the Clark Lambros’ Beach Park Fund, an open fund that accepts all donations. Commenting on the fund, Ms. Butler hopes others learn the value of the Community Foundation, and the differences it makes.

“Especially when in business, when you have the opportunity to make a difference large or small, we owe it to the community to do whatever we can to make it a better place.”

Matt Davidson Donor Story

On March 1, 2017, the Matt Davidson Memorial Scholarship Fund, a permanent endowment, was established at the Community Foundation of Marquette County with gifts received from family and friends. This fund will be used primarily to provide scholarships to graduating senior student athletes of Republic-Michigamme Schools. Matt Davidson was a highly regarded teacher and coach in the Republic-Michagamme School district.

An annual 5 on 5 basketball tournament in honor of Matt Davidson has been held annually since the popular teacher and coach died in a single-vehicle accident on U.S. 41 in Baraga county in January of 2015. Up until the time of his death, Davidson had been a K-12 physical education and health teacher at R-M for 16 years.  He previously coached both the boys and girls varsity programs when the teams played in separate seasons, with a highlight being his 2003 girls team winning a Class D regional championship.  Davidson was also the school’s boys and girls track coach.  Scholarships have been awarded annually to Republic-Michagamme Students with the proceeds from the basketball tournament.

Matt loved basketball, he loved playing it in City League–especially when the old bucks could beat the young hotshots. Years of experience, strategy, and wiliness winning out against the young run-and-gun kids– that made him happy. He loved teaching it. That moment when one of the kids “got it” on the court– that made him happy. He loved coaching it. It wasn’t as much about winning and losing-although that mattered to his competitive spirit-but about seeing improvement. Seeing how it could make a difference. That made him happy.

Matt loved the kids at the Republic-Michigamme school. He loved teaching, coaching and caring for them. He always had a soft spot for the underdog. He taught and valued hard work, commitment, and teamwork. The Matt Davidson Memorial Scholarship has been established in his honor. This scholarship is for students that share that same attitude of hard work, commitment and teamwork and for the individual that reflects Matt’s willingness to dream and believe in themselves.

The annual 5 on 5 basketball tournament in honor of Matt Davidson will be held April 7^th, 8^th  and 9^th at the Republic Michigamme High School Gym.  Games start at 6 on Friday. Admission is $2, all proceeds will go to the Matt Davidson Memorial Scholarship. Please contact Todd Brancheau 906-364-2451 for more information about the tournament. Gifts to the scholarship fund can be made here.

Mark Ulrickson Donor Story

A new scholarship fund at the Community Foundation of Marquette County will help local students receive a college education and carry on the legacy of the late Dr. Mark Ulrickson, a Marquette ophthalmologist, Ishpeming native and supporter of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

The Mark Ulrickson Memorial Scholarship Fund will present $1,000 annually to a Marquette County student who excels academically and demonstrates financial need. Preference will be given to students who have participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, as well as to those who are enrolling at Northern Michigan University.

Dr. Ulrickson, who passed away in October 2016, had served as a Big Brother for seven years and was also a financial supporter of the program. His children, Joy La Prade, Peter Ulrickson, Juliann Ulrickson and Valerie Aalto, along with their spouses, chose to establish the scholarship in his memory.

“Our father cared about the success and well-being of the Marquette County community and looked for opportunities to support local children and families in need,” they said. “We hope this scholarship fund will continue the work he started and make a difference in the community where he invested so much of his time, money, energy and love.”

Born and raised in Ishpeming, Dr. Ulrickson served in the U.S. Marine Corps before returning to Marquette to earn a biochemistry degree at Northern Michigan University. After completing medical school at Michigan State University, he served for many years as an ophthalmologist in the U.S. Navy before entering private practice and returning to Marquette.

Since 2003, he was one of the owners of Upper Peninsula Eye Specialists, where he cared for his patients with compassion and personal attention. He was also a member of CrossBridge Church in Ishpeming. “Our dad was proud to be from Ishpeming and proud to be part of the Marquette community,” his children said. “He wanted to help this community and the people in it. We look forward to seeing the impact his scholarship will have on the students who receive it, and how they will make an impact on the Marquette area in the years to come.”

Click here to support the Mark Ulrickson Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Pam Benton Memorial

Pam served as a Trustee of the Community Foundation since the fall of 2013. She brought to the position her experience and knowledge of philanthropic operations and development and quickly embraced the philanthropic goals of the foundation.

“Pam was a dynamic and engaged Board Trustee who truly understood the positive potential that the foundation could have on the Marquette County community. This positive thinking was truly representative of Pam’s orientation to her work and her life,” said Gail Anthony, CEO of the Community Foundation. “Her commitment and positive energy are reflected in the courageous way that Pam dealt with the tragic illness that befell her that caused her to take a short leave to focus on her health and family.”

“When I think about Pam Benton, I think of a servant leader,” said Jack Lenten, CFMC Chair, “Pam was someone who had a positive impact both through and for others. Pam felt passionate about her family, friends and her community. We will be forever grateful for her service to the Community Foundation.”

“Pam will be remembered for serving on the development and annual celebration committees where her leadership, attention to details, “can-do” attitude and endless lists helped make for wildly successful events. “Her contributions are immeasurable and her legacy of service will live on,” said Anthony.

To make a gift in Pam’s memory, click here.