COVID-19 Community Response Fund Grant Provides Support for PPE Needs in Marquette County Schools
Through a collaborative effort with local school districts, the Community Foundation of Marquette County and United Way of Marquette County recently announced a grant to Marquette-Alger Regional Education Service Agency (MARESA) to support the purchase of personal protective equipment, including masks, for Marquette County schools. The $7,400 grant was made possible by the COVID-19 Community Response Fund, which is administered by the Community Foundation in partnership with United Way of Marquette County.
“These types of collaborative efforts have a meaningful impact in our community,” says Andrew Rickauer, Executive Director of United Way of Marquette County. “I am really pleased to be part of helping our local youth so that they are safe and can return to in person learning.”
The grant will allow MARESA will coordinate a bulk order of PPE, including masks, after the schools expressed a need as they prepare for the school year.
“After hearing there was a need for PPE in Marquette County schools, we were able to utilize funds from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund to assist,” says Community Foundation CEO Zosia Eppensteiner. “With much uncertainty going into this school year, our hope is that this grant allows the schools to be prepared if the PPE is needed. Collaborating among organizations to provide a quick response to a community need is exactly what the Community Response Fund was set up to do.”
The COVID-19 Community Response fund was established in 2020 to support the needs of the community and nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, over $178,000 has been raised and over $160,000 in grants have been distributed. Grants have supported the community in a multitude of ways, from purchasing food for senior meal programs, to at-home craft kits for youth, to supplies for organizations assisting homeless populations.
Jackson Mine Park Pavilion Opens : Grant Spotlight
This past month the City of Negaunee held a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the pavilion building in Jackson Mine Park. The project has been in the works since 2012, with a total cost of $485,000. Funds and grants have been raised over the past seven years (2012-2019), including a grant from the Negaunee Area Community Fund. The project “broke ground” in 2019, after the City was awarded a grant through the DNR, fulfilling the resources needed for the project.
The finished building consists of a large, covered picnic area and restrooms, with plans of adding on a kitchen area. The project also included an on-site parking lot. The pavilion, which is located off the Iron Ore Heritage trail, on Tobin Street in Downtown Negaunee, is open to the public and available to reserve for private events through the City of Negaunee.
Projects like this show the opportunities that become feasible when our grantmaking abilities are utilized to their fullest potential. When we work together, we can achieve greater goals. By helping organizations leverage funding, we engage as partners in larger projects which then have a greater impact in our community.
Schenk Scholarship Legacy Fund : Fund Spotlight
The children of Wilbur and Catherine T. Schenk wanted a way to honor their parent’s memories and support the educational pursuits of Forest Park High School’s graduating seniors. Wilbur Schenk was principal, then superintendent, of the Crystal Falls school from the mid-1950’s until he retired in the 1980s. Daughter Sue Schenk Drobny recalls her father as a strong yet caring school leader:
“His job was very important to him, he was a strict disciplinarian and expected you do your best, but also, I have heard in years since, was quietly and privately compassionate and helpful with students that were having issues with “life”.
As superintendent, Wilbur was responsible for calling “snow days” during the winter. He was known for rarely calling off school unless temperatures were 25 degrees below zero. His children recall the popular saying among students that “THERE WILBUR SCHOOL TODAY!”. They thought it seemed unfair at the time but are now proud of the fact they made the trek to school in the winter weather and survived to tell about it.
When Wilbur passed away in 1999, the Schenk children established a scholarship fund in his name. After their mother, Catherine T., passed away in 2008, they added her name, noting how her support helped Wilbur during his years of employment.
The Community Foundation of Marquette County began administering the scholarship in 2011. To be eligible for this scholarship students must have participated in extracurricular activities for at least two consecutive years such as varsity sports (player and/or managers), student council, band or drama. Students must have been accepted in a 2- or 4-year educational program at a vocational school, college, or university for continuing education in any field. Since 2011, this scholarship has supported over twenty graduates of Forest Park High School who have gone on to study at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, St. Norbert’s College, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin, Northern Michigan University, and Central Michigan University, among others.
Community Foundation CEO Zosia Eppensteiner Presents at Michigan Association of Counties Regional Summit
With close to $11 billion dollars of emergency funding being directed to Michigan to support communities affected by the pandemic, the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF) recently featured a story about how community foundations can be a valuable partner in these efforts.
CMF invited CEO Zosia Eppensteiner to present at the Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) Regional Summit in Escanaba in July. As federal funds will be channeled through state and local fiscal recovery funds, the presentation at the MAC Summit was a way to highlight the valuable partnerships and long-term community investment approach foundations bring to the conversation.
“We serve as a convener; we help identify needs and lift up underrepresented populations voices most impacted by the pandemic. Foundations’ long-term approach to community capital can also provide sustainable support to government initiatives and by serving as a co-investor, foundations can help grow long-term impact.” – Community Foundation CEO Zosia Eppensteiner
Visit the Council of Michigan Foundations website for the full article.
The Community Foundation of Marquette County, including four affiliate funds – Negaunee, Greater Ishpeming, Marquette, and Gwinn Area – recently granted over $100,000 as part of the annual competitive grant cycle.
Of the total grant funding, over $25,000 was awarded to programs related to human services. Over $21,000 was awarded to environment and recreation. Over $17,000 was awarded to arts, culture, and music. Over $15,000 was awarded to youth and education. Over $14,000 was awarded to health. Over $5,000 was awarded to community improvement. This grant cycle included funds from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund to support nonprofits that continue to navigate organizational and operational needs from ongoing pandemic response.
2021 grantees included Willow Farm Therapeutic Riding program, which received funds to replace expired helmets for youth involved in the program. The grant was made possible by the Stephen Blondeau Memorial Fund, which was established at the Community Foundation in 1996 to support projects related to youth safety in the Upper Peninsula.
Willow Farm Therapeutic Riding volunteer Luanne Peterson said, “As an affiliate program of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International, horseback riding helmets are a safety requirement that we continue to adhere to. PATH International requires all participants to wear protective headgear that is American Society for Testing and Materials – Safety Equipment Institute (ASTM-SEI) certified. Depending on the amount of use, riding helmets hold the ASTM-SEI certification for 3 – 5 years after they are purchased. This grant will allow the program to provide required safety gear for youth and continue to follow PATH International’s protocols for safety.”
Volunteers from each of the Community Foundation’s affiliate fund form committees to review applications and recommend grants to the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Grant distribution events were recently held for the Ishpeming, Negaunee and Marquette affiliates to celebrate the grantees making an impact on residents of Marquette County. A final grant distribution event will be held on July 4 in Gwinn at The Up North Lodge. This event is part of the popular Bike Night event series and is a fundraiser for the Gwinn Area Community Fund.
