Each year the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation of Marquette County nominates individuals, organizations, and businesses to receive Catalyst Awards. A Catalyst Award recognizes the efforts of those that help build community through volunteerism or philanthropy and inspire others to do the same – those that go “above and beyond” for our community.
This year’s awards are a little different as they recognize those who have joined together in the spirit of community despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only do these awardees embrace the Community Foundation’s spirit of volunteerism and philanthropy, but they do so with an innate sense of caring for others. The Board of Trustees is proud to announce the following recipients:
Health care workers in Marquette County are being recognized with an award for their efforts, particularly in the past year, for all they have done keeping us safe, informed and cared for during the COVID-19 pandemic. This award recognizes all staff of the many health care facilities in Marquette County – hospitals, clinics, outpatient services, pharmacies, hospice, elder care facilities, the health department – to name a few. While we know the pandemic is not over, we hope this award brings well deserved recognition and shows the community’s appreciation.
Hematites Building Better Neighborhoods program is recognized for their work eliminating blight surrounding the Ishpeming Middle/High School campus while giving students an opportunity to learn math and construction techniques in a hands-on setting. Students from the Ishpeming High School Industrial Arts Program have completed two major projects, including the construction of a new gazebo, and renovating a formerly abandoned home across the street from the school. With the assistance of the Marquette County Land Bank and local businesses, these students are helping to build a better neighborhood while gaining valuable hands-on learning experiences.
School employees in Marquette County are being recognized for their efforts over the past year supporting students while navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers, administrators, and staff have truly shown resilience as they navigated online learning and unprecedented health and safety measures while providing a positive educational experience for students. From delivering online instruction to assembling extra meals for students during stay-at-home orders, school employees have been unwavering in their support for youth in Marquette County.
The Masks for Marquette group of volunteers is recognized for their extraordinary efforts to help keep our community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March, Masks for Marquette has coordinated the production and distribution of thousands of handmade fabric masks, scrub caps, respirator covers and gowns for medical facilities, schools, front line workers and our most vulnerable populations. The Masks for Marquette project truly demonstrates the generous spirit and can-do attitude that defines our community.
The Community Foundation of Marquette County, on behalf of the Huron Mountain Club Fund, is pleased to announce $56,000 in grants and awards to nonprofits in Marquette County. Several Big Bay organizations received support as well as other local nonprofits, including Bay Cliff Health Camp, Powell Township Elementary, Powell Township EMT, Powell Township Fire Department, Peter White Public Library, Yellow Dog Watershed Partnership, and Trillium House.
Clare Lutgen, Executive Director of Bay Cliff Health Camp expressed the importance of the funding from the Huron Mountain Club Fund, particularly right now: “The rapid development and delivery of Bay Cliff Virtual Camp 2020 demonstrated Bay Cliff Health Camp’s resilience and commitment to service. The Bay Cliff staff is currently hard at work developing robust 2021 programming options that can be adapted to any situation while keeping therapy central to our work. Support from the Huron Mountain Club and the Community Foundation will help us ensure that children living with a disability will receive life-changing, individualized therapy within a community composed of their peers and caring adults.”
Jill Bevins, Superintendent of Powell Township Schools also noted the importance of the support from the fund, especially this year: “Powell Township School has benefited tremendously over the years because of the generous donations from the Huron Mountain Club. We have been able to provide a variety of enrichment activities, ranging from school/community dramatic productions to ski outings for our student population. Currently, the funds have helped us through the COVID pandemic by providing enhancements for internet connectivity for distance learning for our staff and students. Ongoing support from the Huron Mountain Club and the Community Foundation will enable us to continue to provide the best possible education for all our students. We are very grateful for the impact this fund has made on our school and community.”
Huron Mountain Club members conduct an annual solicitation of their membership that results in their ability to contribute annually to these nonprofits. Since being established in 1999, the Huron Mountain Club Advisory Committee has given back over $1,000,000 in support to area nonprofits.
Mark Canale and Maura Davenport were recently appointed to serve three-year terms on the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation of Marquette County. The board serves on a volunteer basis as the legal entity of the Foundation. Both Canale and Davenport previously served on the Board of Trustees and are past board chairs.
Mark Canale was born and raised in Marquette. He is a 1975 graduate of Marquette Senior High School, attended Northern Michigan University and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science. He has been serving on the Embers Credit Union board of directors since 1995 where he was past board chair for over 12 years. He has been actively involved with numerous other organizations including serving on the State of Michigan Board of Examiners in Mortuary Science, United Way of Marquette County board of directors, Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice board of directors, member and past president of the Marquette West Rotary Club, and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
“I’m very glad to be affiliated once again with the Community Foundation of Marquette County because of the significant impact they bring, bettering the lives of so many individuals and groups throughout all of Marquette County.” Canale said.
Maura Davenport is known throughout Marquette County as a tireless volunteer and advocate. She currently serves on the grants committee for the Community Foundation and is chair of the board of directors of the Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy. She previously served as a trustee of the Marquette County History Museum, now Marquette Regional History Center. She volunteers for the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Presque Isle, St. Vincent DePaul, Room at the Inn and St. Michael Church. Davenport has led efforts with several environmental initiatives in Marquette County, including the “red bucket” program with the Superior Watershed Partnership to help prevent cigarette butts from polluting Lake Superior. Working with Emily Whitaker of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, Davenport also helped establish and expand the popular household battery recycling program in Marquette.
“It is an honor to be nominated to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation of Marquette County. I look forward to working with the staff and board members to grow the endowed funds, to assist with grants and scholarships, and mostly, to meet whatever community needs that might arise.” Davenport said.
As part of the Great Lakes One Water (GLOW) partnership, and in collaboration with the Superior Watershed Partnership, the Community Foundation of Marquette County is proud to announce the completion of four rain gardens in the City of Marquette.
The Great Lakes One Water partnership is a multi-year, basin-wide initiative focused on engaging shoreline community foundations as a force to advance a new era of water management to benefit people and businesses in the Great Lakes Basin. Led by the Council of Michigan Foundations, the Community Foundation of Marquette County served as the hub for the Lake Superior/Upper Peninsula region. Each partner in the region, with local collaborators, developed a project to advance water infrastructure to improve health, economic development and equity in their communities.
This spring, the Community Foundation of Marquette County, with major logistical support from the Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), announced the Rain Garden Challenge, an open call for applications to install rain gardens in the City of Marquette. Rain gardens are a sustainable and cost-effective way to absorb stormwater, avert flooding, and prevent harmful pollutants—such as lawn fertilizers and pesticides, automotive fluids, and dirt and debris—from entering the Great Lakes. A panel of experts reviewed the applications to select four sites based on location, including elevation, relation to stormwater runoff and potential for public education.
Despite minor delays due to COVID-19, the SWP’s Great Lakes Conservation Corp installed four rain gardens this summer: two located at residences, one at a the McDonald & Wolf Law Office adjacent to the bike path in Lower Harbor Park, and an educational rain garden at Bothwell Middle School. Funding for the purchase and installation of materials was made possible by the GLOW project.
Gail Anthony, CEO of the Community Foundation of Marquette County said, “We are honored to work with the Superior Watershed Partnership on another successful project. The goal of the project was to show how individuals, businesses and organizations can do their part to protect the lake that we all love. With a small investment and some elbow grease, anyone can have a beautiful natural habitat in their own yard that also helps preserve our fresh water. Pedestrians and bicyclists will have the opportunity to read the educational signage and students at Bothwell Middle School will enjoy an outdoor classroom for years to come. This will all add up to a greater understanding and appreciation of the interconnected water systems we all depend on.”
SWP Executive Director Carl Lindquist agreed, “Community projects like this show the power of local organizations working together to protect Lake Superior. It’s important to point out that this is more than gardening; these projects are a classic example of “green infrastructure.” You could also look at them as a series of small Great Lakes protection projects. The SWP staff looks forward to many more collaborative community projects like this!”
The Community Foundation of Marquette County, the $19 million community foundation helping people invest in the future of Marquette County, announces the promotion of Zosia Eppensteiner to CEO effective January 1, 2021. Eppensteiner has been with the Community Foundation for over seven years, serving as Director of Finance and Administration since 2015.
Tom Vear, Chair of the Community Foundation of Marquette County Board of Trustees, applauded the decision. “Zosia is an excellent choice for the next phase of growth as CEO. During these difficult times Zosia’s steady focus, compassion, and understanding of the needs of Marquette County make her the right captain to take the helm of the Community Foundation. The Board of Trustees look forward to working with Zosia and the great Community Foundation staff.”
Growing up in Gdansk, Poland, Eppensteiner holds a Math Education Master’s degree and a Sociology Master’s degree from the University of Gdansk. After relocating to Marquette in 2005, she worked in the banking industry for over eight years, including management positions at Wells Fargo Bank and First Merit Bank. From 2010 to 2017 she was a contingent instructor in the Mathematics and Computer Science department at Northern Michigan University. Eppensteiner is a 2019 graduate of the Lake Superior Leadership Academy and currently serves on the Marquette Food Co-op Board of Directors, where she is a member of the finance and nomination committees.
Eppensteiner will assume the role at a critical time, following the foundation’s recent establishment of the COVID-19 Community Response Fund in partnership with the United Way of Marquette County. This Fund has raised more than $160,000 and provided grants to over 50 nonprofits and charitable causes since March. Phase two of this fund, supporting operating costs for Marquette County non-profits, is open through December 31. “The Community Foundation of Marquette County is a vital resource for non-profits in the county, particularly during uncertain times. Programs like the Community Response Fund demonstrate how over 30 years of grantmaking in Marquette County allows the Foundation to utilize our expertise and community involvement to respond quickly and effectively.” Eppensteiner said.
Eppensteiner will follow Gail Anthony, who led the foundation for eight years and announced her retirement earlier this year. The transition process has already begun to ensure a seamless onboarding and orientation process. Anthony spoke highly of her successor: “Zosia has worked closely with me over the past seven years and her experience will be an incredible asset to this organization. Her dedication to our mission runs deep, and I look forward to the future of the Community Foundation under her leadership.”
As part of her CEO position, Eppensteiner will take on leadership roles with community projects, including the Community Environmental Monitoring Project (CEMP), a collaborative partnership between Superior Watershed Partnership, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and Eagle Mine to monitor environmental impacts at the mine. She will also work closely with donors and fund representatives to ensure responsible management and growth of over 160 endowed funds that connect donors to non-profits and charitable causes across Marquette County. Eppensteiner will also oversee staff and a volunteer committee that awards over $55,000 annually to area non-profits as part of the competitive grant program.
Looking to the future, Eppensteiner sees potential for growth despite the current challenges facing all non-profits. “I am deeply honored by this opportunity to serve Marquette County’s residents as the CEO of the Community Foundation, especially during these unprecedented times. My goal in leading this organization is to build on the achievements of the past 33 years. The Community Foundation of Marquette County will not only maintain its high level of standards in grantmaking but will continue to expand upon our impact through long-term, sustainable investment in the people and the future of Marquette County.”
