Congratulations Peninsula Art Appreciation Council/Vista Theater!
On Wednesday evening, November 7th the Greater Ishpeming Area Community Fund and the Negaunee Area Community Fund held a Business After Hours event at the Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in Ishpeming. The event highlighted six nonprofits that competed for a $3,000 grant from the two funds. The community got a glimpse of what the Community Foundation does every grant cycle, those who attended were able to vote (with their dollars) for the nonprofits that they felt were most deserving. Each organization walked away a winner with the monies used to vote for their program. The overall winner of the $3,000 grant was the Peninsula Arts Appreciation Council/Historic Vista Theater to launch the development of professionally written strategic plan for the organization which will not only help the theater, but will help enrich the community. Other participating nonprofits were, UPAWS, UP Children’s Therapy, Big Brother Big Sisters, US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, and the Hiawatha Amateur Radio Association.
Members of the GIACF Youth Advisory Committee along with adviser, Shannon Edmark, collected and packaged personal care items to be distributed to middle and high school students who participate in Patriot Power and Hematite Power Pack food programs. The packed 80 bags with toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc. These bags were distributed at the end of the school year and the programs will continue next year.
The sense of accomplishment as one conquers a situation which might otherwise be out of reach is very powerful. The Silver Sampler Summer Seniors offered a new set of outdoor recreation experiences for seniors 55 and over who live within the service area of the Marquette Senior Center. With a goal of introducing seniors to new hiking trails and water pathways and hopefully revisiting some of the special places they discovered in the past. The $500 grant from the Community Foundation was used to engage Senior Citizens in outdoor activities to enhance their physical, emotional and community growth and increase awareness and skills in outdoor recreation in and around Marquette. Participants have been able to explore numerous outdoor venues (hiking and kayaking) and have also been introduced to non-program events such as races, hikes and biking opportunities offered in the community. One returning participant from last year was anxious to rejoin in 2017, she signed up for all the scheduled events. Unfortunately, her husband had a serious stroke. Immediately, group members, the group leader and the project director reached out to offer support. They stayed in contact with her. She later returned to the group saying the group “saved” her!
