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.
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.
In 2020, Marquette County Law Enforcement responded to 46 cardiac emergency calls requesting the use of life saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). Law Enforcement Officers are frequently the first to arrive on scene for medical calls because they are already mobile at the time of the call and have the necessary equipment, including AEDs, with them while on patrol.
Jumpstart a Heart is a joint effort by Marquette County Law Enforcement Administrators Association (MCLEAA) and the Community Foundation of Marquette County. The goal is to raise $81,454.50 to purchase new AED equipment for Forsyth Township Police, Negaunee City Police, Michigan State Police, Chocolay Township Police, Marquette City Police, Marquette County Sheriff’s Department, and the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team. Some of the current equipment is over 15 years old, which means it has passed life expectancy, is no longer reliable, and not compatible with equipment used by EMS teams. Having updated equipment and training will allow for a smooth connection and switch over from the AED unit to advanced lifesaving equipment on scene. Every officer utilizing the AED will have training to operate the equipment along with corresponding CPR and First Aid skills.
Give Now:
Give online, visit Jumpstart a Heart Donation Page
Send a check to:
Community Foundation of Marquette County
PO Box 37
Marquette, MI 49855
Marquette County Sheiff’s Deputy Jennifer Best says, “The hope is that the AEDs are never needed. However, a life changing cardiac event can happen unexpectedly to anyone from an infant to elder, at any time, and any location. These updated AED units can serve patients of any age and are portable enough to be transported to even the most remote area through difficult terrain. Residents, visitors, and those passing through the area can all be tended to by a trained responding officer with this life saving equipment.”
A fundraising campaign is now underway, and MCLEAA is asking for donations from the community to help purchase the equipment to have on patrol by the end of September. MCLEAA partnered with the Community Foundation of Marquette County as the fiscal agent for this project, which means all donations to the project are tax deductible. The West End Health Foundation, Negaunee Area Community Fund and Marquette Area Community Fund have committed funds to the project.
“The Community Foundation is pleased to partner with MCLEAA on this project,” says Community Foundation CEO Zosia Eppensteiner. “The need for this equipment was brought to our attention by Sheriff Zyburt. Part of the Community Foundation’s mission is to ‘lead and collaborate to address community opportunities’. Partnering with MCLEAA to raise funds for a project that will address this critical need and create long-term impact for the entire County is definitely something we are excited to be a part of.”
