Fall 2023 Grant Awards

 

The Keweenaw Community Foundation announces that nearly $65,000 will be awarded to 21 local and regional organizations from the Fall Granting cycle!

The Kellogg Youth Endowment Fund will grant a total of $15,000 towards the following programs and projects:

  • Dan Schmitt Gift of Music and Education Fund, to support musical instrument lessons for local children. 

  • 31 Backpacks, providing free necessities to at-risk children.

  • Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, for a baby changing station in the Ahmeek Village hall and the Gabriel Chopp Park for accessible ADA-compliant playground equipment.

  • Community Alliance for Progressive Education, for Peace Camp, a three-day camp focused on the notion of peace and its importance to community.

  • Kaleidoscope Education, to support programming and youth club activities.

  • Lake Linden-Hubbell Schools Public Library, expansion of the young-adult reading area and renovation and updates to the computer center. 

  • Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly, to support the Friends from Generation 2 Generation program, pairing students from Stanton Township Schools with an elderly community member.

  • MTU Center for Science and Environmental Outreach, for the Western Upper Peninsula Air Pollution Sensor Network to provide monitors that will allow us to track our local air quality. 

The Funding Youth Initiatives Fund will grant a total of $4,000 towards the following programs and projects:

  • Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department, for Christmas for the Children. 

  • Simple Kindness for Youth, to provide targeted support to address students' needs.

The Joe Freed Empowerment Fund will grant a total of $10,100 towards the following programs and projects:

  • Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department, for Carter Kits Sensory Bags,  containing items known to comfort and appropriately focus children who are on the autism spectrum during an emergency situation.

  • Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region, for the 2024 Accessibility Summit. Hosted for local community members and leaders to learn about accessibility best practices, Universal Design, share stories with peers, and expand our collective knowledge on a wide range of accessibility, empowering our community and those with disabilities.

The Environmental Fund will grant a total of $2,377 towards the following programs and projects:

  • Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department, for Hazardous Materials Spill Response Equipment.

  • Swedetown Trails Club and Swedetown Recreation Area, to improve lights on cross country ski trails.

The Copper Shores Community Health Foundation: Community Wellness and Outdoor Recreation Fund will grant a total of $25,266 towards the following programs and projects:

  • CCISD: ELK, to host the Upper Peninsula Invitational and Adaptive Track Clinic. 

  • City of Houghton, for Accessible Beach Wheelchair for Kestner Park. 

  • Community Alliance for Progressive Education, for Diabetes Camps 2024. 

  • Houghton-Portage Township High School JROTC, for Copper Country SCUBA Discovery and Adaptive diving. 

The David Wiitanen & Slim McLean Memorial Youth Hockey Fund will grant a total of $2,600 towards the following programs and projects:

  • Copper Country Junior Hockey Association, for Girls Play Hockey Too program. 

  • Hancock JV Hockey, providing financial assistance with ice rentals.

The Keweenaw Cross Country Skiing Endowment will grant a total of $2,300 towards the following programs and projects:

  • Copper Country Ski Tigers, to support the purchase of new Ski Tigers Race Team Race Suits.

  • Copper Island Academy, to purchase cross country skis for student use at school.

  • Hancock Trails Club (formerly Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club), for the Barnelopet Children's Race for children ages 3 to 17 to have fun cross country skiing.

  • Swedetown Trails Club and Swedetown Recreation Area, to add a 1.5Km loop to the existing Mama Bear loop at Swedetown Trails.

The Houghton County Historical Preservation will grant a total of $1,200 towards the following programs and projects:

  • Painesdale Mine & Shaft, Inc., Rock House Locker Room, expanding access to their unique mine tour.

  • Team Big Annie, for Big Annie Statue design concept drawings from several local artists.

The Portage Lake Youth Endowment Fund will grant a total of $2,500 towards the following programs and projects:

  • Copper Country Ski Tigers, to support the purchase of new Ski Tigers Race Team Race Suits.

  • Superior Fab Lab, to support the second annual Superior MakerFest in 2024.

Thank you to all donors and community members who make these gifts possible! Supporting an endowment fund at KCF means giving back to the community. Our next granting cycle will take place in Spring 2024. 

 
Keweenaw Community Foundation