Projects and Programs Funded by Upper Peninsula Community Foundations
In its brief history, the Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula has assisted nine affiliate community foundations in the Upper Peninsula increase their endowments to over 20 million dollars today. This is a phenomenal rate of growth, which we expect to see continued for the foreseeable future.
Projects and Programs
Community Foundations in the Upper Peninsula support a wide range of programs beneficial to the long-term viability of the communities and citizens in their regions. In many cases, the individual jurisdiction of local community foundations is county wide. This means that all U. P. residents have ready access to a local community foundation.
In general, the types of programs given grants by the U. P. community foundations consist of:
- Community Youth Funds
Grants made to fund a wide variety of community programs beneficial to young people. For example, a number of U. P. community foundations have provided economic support in the form of grants for: children's playgrounds, youth centers, children's museums, youth sports teams, band uniforms, libraries for computers and/or software, books and reading programs, support to academic endeavors such as the Odyssey of the Mind competition and hunting and fishing safety programs.
- Economic Development
The Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula has made a grant to a "partnership" of the U.P. County Economic Developers in order to assist them in formulating a U.P. wide strategy to bring more businesses to the U.P.
As a result of this grant, many counties are now working together in a more coordinated fashion and are meeting on a regular basis together to enhance economic growth.
- Scholarship Funds
Every one of the local community foundations is supporting scholarship programs for graduating seniors. The involved community foundations have reviewed the matter of scholarships and have put together a blend of academic and trade scholarships beneficial to all U. P. High School students. U. P. community foundations award thousands of dollars per year in scholarship funds.
- Historic Preservation/Heritage Funds
Pursuing preservation of our historic sites as well as the various immigrant cultures in the Upper Peninsula is important. Whether it is an old abandoned copper mine in Hancock or recognizing Native American culture, such as the Museum of Ojibwa Culture in St. Ignace, community foundations are making grants to preserve these treasures.
- Health and Human Services Fund
Two of our vital human resources, infants and our senior citizens, are oft times without proper insurance or health care. A number of U. P. community foundations have taken steps to create endowed funds to provide care for babies and the elderly. There are Health Outreach Funds to insure babies and senior citizens, without health care coverage, can receive medical attention when they need it. A "Welcome Newborn" program was started in one community and will hopefully be transported to the entire U. P. and beyond. This is a program designed to help new mothers take better care of their babies. This program has helped well over 2,000 new mothers and their babies.
- Environmental Funds
Preserving and protecting our environment for future generations and ourselves is one of the important pressing issues of our time. Clean air, water and environment are necessary for the people of the U. P. not only because we live here, but because we are quite dependent upon tourism to help our economy grow. Many U. P. community foundations have some type of fund relating to the environment. A clean, safe environment will help the Upper Peninsula remain a viable and beautiful place to live, work and enjoy for years into the future.
A Representative Sampling of our Grant Allocations
• Mental Health Council for an educational program on teen mental health/drugs/drinking.
• Educational Scholarships (all community foundations, in the (U. P.).
• A school library for books and computer hardware/software.
• Support of little league baseball teams.
• Assistance to attend summer camps for needy students.
• A U. P. Health Care Institution to provide testing of children aged 3 to 4, for lead poisoning in the Eastern U. P.
• Numerous elementary schools to assist in the purchase of new playground equipment.
• A health department for the purchase of aides used in elementary school nutrition classes.
• Support of a 9-1-1 day camp for children.
• Numerous senior citizen centers and programs.
• Hunting safety-training videos for every high school library in the Upper Peninsula.
• Assistance in the starting of a JV football team at a U. P. high school.
• Assistance in the purchasing of band uniforms for a U. P. high school.
• Help in providing hospital/medical care to children and senior citizens who do not have health care coverage.
• The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
• U. P. high school so their U. P. winning team could attend the statewide "Odyssey of the Mind" competition.
• Hiawatha National Forest to involve grades 5-8 in a hands-on archaeological survey on Grand Island.
• An organization that provides used clothing, shelter, and food to area residents in a time of need.
• Theatre and Arts programs.
• Provide research for forestry and wildlife programs.
• Assistance in the construction of a snowmobile trail.
It should be noted that U. P. Community Foundations have made hundreds of grants to support a wide variety of community projects. The Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula is the governing body of the foundation. The Board of Trustees, as well as the local affiliate advisory boards, consists of a broad representative spectrum of the community members are unpaid and volunteer their time and services to the community foundation.
