MARQUETTE — The Superior Health Foundation concluded its spring grant cycle, announcing over $325,000 in funding distributed across twelve grants to agencies located in or serving the Upper Peninsula. The projects vary from substance use disorder treatment and recovery to supporting older adults with dementia, as well as a comprehensive wellness and food access program in one of the UP s tribal communities, among others.

“We are thrilled to announce these awards, which provide needed funding for some of the most innovative and supportive health programs happening across the U.P.,” said Superior Health Foundation CEO Megan Murphy. In this cycle, the Alzheimer’s Association — Greater Michigan Chapter received $16,575 in funding to support program expansion into the Western Upper Peninsula. Lac Vieux Desert Health Center received a $55,000 grant to support community nutrition and wellness education, as well as the development of a youth wellness advisory council. A complete list of grant recipients is available below.

SHF awarded another $57,000 in grants from its Care Access Grant program. This program addresses the unmet medical needs of uninsured, underinsured, and medically vulnerable individuals in the Upper Peninsula. The funding supports organizations offering direct cash assistance to help alleviate healthcare costs for these residents. This year, the Foundation chose seven new organizations to receive funding.

Additionally, SHF has provided over $58,000 in equipment grants and $25,000 to support community health pilot projects. It also distributed $30,000 worth of AEDs to 30 nonprofits across the UP and has provided $17,500 in direct assistance to individuals through its Breast Health Fund and another $5,000 through its Organ Donation Fund, bringing the total health–related giving to date in 2025 to $520,000.

The mission of the Superior Health Foundation is to proactively support organizations and initiatives across the Upper Peninsula to improve health and well–being. For more information, go to www.superiorhealthfoundation.org or contact shf@shfmi.org.

2025 Spring Grant recipients:

Alzheimer’s Association Greater Michigan Chapter — Dementia Risk Reduction and Support Program, $16,575;

Catholic Social Services of the Upper Peninsula — Elizabeth’s House Enhanced Recovery Services, $19,800;

Chippewa County Health Department — Managing Hepatitis C in Chippewa County, $25,000;

Courage Incorporated — Courage Incorporated 2025–2026 Adventure Season, $4,000;

Great Lakes Recovery Centers, Inc — Detox Unit Program Development, $50,000;

Hannahville Indian Community — Three Fires Recovery House Ceremonial Lodge, $43,752;

Lac Vieux Desert Health Center — Lac Vieux Desert Harvest Health Grant, $55,000;

Special Needs Are Awesome People (SNAAP) — SNAAP activities, events, and promotion, $10,478;

Superior Connections Recovery Community Organization — Recovery Support Services, $18,595;

Trillium House — Caregiver Support: A sustainable workforce development plan promoting job satisfaction & safety, $49,718;

UPCAP — UPCAP Rural Veteran Oral Health Access, $25,000;

Women’s Center — Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program (SANE), $8,013.

2025 Care Access Grant recipients:

Blood Cancer Foundation of Michigan — Ensuring Financial Stability for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Blood Cancer Patients, $10,000;

Delta Area Transit Authority — expanding access to medical transportation for medically vulnerable residents of the Upper Peninsula, $4,000;

Delta County Cancer Alliance — travel for a cancer cure, $10,000

Lions of Michigan Service Foundation, Inc. — Michigan Upper Peninsula Hearing Improvement and Eye Care Project, $9,150

New Day Foundation for Families — family support services for U.P. cancer patients, $10,000;

Northwoods Airlifeline, LTD — free air transportation to distant medical care for U.P. resident, $10,000;

Unite U.P. — Enhancing Pediatric Mental Health: parent only sessions, $4,000;

2025 Equipment Grants:

Chippewa Luce Mackinac Community Action Agency — iPads for Aides Electronic Visit Verification Compliance and Impart Alliance Training, $6,021;

Escanaba Elks Lodge 354 — StairLift, $7,500;

Gogebic Medical Care Facility — Gogebic Medical Care Facility Broda WC — 19 Compliant Transport Wheelchair Purchase, $5,559;

Lake Antoine Park Partners — Everyone Plays! Accessible Swing at Lake Antoine Park, Iron Mountain, $3,750;

Lake Superior Life Care &a Hospice — Bereavement Counseling and Hospice Family Support Room, $4,548;

Marquette Area Public Schools — Racing Wheelchair Stationary Indoor Roller Trainer for Physical Education class and Student Athletes, $1,686;

Marquette County Health Department — Marquette County Health Department Dental Outreach Program Toothbrush Project, $2,500;

Menominee Delta Schoolcraft Community Action Agency/Human Resources Authority, Inc — Adult Day Care Center ADA Accessible Bathroom Addition Project, $3,599;

Northern Michigan University — Balance tracking force plate system for NMU Concussion Research Clinic, $3,375;

Special Olympics Michigan, Area 36, 2025 Medical Backpacks, $790;

Superior Central — Superior Central Playground, $3,750

Superior Hills Association of Parents and Educators — Superior Hills Elementary School Accessible Playground Structure, $7,500;

Township of Powell — Ambulance Service — Powell Township EMS Cardiac Monitor, $7,500.

2025 Community Health Pilot grants:

DAR Boys & Girls Club — The Creative Clubhouse: Art Therapy for Youth Prevention, $10,000;

Marquette Alger Resolution Service (MARS) — Health Care Mediation Pilot Project, $5,000;

Marquette District of St. Vincent de Paul — Medical Equipment Loan Program; Marquette District of St. Vincent de Paul, $1,969;

UP Children’s Therapy — Pilot School Year Speech Therapy and FUNctional Skills Program, $10,000.

2025 AED Recipients: Alger Transit Authority, Knights of Columbus Council 2894, American Legion Reino Post 21, Laird Township, Baraga County Road Commission, L’Anse Township, Calumet High School, Marquette Hope, Calumet Township, Marquette Yacht Club, Carney-Nadeau Public School, Munising Memorial Hospital, Cedar Tree Institute, North Central Area Schools, City of Marquette Downtown Development Authority, North Dickinson County School, Copper Country Gymnastics, Propylon Nonprofit Housing, Episcopal Association for College Work — Rock Lions Club, Escanaba Rotary Trust Fund for Children with Special Needs, Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Escanaba Seventh Day Adventist Pantry, Schoolcraft County Fair, Hancock Fire Department, St. Louis the King Catholic Church, Hanka Homestead Museum Association, Trillium House, Houghton County Fair, William Bonifas Fine Arts Center.