Jamie and Mike Glish

MENOMINEE — A new charitable fund aimed at strengthening music education for students across Marinette and Menominee counties has been established at the M&M Area Community Foundation.

The Mike and Jamie Glish K-12 Music Opportunity Fund, created this month by local donor Mike Glish, will provide grants to support a broad range of music-related needs in area schools, including instruments, equipment, curriculum, technology, enrichment opportunities and program development. Preference will be given to schools and organizations that collaborate with outside funding sources — such as school districts, booster clubs, or other community partners — to stretch every grant dollar further.

It is the Glish family’s third fund at the foundation. Glish has also established a donor-advised fund and a scholarship fund, both of which have historically supported K-12 students in music education.

The fund carries the name of Glish’s late wife, Jamie, an artist who he said shaped his understanding of what it means to live a creative life.

“Jamie was an artist, and throughout our marriage she was my greatest supporter — someone who understood deeply what it meant to pour yourself into a creative pursuit and who encouraged me to never let that part of myself go,” Glish said. “She believed in the power of art and music to shape a life, and this fund is as much a reflection of her spirit as it is of my own experience.”

Glish, who credits his own school band experience with teaching him discipline and confidence, said the fund grew out of a concern that music programs are often the first to face cuts when school budgets tighten.

“The kids who need those experiences the most — the ones who might find their voice or their sense of belonging in a band room — are the ones most at risk of losing access,” he said. “That is not acceptable to me.”

Glish said music education shaped him in ways that went far beyond learning an instrument.

“It is not just about becoming a musician. It is about becoming disciplined, resilient, and confident,” he said. “Students involved in music tend to perform better academically, develop stronger social skills, and are more likely to stay engaged in school. But honestly, I didn’t need a study to tell me that. I lived it.”

“Marinette and Menominee counties are communities I care deeply about,” Glish said. “This fund is my way of making sure music has a fighting chance in our local schools for years to come — and that every dollar goes even further by encouraging schools and community partners to invest alongside it. Music gave me so much, and Jamie believed in that gift wholeheartedly. This fund is our way of giving some of that back.”

Ashley Berken, executive director of the M&M Area Community Foundation, said the Glish family’s sustained commitment to music education stands out.

“With three funds now dedicated to supporting young people in music, the Glish family has made it clear that this is not a one-time gift — it’s a legacy,” Berken said. “This fund honors both Mike’s experience and Jamie’s spirit, and it will make a real, lasting difference for students in our communities. We are proud to help carry that vision forward.”

Nonprofits will be able to apply for grant funding from the Mike and Jamie Glish K-12 Music Opportunity Fund during the 2027 grant season.

Community members interested in contributing to the Mike and Jamie Glish K-12 Music Opportunity Fund can go to mmacf.org/donate and select the fund under Grant Cycle Funds, or mail a check to 833A First St., Menominee, with a note designating the gift.

Anyone interested in opening a charitable fund to support a cause they are passionate about is encouraged to contact the M&M Area Community Foundation to learn more.