Marquette, Mich. – The Community Foundation of Marquette County today announced it has been awarded a grant of $84,595 from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to support initiatives aimed at improving the quality of health for children in the region.
The Community Foundation of Marquette County grant dollars will be used to support the current P.E.-Nut UP program to all elementary schools in the county which will present simple nutrition and physical activity messages including nutrition lessons with food sampling and fitness activities and lessons for parents/caregivers on how to buy and prepare low-cost, healthy snack items. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to provide this support to promote healthy food choices to include all elementary students in Marquette County,” said Gail Anthony, Marquette County Community Foundation CEO.
In a needs assessment collaboration with United Way of Marquette County, Great Lakes Center for Youth Development, Eagle Mine and the Community Foundation of Marquette County, Public Sector Consultants Inc. were hired in November of 2014 to identify shared funding priorities for Marquette County. Life skills, (i.e. nutrition parenting, healthy choices and family finances) were identified as areas needing improvement. As it was recognized there are numerous community needs to be addressed, starting with improving the daily lives of youth in Marquette County made the most sense. The Community Foundation partnered with Marquette Alger Regional Educational Service Agency (MARESA) to request a grant from the Michigan Health Endowment to enable MARESA to provide nutrition education and physical activity education to elementary school students in Marquette County. The Superior Health Foundation also awarded a mini grant in the amount of $2,039 to the Community Foundation of Marquette County to support the expansion of the PE-Nut project to include all Marquette County schools. “This project closely aligns with SHF’s mission, which is to assist with unmet healthcare needs,” said Executive Director Jim LaJoie.
There are two expected program outcomes: to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables and increase the amount of physical activity of elementary students and families and provide the opportunity for teaches to learn how to integrate nutrition education and physical activity into their curriculum and classrooms. The funds will be used to supply curriculum materials food tasting suppled, conference and travel, a nutrition educator, project coordination, evaluation and administration costs.
More than 30 community foundations across the state applied for funding through the Michigan Health Endowment Fund’s fall 2015 grant application process. Grant requests focused on areas such as: prenatal care and infant mortality; health services to support adopted and fostered children; healthy food access; wellness and fitness programs; access to mental health services; technology enhancements; health related transportation needs; access to care/integrated care; and teen pregnancy prevention.
“The Michigan Health Endowment Fund board is proud to support a variety of very successful programs already positively impacting the health of Michigan’s children and seniors as a result of our first grant funding effort,” said Rob Fowler, board chairman. “We look forward to building additional relationships with Michigan’s community foundations and other non-profit organizations as they continue their focused work to improve the health of Michigan’s most vulnerable residents.”
Community foundations were eligible to apply for grants in support of programs to improve the health of minor children and seniors in their regions. Those foundations receiving funding, in turn, now have the ability to offer their affiliate foundations or smaller community organizations the opportunity to seek grants that support similar programs.
“We are excited to collaborate this year with community foundations on projects that seek to enhance the well-being of Michigan’s children and seniors in their local communities,” said Paul Hillegonds, executive director of Michigan Health Endowment Fund.
The mission of the Michigan Health Endowment Fund is to improve the health of Michigan residents and reduce the cost of health care, with special emphasis on the health and wellness of children and seniors. The fund was created as part of 2013 state legislation that allowed Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to become a nonprofit mutual health insurer. Nearly $38 million in grants were awarded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund last year.
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