ESCANABA — The DTE Foundation’s Community Giving Program awarded a $2,500 grant to the U.P. State Fair Authority/Delta County Chamber of Commerce to support the 2019 UP State Fair of Michigan, which takes place from Aug. 12 to 18.

The Community Giving Program is designed to help bring local communities together and highlight the importance of supporting community centered events. As interactions gradually become more digital, it has become increasingly important to support local community events happening across Michigan.

In an effort to support these community events, the DTE Energy Foundation introduced the DTE Energy Community Giving Program as a pilot in 2017. The pilot funded more than 200 events statewide and its success spurred The Foundation to integrate the program as an annual feature of the Foundation’s philanthropic strategy. While the DTE Foundation focuses on issues ranging from the environment to literacy and education, it also recognizes the significance of supporting organizations who host events that are so integral to the local economy.