ESCANABA — The Daniel J. Kobasic (DJK) Foundation recently made numerous donations to area local non-profit organizations. The value of the donations made in December 2021 totaled $378,591.

The Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation made the following local gifts in December 2021:

– $229,591 to Holy Name Catholic School for teacher salaries to be brought to parity with local public school teacher salaries;

– $105,000 to the Delta County Chamber of Commerce for the building’s mortgage;

– $25,000 to The Gary Abrahamson, Jr. Memory Care Center (GAJMCC) for the building’s mortgage and ongoing operating expenses;

– $5,000 to City of Escanaba Recreation Department for its new splash pad Webster Wading Pool project;

– $5,000 to City of Escanaba Public Safety Department for air refilling equipment/services used in fighting fires;

– $3,500 to WNMU-TV for science programming;

– $3,000 to Friends of the Escanaba Public Library for ongoing operating expenses; and

– $2,500 to WNMU-FM Public Radio 90 for classical music programming.

Recipients of the financial gifts are extremely thankful to the Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation’s generosity, as expressed by the manager of The Gary Abrahamson, Jr. Memory Care Center (GAJMCC), one of the recipients:

“We are very grateful for the Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation’s belief in what the Memory Care Center does,” said GAJMCC Building Manager Mary Uelmen, who also works in the Bishop Noa Home’s Mission Advancement Office. “It means so much to us that the foundation supports the mission of the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres to help those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses.”

Daniel J. Kobasic was an Escanaba native and long-time entrepreneur. Upon his death on Nov. 30, 2017, The Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation was established, with a mission to enable the growth, education and well-being of motivated individuals whose work positively contributes to humanity.

The DJK Foundation will continue to support a number of deserving causes in honor of Daniel, who was guided by a strong work ethic and determination. The foundation supports Kobasic’s goal while he was alive to seek the best way to support people and organizations with values similar to his own.