MARQUETTE — The Superior Health Foundation (SHF) in Marquette awarded more than $205,000 in health-centered grant funding at its Spring Grants Celebration at the Holiday Inn in Marquette. The event was proudly presented by Acrisure.

The Superior Health Foundation awarded $123,895.17 in spring grants, $57,320.69 in indigent care grants and $24,466.71 in pilot-project and equipment grants.

In its 12-year history, the Upper Peninsula-wide, non-profit organization has awarded more than $6.6 million in grant dollars to health-centered, non-profits in the U.P.

“We truly value our grant celebrations. They are the highlight on our foundation calendar,” said Jim LaJoie, outgoing executive director of the Superior Health Foundation. “We’re incredibly honored to award much-needed, health-centered grant funding to a broad array of organizations across the peninsula. We know these grant dollars will be judiciously spent to improve the health of people who live in this beautiful place we call home.”

At the event, the Superior Health Foundation awarded $123,895.17 in spring grants to 11 non-profit organizations in the U.P. Local non-profits are:

– Special Olympics Michigan Area 36 ($15,000): Special Olympics Michigan will receive $5,000.00 per year for three years to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Athletes are given continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness and athletic skill, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes, and the community all without a single cost to the athlete, family or caregiver.

– Gladstone Parks and Recreation ($10,000): The Gladstone Sail School is receiving funding for various upgrades including updating boat rigs, sails, hardware and enhancing accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Safety measures will be taken by replacing older equipment and including modernized essential life-saving devices such as Personal Floatation Devices, lighting and signaling tools, and communication equipment used at the school. The school’s storage shed will be transformed into a multi-use structure that is fully handicap accessible and will serve as both storage space and a classroom during unfavorable weather conditions.

– Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital ($9,537.50): Funding will support the Schoolcraft Memorial Homecare and Hospice – Hospice Fund, which supports hospice patients and their families to alleviate financial burdens and enhance quality of life in profound ways.

The Superior Health Foundation’s mission is to “assist with unmet healthcare needs, with health education, and with programs and research on preventing illness and promoting health throughout the Upper Peninsula.”

SHF accepts grant proposals monthly for pilot project and equipment grants.

Applications for the fall grants cycle will be accepted from June 1-July 1. To learn more and apply for funding, visit www.superiorhealthfoundation.org.