Community Foundation gives $100K to YMCA and OSF
The Northern Lights YMCA was one of two entities to receive $50,000 from the Community Foundation for Delta County. The funds will go towards the new aquatic center at the YMCA in Escanaba. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
OSF Healthcare Foundation was presented with a $50,000 check from the Community Foundation for Delta County. At OSF in Escanaba, a partnership with Green Bay Oncology and the development of the Daniel J. Kobasic Cancer Care Clinic serves patients in the Upper Peninsula, but the hospital is still in the process of adding radiation therapy. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
The Northern Lights YMCA was one of two entities to receive $50,000 from the Community Foundation for Delta County. The funds will go towards the new aquatic center at the YMCA in Escanaba. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
OSF Healthcare Foundation was presented with a $50,000 check from the Community Foundation for Delta County. At OSF in Escanaba, a partnership with Green Bay Oncology and the development of the Daniel J. Kobasic Cancer Care Clinic serves patients in the Upper Peninsula, but the hospital is still in the process of adding radiation therapy. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
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ESCANABA -- For nearly 30 years, the Community Foundation for Delta County (CFDC) held an annual fundraiser first known as MASH and later as "The Legacy." This year, after a shift toward giving back, the CFDC provided two $50,000 grants for local projects at its annual event, which was held last night. The recipients were the Northern Lights YMCA and the SF HealthCare Foundation.
Last year, the CFDC transitioned its annual celebration from a fundraiser to an appreciation dinner to thank sponsorship supporters, legacy backers and in-kind donors for their continued support.
“We are grateful for our community sponsorship supporters and legacy backers; without them, we could not operate our four internal programs. Every sponsorship dollar goes directly toward funding those programs,” said Connie Mayville, administrative coordinator for the
Community Foundation for Delta County. “Our four programs have become vital to the community, and we work to strengthen them each year.”
The “Feed-the-Kids Backpack Program” helps ensure students in need across Delta County have food when they are not in school. It has also grown to support school food pantries and other food-related programs.
The CFDC’s “Veterans Program” supports veterans and their families in several ways throughout the year. The annual initiative to provide vets with food baskets before Easter serves more than 160 veteran families. The foundation also provided gift cards for Veterans Day in November and financial support to the Seventh-day Adventist Food Pantry for its Christmastime veterans food basket program.
The “Save-a-Life Program” expanded a few years ago. Started to supply AEDs, or automated external defibrillators, it now also includes LifeVac, a choking rescue device. AEDs placed throughout the community have been credited with many saves, and the first LifeVac distributed by the CFDC was used shortly afterward by the Delta County Sherriff's Department to help rescue someone who was choking.
The “Human Needs Program” is the most flexible initiative, allowing CFDC to respond to community needs as funding permits. The program provides small grants and, at times, larger grants are awarded. In 2020, the CFDC contributed $50,000 to Beacon House as it built its new facility, recognizing that about 40% of its clients come from Delta County. A few years later, they awarded $50,000 to OSF for the OSF Daniel J. Kobasic Cancer Clinic, helping local cancer patients receive treatment closer to home.
At the appreciation dinner last night, the board and staff of the CFDC were pleased to help present two new grants of $50,000 each. One grant was awarded to the Northern Lights YMCA - Delta Center for its capital campaign for a new aquatic center; the other went to the OSF HealthCare Foundation for its radiation therapy campaign.
“Because of the impact made possible through Legacy sponsorship supporters and legacy backers, we transformed the event into a true celebration of appreciation. With the continued support of our sponsors, legacy backers and community partners, we are able to help where help is needed most,” Mayville said.
The CFDC’s board of trustees and staff expressed gratitude to all the sponsorship supporters and legacy backers for their thoughtful collaboration in helping support the organization’s mission and programs and in making a difference in the lives of Delta County residents.