For 2016, the Herman Gundlach Fund of the Keweenaw Community Foundation (KCF) announced it would award $69,531.75 to 17 local organizations to fund projects addressing community needs. The individual grant amount ranged from $1,375 to $5,000.

The grant recipients were:

• Omega House for continued funding for their Caring Hands Massage Therapy program.
• Houghton Middle School, Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area, and Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative for the Houghton Middle School Environmental & Sustainability Science project to increase participation and hands-on opportunities for 7^th and 8^th grade science students at Houghton Middle School.
• Trap Rock 4-H Club and Calumet Art Center for the Club Youth Art Program to create and develop art activities for 22 youth ages 6-17.
• Keweenaw Family Resource Center for the Strong Families Keweenaw project to provide families with young children opportunities that will increase their family wellbeing, knowledge to support the health of their children, and access to community resources.
• Michigan Tech Fund for the Parade of Nations to serve the community with an innovative and unique international experience.
• Superior School of Gymnastics and Lake Linden-Hubbell Public Schools to purchase a Tumbl Trak (Porta Trak) that is designed to prevent injuries and can be utilized at every age and level as well as for skill training in all gymnastics events.
• Western Upper Peninsula Healthcare Access Coalition to facilitate access to quality, affordable oral health care to residents with limited income and a lack of dental insurance.
• Copper Country Humane Society for SNAP (Spay/Neuter Assistance Program) to provide financial assistance to help spay and neuter animals in our community.
• Keweenaw Heritage Center at St. Anne’s to augment funds for winterization, locks, and repairs to glass blocks in order to continue to provide a secure venue for the transmission of heritage activities and life events.
• Canterbury House for the Food Pantry & Meals project to help alleviate hunger in our community.
• Southern Keweenaw Trails for the Soke Trailhead & System Development project to purchase a trailhead map, trail intersection maps, picnic tables, grills, and trail maintenance supplies for the Greenland and Keweenaw Trails System.
• Carnegie Museum for the “Music at the Museum” series to provide honoraria for performers and for refreshments for a series of five musical event fundraisers for the Museum.
• U.P. Kids: Big Brothers Big Sisters in support of their High Five Mentoring program serving children and youth in the CLK School District.
• Houghton MI Skatepark project to build a 3,200 sq. ft., professionally built concrete outdoor skatepark to provide a designated quality area to support the youth and adults that pursue skating and BMX cycling as a sport.
• Swedetown Trails Club to replace major equipment needed to sustain and improve winter recreation trails at Swedetown.
• Little Brothers—Friends of the Elderly to provide crucially-needed operational support for their supplemental firewood program which helps offset the high cost of heating during the winter for the elderly who still heat with wood.
• Dial Help to sustain youth crisis and suicide intervention services.

This funds are granted according to the guidelines established by the Keweenaw Community Foundation and Herman Gundlach Fund.  Details of grant requirements are included in the grant application package, however, the following is provided for your information:

• Total amount available (originally): $30,000 (up to $5,000 per project)
• Grants must be used to address community needs for any or all ages throughout the Houghton and Keweenaw Counties.
• Grants will be made to organizations or for programs previously demonstrating successful outcomes or to new, innovative organizations or programs with clear potential for positive outcomes.
• Preference will be given to programs that are collaborative in nature between multiple community organizations.

Closed, August 10, 2016.

Link to past application.