West End Health Foundation announces grant winners

Pictured, from left to right: Kori Bjorne, West End Health Foundation secretary; Paul Bonetti, board director; Chelsie Wilkinson, Room at the Inn executive director; Brian Sheridan, board director; and Tom Edkmark, president.

What's happening: Eight organizations in Marquette County have received a needed financial boost from the annual West End Health Foundation grant program; the winners were announced Wednesday, November 6. Overall, $50,000 was given to benefit various programs in mental health, education and senior services. The foundation also announced an $18,423 award to Marquette County Cares Coalition, funds raised from an annual golf event in September. 

What is the West End Health Foundation: The foundation is a non-profit organization that pushes various health and wellness efforts in the western parts of Marquette County. Originally founded in 2013, the foundation administers funds from the purchase of Bell Hospital to the for-profit LifePoint Hospitals group. Since Bell was a non-profit entity sold to a for-profit group, the money was redirected into benefiting the community through the foundation. This is a similar process to the Superior Health Foundation in Marquette after the sale of the Marquette General Health System in 2012.  

What they're saying: “The West End Health Foundation is delighted to provide $50,000 in funding to eight organizations through this year’s Programmatic Grant Cycle. These grants support programs and services that enhance health and wellness throughout the West End,” said Tom Edmark, President of the West End Health Foundation. 

What's next: The eight organizations that received grant funding — Alzheimer’s Association of Michigan, Cancer Care of Marquette County, Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, Ispheming-Negaunee-NICE Community Education Division, Room at the Inn, Northern Lights Child Advocacy Center, The Salvation Army of Marquette County and UP Children’s Therapy — will start working on their various programs to benefit Western Marquette County.