Keweenaw Community Foundation Announces Spring Grant and Scholarship Recipients

The Keweenaw Community Foundation is pleased to announce Spring 2025 grant awards! These grants, totaling around $20,000, support various programs and projects that address community needs and opportunities in Houghton and Keweenaw Counties.

GRANT RECIPIENTS
The Field of Interest grant program is designed to support specific causes, populations, or geographic areas, reflecting the unique passions and interests of the donors who established each fund. 

The recipients for the Spring 2025 grant cycle are as follows:

CLK Youth Hockey Fund

  • Village of Laurium, for the “Get Active Initiative,” to purchase ice skates to be available to rent at the George Gipp Ice Arena.

David Wiitanen and Slim McLean Memorial Youth Hockey Fund

  • Copper Country Junior Hockey Association, for “Building a Stronger Officiating Community,” to help cover the costs of holding hockey referee training classes.   

Great Start Early Childhood Fund 

  • Bridging Gaps Childcare, for “Summer Fun and Safety,” to enhance the center’s outdoor space for safety and enjoyment.

  • BHK Child Development Board, for “BHK Ignites STEM in Preschool,” to purchase supplies to enhance and continue participation in the FIRST LEGO program. 

Kellogg Youth Endowment Fund (almost $12,000 awarded)

  • Ahmeek Village Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, for playground equipment for toddlers and young children at Gabriel Chopp Park.

  • CLK Elementary School Library, to purchase materials for their “Get Kids Reading with Graphic Novels” program.

  • Copper Country Angel Mission, for the “School Backpack” program, to purchase full-sized backpacks for older children. 

  • Copper Country Gymnastics, to support scholarships for their gymnastics summer camp.

  • Copper Island Academy, in support of their school band program, to purchase a full-sized bass drum and mallet.

  • Elaine Bacon Literacy Program, to support the inaugural “Keweenaw Children's Book Festival”

  • Keweenaw CAPE, supporting the “Human Library” program with meals for volunteers and for “Diabetes Camp II”. 

  • Love INC of the Copper Country, to help stock their pantry with personal care items for teens, children, and families.

  • Unite UP Mental Health, for supplies for “Calm Kits: Therapeutic Toolboxes for Emotional Support”

“From playground upgrades to ice skates and gymnastics scholarships, these community grants are about more than just funding—they’re about creating opportunities for connection, activity, and growth. We’re excited to support programs that enrich the lives of local residents of all ages and strengthen the fabric of our community,” said Erin Barnett, Director of Programs.

The Keweenaw Community Foundation thanks all applicants for their efforts and encourages those not selected in this cycle to apply for future grant opportunities. The next granting round is anticipated to open in September 2025.

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Scholarship recipients were also selected this spring from various scholarship funds held at the Foundation. 

  • Jack Eberhard Memorial Scholarship

    • Helene Rinkinen

  • Faith Lutheran Church Scholarship

    • Lillian Lammi

  • Richard and Clara Fedewa Scholarship

    • Alyssa Niedzwiecki

  • Bernard F. Gaffney Memorial Scholarship

    • Laney Johnson

    •  Logan Niemi

    • Jack Rudak

    • Birk Seagren

  • Copper Country Kiwanis Scholarship

    • Aubriana Chalgren

    • Elizabeth Chapman

  • Gary Heikenen Memorial Scholarship

    • Waylon Spelich

  • Ronald and Lou Ellyn Helman Scholarship

    • Brian Anderson

  • Houghton Rotary Scholarship

    • Cecelia Butler

    • Illya Velat

  • Mildred “Millie” Pyorala Scholarship

    • Paige Danison

  • Stuart Family Scholarship

    • Luke Hill

    • Oscar Peterson

    • Chloe Serafin

  • Esther Arnovits Weil Scholarship

    • Caiden Niemi

    • Jenna Yohe

  • Alec Fisher Memorial Scholarship

    • Abbi McClain

“KCF is proud to invest in the future of our community by awarding nearly $40,000 in scholarships to support local students as they pursue higher education and skilled trades. These students represent the next generation of leaders, and we are honored to play a role in helping them reach their goals and build brighter futures,” said Erin Barnett, Director of Programs.

For more information about the Keweenaw Community Foundation and its grant programs, please visitwww.keweenawgives.org or contact mail@keweenawgives.org.

Vienna Leonarduzzi