ISHPEMING — The Western Marquette County Health Foundation awarded 22,000 dollars in their spring round of competitive grants earlier today.

The recipients were Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marquette and Alger Counties, the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum, Range Area Mountain Biking Association, and the YMCA of Marquette County. The funds are a carryover from when the Western Marquette County Health Foundation was the Bell Foundation.

“Our board is tremendously involved here on the west end,” said board member Mike Prusi, “and we’re all proud of our communities and we’re proud of the organizations that we’re happy to support. We’re doing something that makes it better here in the communities that we live in.”

This is the third round of grants they have distributed so far. A thorough process is used by the board when deciding on how to allocate the money. The board looks for organizations that have an impact on the western end of Marquette County that can prove that the money will be put to good use for the community.

In the last year, they have distributed close to one hundred thousand dollars to community health related organizations. The next grand deadline is October first. To find out more about funding guidelines and grant application, click here.