Jerzi’s 41 presents check to U.P. Children’s Fund

CHAMPION — One local business has started to donate to different causes around the area, and their patrons get to vote on who will receive the donations.

Jerzi’s 41 Bar and Grill presented a check for $200 to the U.P. Children’s Fund Wednesday afternoon, which was the winner of the first vote. The U.P. Children’s Fund, formerly called the Grant Henriksen Memorial Fund, is an organization that raises money to help families who have a child with cancer.

“There aren’t any pediatric oncologists in the U.P., or pediatric surgeons,” said Tracy Henriksen of the U.P. Children’s Fund, whose son Grant passed away at the age of 15 after battling with bone cancer. “There’s a lot of travel you have to do for childhood cancer, whether it be for treatment or for surgery. My son had cancer and we found out after two and a half years of travel how important it is and how wonderful community support is.”

“And all of the families that we work with, we keep all of their information confidential unless they allow us to use their names,” added Greg Dix of the U.P. Children’s Fund.

The donation had a lot of meaning for the organization, but it also helps get the word out about what the U.P. Children’s Fund is all about.

“It means a lot, for one thing it’s awareness.” said Henriksen. “With Jerzi’s doing this, and being so generous, it means the world because there are families out there that don’t know about us yet. Whether you’re going to donate or you’re a family in need, it lets you know that we’re here for you.”

As a way to give back to the community, Jerzi’s 41 Bar and Grill has started a new program where they will be donating their personal funds to local causes every single month. Anyone who wants to be considered for a donation from Jerzi’s 41, or nominate someone else, can enter between the 1st and the 22nd of each month. On the 22nd, two names will be drawn out of those to be put on a Facebook poll to determine who will get the donation.

“The community has been really good to us, so I was thinking of a way that I could give back and say thanks to the people around us that are in need,” said Jamie Clark, an owner of Jerzi’s 41. When asked about what it meant for the U.P. Children’s Fund winning the first vote, Clark said, “It means a lot. It’s really great that there are people that are organizing events like this to help that many people, and to be able to help out in any way that we can is awesome.”

The U.P. Children’s Fund will be hosting the Grant Henriksen Memorial Golf Scramble on August 1st at the Marquette Golf Club, and there are still spots open for teams to join. There are also chances to be a sponsor at the event. For more information on how to participate in the golf outing, click here.

To get to the Jerzi’s 41 Bar and Grill Facebook page, click here.