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Besser Foundation awards local grants to further community impact

ALPENA, Mich. —A number of organizations in northeast Michigan will soon get a much needed boost, thanks to contributions from the Besser Foundation.

An announcement made at this month’s board meeting revealed the Foundation would grant funds totaling more than $2.3 million. The grants came as a way to honor Besser’s 75th anniversary. Organizations selected to receive these funds were assessed based on community impact, number of people reached, and types of needs met. Trustee of the Besser Foundation, Gary Dawley says this took careful consideration.

“We’re doing a series of special grants to local groups that we believe will have a significant impact on the population they serve, on Alpena’s population, and on the community as a whole.”

The institution set to get the most funding is the Boys and Girls Club of Alpena, which will receive $1 million to assist their move to a new facility. Executive Director, Bradley Somers is excited about what the change will mean for the students.

“To be able to cater to more kids more often is enormous. The Besser Foundation is making this all possible and they’re doing so much with so many organizations too, and we are just blessed to be one of them.”

Some of the other establishments set to receive funding include Alpena Public Schools, MidMichigan Health Systems, Friends of Thunder Bay, and Alpena Child Care and Development Center to name a few. Dawley says smart investments have allowed Besser to have such a huge impact in their community.

“The Foundation has been here 75 years. It’s our goal to make sure that it remains for another 75 years. We’ve taken the steps within the governance of the Foundation itself to make sure that it continues.”

Another $1 million dollars is expected to be granted to other organizations in the near future.