The Portage Health Foundation (PHF) has decided to use its endowment held by the Keweenaw Community Foundation (KCF) to be used by the four county (Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, Ontonagon) community for outdoor recreation and wellness grant applications. As a health foundation the Portage Health Foundation recognizes the need in our community to promote individual physical movement and healthy activity amongst all people - to live full happy and healthy lives, movement and exercise are key. One effort that is being implemented to achieve this goal is Experience the Keweenaw.

The objective of the Experience the Keweenaw event is multi-faceted. The Portage Health Foundation (PHF) intends this event will help promote regional organizations and the services to the community they provide; identify and promote the outdoor resources available throughout the four-counties that help encourage outdoor recreation and wellness activities for our citizens; advocate for and influence the prioritization of regional and county-wide outdoor recreation and wellness initiatives; and serve as a point of convening for area organizations and individuals interested in expanding the opportunities for people to become more engaged in outdoor recreation and wellness.

Additionally, for the PHF, Experience the Keweenaw will be specifically used as a mechanism to support a new endowment that is being created and will be used to financially support these types of projects. The newly amended PHF endowment at KCF will be used for the benefit of all four counties to use for projects that can identify, collaborate and execute effectively projects that impact the health within the community.