Menominee, MI – January 6, 2026 – The M&M Area Community Foundation is proud to announce a $25,000 grant from the BJ Stupak Memorial Fund to the Healthy Youth Coalition (HYC), providing critical support for youth prevention, leadership, and service efforts across Marinette and Menominee Counties.
For more than two decades, the Healthy Youth Coalition has played a key role in empowering young people through meaningful community engagement and prevention programming. This gift comes at a pivotal time as HYC works to sustain its programming amid a funding crisis.
“Over the past 25 years, we have come to appreciate the importance of the Healthy Youth Coalition in helping our area’s youth,” said Bart and Laurie Stupak, parents of BJ Stupak and founders of the BJ Stupak Memorial Fund. “Many BJ Fund scholarship recipients have shared that their involvement with HYC was one of their most fulfilling community service experiences. It is clear to us that HYC continues to make a difference in the lives of young people, and we hope this donation helps sustain their important work as they navigate current funding challenges.”
The BJ Stupak Memorial Fund was established to honor BJ’s legacy through education, service, and community impact. Through scholarships and charitable giving, the fund has supported generations of young people committed to leadership, volunteerism, and strengthening their communities.
“This gift reflects the deep care and long-term vision Bart and Laurie bring to honoring BJ’s memory,” said Ashley Berken, Executive Director of the M&M Area Community Foundation. “Their continued support ensures that young people in our community have opportunities to lead, serve, and feel connected during some of the most formative years of their lives.”
Leaders from the Healthy Youth Coalition shared their appreciation for the BJ Stupak Memorial Fund’s continued investment in local youth and emphasized the importance of community support in sustaining prevention and youth leadership efforts during a time of growing need.
“We are deeply thankful and honored to receive this generous donation from the BJ Stupak Memorial Fund in support of our youth and our coalition,” said Karianne Lesperance, Executive Director for Menominee County ISD Prevention Services. “This gift helps ensure that our community’s young people continue to have meaningful and positive opportunities to lead, serve, and thrive – a shared goal of both the Healthy Youth Coalition and the BJ Stupak Memorial Fund. The Stupak family’s dedication to helping young people find purpose, connection, and leadership opportunities through this fund has not gone unnoticed and reflects the very heart of BJ’s legacy. We are humbled by the Stupak family and the BJ Stupak Memorial Fund’s advisory board’s continued belief in our mission during a pivotal time for our organization.”
The M&M Area Community Foundation is honored to steward the BJ Stupak Memorial Fund and to partner with donors who are committed to meaningful, lasting impact for youth across Marinette and Menominee Counties.
For more information about how your family can open a donor-advised fund to support charitable endeavors you most closely align with, please contact the M&M Area Community Foundation at (906) 864-3599.