Community Donations & Sponsorships

Each year we provide many Upper Peninsula non-profit organizations with financial support that improves the quality of life in our communities. We provide donations and sponsorship to organizations that are located within the communities served by UPPCO.

UPPCO focuses funding efforts in five categories:

  • Arts & Culture
  • Community Development
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Health & Human Services

Requests are reviewed by a committee on a monthly basis. Please review our Donation and Sponsorship Contribution Guidelines linked below to ensure that your request qualifies.  If you have questions, please email donations@uppco.com.

 

 

 

Only requests submitted through our online application will be considered. Mailed or emailed requests will not be accepted. Following selection for support, you may be asked to provide a completed IRS W-9 form for the current year.

Community Giving

Each year we provide as many as 150 Upper Peninsula non-profit organizations and associations with grants and volunteer support that improve the quality of life in our region. None of the funds provided come out of any portion of UPPCO’s operational budget. Instead, charitable funds come from two sources:

  1. A portion of the donated funds comes from the generosity of current and former UPPCO employees, who regularly contribute through the United Way.
  2. Funds are drawn from UPPCO earnings as profit after all operating costs and reinvestment into operations have been accounted for.

Here are a few examples of our community support efforts:

United Way Donation UPPCO CEO Jim Larsen (left) presents a check to United Way Executive Director Andrew Rickauer (right), surrounded by UPPCO employees.
United Way

UPPCO employees lead the way in supporting the United Way. Employees make payroll deduction pledges and the company matches their gifts dollar for dollar. To support the United Way belief of “Give Where You Live”, employees from all over UPPCO’s service area participated to benefit the United Way in Marquette County, Copper Country, Delta County, Gogebic Range and Dickinson County.

Greater Ishpeming Negaunee Area Business of the Year sponsor UPPCO’S Katie Kern presents Business of the Year award to Brian Richards, Brewer for local microbrewery in Ishpeming MI, Cognition.
Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce

UPPCO’s donation to the Greater Ishpeming Negaunee Chamber of Commerce and their Annual Dinner & Meeting supports the continued operation and growth of local businesses. Chambers strive to promote their member businesses while providing valuable resources and engaging events for the community. Above left is UPPCO's Katie Kern, presenting Brian Richards (center) of Cognition Brewing with the Business of the Year Award. Kern, as well as several other UPPCO employees, have held or currently hold positions on the the GINCC's board of directors. Supporting local businesses keeps dollars local and helps our ecoonomy.

Toys for Tots Donation 2018 photo UPPCO employees of the Marquette office pose with a fraction of the company's items collected for 2018 Toys for Tots Campaign.
2018 Toys for Tots

UPPCO supported the annual Marine Corp Reserve Toys for Tots campaign of the Marquette County Area as well as the Houghton/Keweenaw Areas. Toys for Tots is managed by dedicated United States Marines and local volunteers. Pictured above are several UPPCO employees with a fraction of the toys donated by them for the 2018 collection. UPPCO makes a monetary donation to both campaigns in addition to all the amazing toys donated by employees.

St. Vincent De Paul Donation Scott Roehl, UPPCO Operations Supervisor, presents a check to Jo Callovi, president of the Sts. Cecilia and Agnes Conference, Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
St. Vincent De Paul

UPPCO supports the work of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, which provides food, clothing, and other assistance to neighbors in need. Funds granted were used to help the charity’s efforts in Iron County.

Centennial Farms

Supporting the Historical Society of Michigan’s U.P. Centennial Farms

Upper Peninsula farming families have helped define the culture of the Upper Peninsula and contributed to Michigan’s development. As a sponsor of the Historical Society of Michigan ‘s Centennial Farm Program, UPPCO helps commemorate the dramatic changes electricity has brought to farm operation and family life.

The Centennial Farm program recognizes farms that have remained in the same family for 100 years or more. To be designated as a Centennial Farm, a property must be a working farm of 10 or more acres that has been continuously owned by the same family for at least 100 years. Once a farm is certified through the Michigan Centennial Farm Program, the owners will receive a certificate as well as a display marker for their farm.

The official green-and-yellow markers are sponsored by UPPCO in our Upper Peninsula service area. UPPCO is proud to recognize these Centennial Farms:

The Richer Centennial Farm Designation

Richer Centennial Farm Designation Dale and Renee Richer accept their Centennial Farm marker from UPPCO’s Dave Puskala. The Richer farm in Flat Rock was purchased by the family in 1909.

The Vuk Family Centennial Farm Designation

Vuk Centennial Farm Designation Carl Vuk accepts his Centennial Farm marker from UPPCO’s Dan Crane. The Vuk farm in L’anse was founded in 1914.
Centennial Farms Recognized by UPPCO

Farm NameYear FoundedCountyCentennial Certification Date
Augustus Schaffer Farm
1857Ontonagon02/01/1962
James Daniels Farm1865Ontonagon01/18/1966
Jermiah Penegor Farm1850Ontonagon06/16/1966
Alex Rheault Farm1866Houghton9/22/1969
Patrick DeLoughary Farm1882Menominee04/15/1982
August and Sophia Krans Farm1882Iron03/08/1985
Joel David and Anna Millard Farm1857Ontonagon05/10/1985
Peder Olaus Olsen Farm1884Iron09/23/1985
Fred A. and Regina Hall Farm1889Iron05/20/1986
Carl Kunde Farm1881Marquette11/24/1986
John Soderquist Farm1894Iron01/06/1989
Richard and Ann Pawley Farm1888Schoolcraft05/17/1989
Wardeslaw Luba Farm1893Iron02/13/1990
Martin and Anna Smydra Farm1891Ontonagon09/13/1991
William Davey Farm1853Ontonagon02/19/1992
Louis and Melina Vadnais Farm1885Houghton05/08/1992
Minnie Rosenquist Farm1893Iron04/28/1993
Johan Simi Farm1899Houghton09/01/2000
Alphonse and Elizabeth DuBord Farm1900Delta03/30/2001
George Wittaker DeLoughary Farm1891Menominee06/28/2002
John Erick and Wilhelmiina Kangas Farm1903Ontonagon06/30/2003
Hans and Amalia Hannula Farm1888Houghton11/14/2003
Farm1903Menominee11/14/2003
Joseph and Angeline Herioux Farm1896Delta10/15/2004
Joseph and Emma Kyllonen Farm1904Houghton07/16/2005
Jacob and Augusta Shunk Farm1898Marquette09/10/2005
Alfred Smedlund Farm1906Iron03/28/2006
Noel Bissonette Farm1883Delta2/19/2008
Jacob Wurzer Farm1910Iron9/28/2010
George and Catherine Hughes Farm1902Delta11/21/2011
Joseph and Adelle Germain Farm1905Delta11/30/2012
Stanislaus Krolik Farm 1891Baraga4/12/2013
Henry Witte Farm 1914Delta6/4/2014
Eli and Johanna Turpeinen Farm1915Baraga6/3/2015
Anton and Anna Vuk Farm1914Baraga2/13/2018
Joseph Emanuel Richer Farm1908Delta8/2/2018

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Dollars for Doers

The UPPCO Dollars for Doers Program offers an opportunity for employees and retirees to volunteer and raise funds for their favorite nonprofit organizations. Employees and retirees who volunteer can earn donations of up to $300 per year for the organization of their choice, provided the nonprofit’s mission and work fit into the five priority areas of UPPCO charitable giving (see Charitable Contribution Guidelines).

Dollars for Doers request form should be submitted by December 31 of each year for volunteer hours performed that calendar year.

Please direct questions to donations@uppco.com.