About us
Our Mission
To assist with unmet healthcare needs, with health education, and with programs and research on preventing illness and promoting health in the Upper Peninsula.
Our Vision
To improve the health of the residents of the Upper Peninsula.
What is the Superior Health Foundation?
The Superior Health Foundation (SHF) is a conversion 501 c (3) foundation that materialized on Sept. 1 following Duke LifePoint’s acquisition of Marquette General Health System. It is a stand-alone corporation and is not affiliated in any way with Duke LifePoint or Marquette General. Its mission is assist with unmet healthcare needs, with health education, and with programs and research on preventing illness and promoting health. That mission may include supporting (a) the unmet healthcare needs of the indigent and uninsured; (b) healthcare education programs; (c) supporting programs and research which have the primary purpose of preventing and reducing illness and disease; and (d) other programs to promote the health, education and welfare of the community.
The SHF Board of Directors will communicate with a variety of stakeholders throughout the Upper Peninsula to receive input and feedback on how SHF can have the most effective impact on health issues in the communities of the U.P. The feedback we receive will help us to develop a strategic grantmaking policy for serving our communities. Following the approval of the Strategic Grantmaking Policy, we will develop a grant-making timetable.
Meet Our Team
Meet our dedicated staff and learn more about each team member.
Laura Jarvi
Accountant and Grants Administrator
A native of Negaunee, Laura received her bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University in accounting/ computer information…
Leah Berthiaume
Executive Assistant
Leah was born and raised in Marquette for most of her childhood. After living around the United States in her free-wheeling…
Amanda Boundy
Event Specialist
Amanda is an Upper Peninsula native who grew up running through the woods and riding her bike on the backroads of Alger County…
Emily Ellis
Community Engagement & Annual Giving Coordinator
A proud Yooper, with nine years of experience in the non-profit sector focused on community inclusion, Emily is…
Meet Our Board
Meet our Board of Directors and learn more about each board member.
Sara Giles
President
Currently the marketing director of Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital (SMH) and member of the Senior Leadership Team…
David Jahn
Vice President
Jahn, a native of the Upper Peninsula, worked for more than 40 years in healthcare.
Kara Katona, CPA
Secretary/Treasurer
Kara is a partner in the CPA firm of Makela, Toutant, Hill, Nardi & Katona, P.C., in Marquette.
Elise Bur
Director
Elise Bur is the inaugural director of the Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health…
Fredi De Yampert, Ph. D
Director
Fredi De Yampert currently serves as the vice president of academic affairs and dean of the college of health sciences at Finlandia University.
Dr. Bryan Dixon
Director
Dr. Bryan Dixon is a partner at Advanced Center for Orthopedics. A native of Fairbanks, Alaska, Dr. Dixon received his…
Joan Haara
Director
Joan Haara of Michigamme is a retired registered nurse. In her career, Haara served as director of resident services at the…
Traci Johnson
Director
Traci Johnson of Foster City joined the Superior Health Foundation Board of Directors at its March 2022, representing Dickinson County.
Meghan Lane
Director
Meghan Lane of Wakefield, director of the Great Start Collaborative and Early Childhood Specialist for the Gogebic Ontonagon Intermediate School District, represents Gogebic County and the western Upper Peninsula.
John Marshall
Director
John Marshall graduated from Michigan Tech in 1968 with a degree in civil engineering. He joined Kennecott Copper after graduation.
Dr. Scott Pynnonen
Director
A native of Negaunee, Dr. Pynnonen was a family practice physician at Baraga County Memorial Hospital in L’Anse…
Carrissa Rondeau
Director
Carrissa Rondeau, LMSW, BCBA/ LBA and Founder/CEO of Functional Behavior Services in Marquette…
Scott Sampeer
Director
Scott Sampeer is a certified financial planner for Northwestern Mutual in Marquette. Sampeer, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, has worked…
Angela Victorson
Director
Angela Victorson is a home mortgage consultant with Wells Fargo in Escanaba with more than 30 years of service…
Frequently Asked Questions
The Superior Health Foundation (SHF) is a conversion 501 c (3) foundation that materialized on Sept. 1, 2012, following Duke LifePoint’s acquisition of Marquette General Health System. It is a stand-alone corporation and is not affiliated in any way with Duke LifePoint or Marquette General.
The Marquette General Foundation, which provided charitable funding to Marquette General to invest in new technologies and equipment, spun into the SHF. Its non-profit tax ID was transferred to SHF.
Its mission is assist with unmet healthcare needs, with health education, and with programs and research on preventing illness and promoting health. That mission may include supporting (a) the unmet healthcare needs of the indigent and uninsured; (b) healthcare education programs; (c) supporting programs and research which have the primary purpose of preventing and reducing illness and disease; and (d) other programs to promote the health, education and welfare of the community.
The Superior Health Foundation awards grants at its fall and spring grants celebrations. It also provides monthly grants for pilot and equipment fund projects. Each year, The Superior Health Foundation dedicates up to 2/3 of its grant funding to address proactive health issues that are centric to the needs of the people in the Upper Peninsula. In its 12-year history, SHF has awarded more than $7.1 million in health-centered grants.
Absolutely. It is the SHF’s intent to work with donors on finding charitable gift opportunities that appeal to them and benefits its mission. To learn about the Superior Circle and how you can philanthropically support, visit www.superiorhealthfoundation.org/give.
Your feedback and opinions are important to us. Please drop us a line or call us with ideas you may have for future funding projects! And, we’re always looking for volunteer help. If interested, let us know!
Sara Giles (Manistique) is the President, David Jahn (Traverse City) is the Vice President, and Kara Katona, CPA (Negaunee) is the Secretary/Treasurer. The remaining board members are Elise Bur (Marquette), Fredi de Yampert (Houghton), Dr. Bryan Dixon (Marquette), Joan Haara (Michigamme), Tracy Johnson (Foster City), Meghan Lane (Wakefield), John Marshall (Marquette), Dr. Scott Pynnonen (Gwinn), Carissa Rondeau (Marquette), Scott Sampeer (Marquette) and Angela Victorson (Bark River).
It is located at 121 N. Front St. in Marquette, next to the Q 107 studio. It can be reached at 906-225-6914 or at shf@superiorhealthfoundation.org.
The Foundation is staffed by five full-time employees:
Executive Director Jim LaJoie (jlajoie@superiorhealthfoundation.org);
Accountant and Database/Grant Coordinator Laura Jarvi (ljarvi@superiorhealthfoundation.org);
Community Engagement and Annual Giving Coordinator Emily Ellis (eellis@superiorhealthfoundation.org);
Event Specialist Amanda Boundy (aboundy@superiorhealthfoundation.org); and
Executive Assistant Leah Berthiaume (lberthiaume@superiorhealthfoundation.org).
We also employ a student intern.
Visit its website at www.superiorhealthfoundation.org; visit and become a friend of SHF on its Facebook page; and follow it on Twitter.
Partners
