The Keweenaw Health Foundation is proud to announce a donation of $3,500 to the Dan Schmitt Gift of Music and Outdoor Education Fund. This generous contribution will support the fund’s ongoing mission to provide youth with free instruments, music lessons, after-school programming, and outdoor education opportunities in the Keweenaw and Kalamazoo areas.
The Dan Schmitt Gift of Music was created to honor the life and legacy of Dan Schmitt, an aspiring musician who tragically passed away in a traffic accident in December 2007. His close friends, retired schoolteachers John and Charmaine Parsons, along with their children, John, Ben, and Graham, founded the fund to provide young people in the region with the gift of music. The Parsons family, deeply impacted by the loss of their dear friend, sought to ensure that Dan’s passion for music would continue to inspire future generations.
"Dan’s life was a beautiful example of how music can bring people together and enrich their lives. We are deeply grateful to the Keweenaw Health Foundation for their support, which will allow us to continue offering music and outdoor education opportunities to local youth," said Charmaine Parsons, co-founder of the Dan Schmitt Gift of Music and Outdoor Education Fund.
The Fund’s mission goes beyond music; it also emphasizes outdoor education, promoting food independence, environmental sustainability, and a connection to the natural world. Through a partnership with local schools and youth organizations, the Fund offers a range of outdoor educational experiences, including gardening, apple cider making, maple syrup production, wildlife observation, and more. These programs are hosted at the Parsons' farm, where youth learn valuable life skills like growing, harvesting, and preserving their own food, as well as gaining knowledge in pond ecology and plant identification.
In addition to its outdoor education programming, the Dan Schmitt Gift of Music offers low-cost and free music lessons throughout the Keweenaw, including after-school instruction in guitar and piano. Currently, approximately 38 students in Copper Country benefit from these programs.
“We are thrilled to be able to support the Dan Schmitt Gift of Music and Outdoor Education Fund," said Jenn Jenich-Laplander, Executive Director of the Keweenaw Health Foundation. “I was lucky enough to grow up with Dan and listen to his music, and it’s truly wonderful to see his legacy come to fruition in such a meaningful way. This donation from the Keweenaw Health Foundation is just one way we can honor Dan's spirit and help foster a love of music, nature, and sustainability in our community.”
The Keweenaw Health Foundation continues to prioritize investments in local programs that improve the well-being of residents in the Keweenaw area. Their support of the Dan Schmitt Gift of Music and Outdoor Education Fund is a reflection of their commitment to creating a healthier, more vibrant future for the community.
For more information about the Dan Schmitt Gift of Music and Outdoor Education Fund, or to learn how you can contribute to this important cause, visit https://www.dsgiftofmusic.org.
For those interested in supporting the Keweenaw Health Foundation’s mission, donations are always welcome. Your contribution helps strengthen the health and vitality of the region and ensures that programs like this continue to thrive. For more information, call 906.337.6541.