Voting Ends Today!!!

Help pick the color for the TreeHouse! Voting ends today!!! Check it out in the sidebar.....

Grant Awarded

The Keweenaw Family Resource Center and The Treehouse was recently awarded a grant of $2500 towards the indoor playground by Plum Creek! Find out more about Plum Creek here: http://www.plumcreek.com/CommunityInvolvement/FoundationNews/tabid/164/Default.aspx

Daily Mining Gazette Letter to the Editor

To the editor:
This season is so festive for so many reasons: Almost everyone is happy to see fresh snow falling, we have all just had an opportunity to give thanks for the bounties in our lives, no matter how large or how small, and as we near the end of the year, we are all given at least one moment for reflection.
Here is what we are reflecting on right now. The staff and volunteers at the Keweenaw Family Resource Center have much to be grateful for this year. In taking the risk to start the Tree House Indoor Playground, we have stretched as an organization. In stretching, we have gotten to know so many more wonderful individuals and businesses that have offered their support to us.
Right now we are particularly grateful for all those who donated items for our silent auction as well as those who came out to bid on the 90 baskets. Specifically, we give thanks to the following donors: Emily Lancour-Tastefully Simple products, The Bike Shop, Chris Alquist and the Portage Lake District Library, Angela Poulos, Kay O'Connor-Hairsmiths, Copper Country Chiropractic, Julie Markham, Sounds and Motion, Good Times Music, Pilgrim River Steak House, Joey's Seafood, Silver Rae Studio, Susan Donnelly, Sew Irresistible, Rhythm Skate Shop, Down Wind Sports, Cross Country Sports, Joe Kirkish, and Angela Campioni. Thank you. For all those still shopping for presents, please shop locally.
If you drive by the Tree House's future site in Red Ridge Plaza in Houghton, you'll notice newspaper on the windows.
Many wonderful surprises are coming to life behind those windows. We look forward to 2010, when we hope to make more friends and watch the Tree House teem with the laughter and running and curiosity of the children of the Keweenaw.
Until then, we wish all good health, laughter and much play every day.
Cathy Benda

Portage Health Donates $25,000 For Indoor Playground Project

Portage Health recently donated $25,000 (all those zeros are NOT a mis-type) to our little park! Yeah, PORTAGE! This puts us that much closer to our dream of an indoor, hub-of-wellness playspace for our youngsters. We're forging ahead! This is the write-up from "The Portage Post" and Daily Mining Gazette:

Portage Health has donated $25,000 to the Keweenaw Family Resource Center for an indoor playground project.

"The Tree House" will be an indoor playground and exploration space for children age newborn to 5 years and their parents or caregivers to enjoy open play and parent/child activities.

Featuring a large indoor treehouse climbing structure, a lily pond for toddlers, quiet areas and other activities, the playground is located in RedRidge Plaza on Sharon Avenue in Houghton. Construction is expected to be completed in January 2010.

"Portage Health is proud to partner with the Keweenaw Family Resource Center on the Tree House projct," said Portage Health president and CEO Jim Bogan. "The long winters here inhibit opportunities for children to play and develop their motor skills. We are pleased to support this initiative which is in direct keeping with our mission of improving the quality of life for community members of all ages."

Keweenaw Family Resource Center Executive Director, Cathy Benda, said the Tree House differs from preschool and daycare facilities in that their parents and caregivers stay and play with their children in a warm, clean, stimulating environment where other children and families are present.

"We are grateful to have the support of Portage Health for this project," Benda said. "We are thrilled by this donation to help us maintain and improve the health and wellbeing for children and families in our community."

For more information on the KFRC and The Treehouse indoor playground, visit http://www.kfrckids.org/.

-Jane Nordberg

Lookie! Lifesized Lincoln Logs!

How fun are THESE? David Goodman, a Finlandia design student, has been hard at work constructing some life-sized Lincoln Logs for the park. YEAH, David!!!

Copper Country Newsmaker Daily Mining Gazette Article

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Cathy Benda, In Brief:

• Executive director of the Keweenaw Family Reousrce Center since 2005.


• Born in Detroit.


• Came to Copper Country more than 30 years ago


• Former assistant director of Dial Help.


• Started at KFRC 12 years ago.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I grew up in the city of Detroit. I'm an eastsider, but I've been in the Copper Country for 30 years. It was the 1970s and my husband and I decided we wanted to move up here and uby property.

Q: What is your family situation?

A: I'm married with two children. My husband, Michael, is a teacher at Jeffers High School. My daughter Julie is 23, and my son, Andrew, is 19 and a student at Michigan Tech. My daughter is following in her parents footsteps and uilding a cabin on our property.

Q: What is your work history?

A: My who work career in the Copper Country has been in human services. ONe of my first jobs was assistant director of Dial Help. From there, I went to Copper Country Mental Health and worked in prevention services.

Q: When did you start working at the Keweenaw Family Resource Center?

A: I started about 12 years ago. It was a small organization then. We were working off a dining table in a home planning programs and writing grant proposals.

Q: When did you become executive director of the KFRC?

A: Margaret Sottile retired as executive director in 2005. Then the KFRC board of directors appointed me.

Q: What is the function of the KFRC?

A: We provide programs or families with children from birth to 5years old. One of the hallmarks of our agency is to collaborate with other agencies to create a seamless system of service.

Q: What other agencies do you work with?

A: We partner with the BHK Child Development Board, the Copper Country Intermediate School District, and we're a member of the Copper Country Great Start Collaborative.

Q: What are some of the challenges facing the KFRC now?

A: The challenge always is funding. The current Michigan financial situation is a challenge for funding sources, as well as the impact it has on families.

Q: What are some of your funding sources?

A: We receive funding from the Michigan Children's Trust Fund, the Superior Child Abuse Prevention Fund, the Michigan Department of Education, and United Way. Donations and contributions are an important part of our budget. Local dollars help us leverage state and federal money.

Q: What is the progress it the KFRC Tree House indoor playground project?

A: It's moving along. Renovation has started (at the site in Red Ridge Plaza on Sharon Avenue in Houghton). We just held our silent auction, and that raised us over $4,000 for the project. We have an important campaign called Pickets for the Playground. It's an opportunity for people to purchase a picket and have the name of a family member or friend inscribed on it.

Q: When will the Tree House open?

A: We're hoping to be open by mid January. There's a lot of pieces still that have to fall into place.

Q: Why was the Tree House project started?

A: This is an important project for the Copper Country. We don't have a central location for children from birth tofive to play and receive community resources. Most winter cities, such as Marquette and Duluth, have either a cihldren's museum or a childen's indoor playspace. These have been lacking in our area.

A Thank You

A big shout out to Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity. These guys are amazing. They're taking time away from their very busy lives, with finals week approaching, to build us a climbing wall, crash pit, and lily pond. They are efficient, organized, and awesome. I am truly impressed. Thanks so much guys!!! You are a HUGE credit to Michigan Tech!!!