The Friends of Lake Leelanau has approved its first grant.
The Friends, during its Jan. 15 meeting, committed $291,380 to the Lake Leelanau Lake Association to cover the costs of its lake stewardship program in 2025.
Specifically, the funds will be used to continue the Association’s programs to prevent, monitor and control Eurasian watermilfoil and other aquatic and terrestrial invasive species in Lake Leelanau, as well as evaluate and potentially upgrade the Association’s water quality monitoring program.
In addition, grant funds will enable the Association to continue to educate residents and visitors about the importance of protecting the lake’s shoreline, which acts as both a natural buffer and water filtration system to help keep Lake Leelanau’s water clean and clear.
“My fellow board members and I are pleased to support the Association’s vital work preserving the health and beauty of Lake Leelanau,” said Jennie Keller, Friends’ President. “Through their donations, Friends’ many supporters made clear their desire to help protect Lake Leelanau for future generations.
“On behalf of the board and members of the Lake Leelanau Lake Association, I would like to express our gratitude to the donors to Friends, as well as to the members of Friends’ board, for this critical grant,” said Nancy Popa, LLLA’s President. “This grant will cover more than half of the Association’s annual budget and will enable us to continue our comprehensive lake stewardship programs in 2025. In addition, LLLA wishes to thank Jennie and Darren Keller for their generous personal philanthropy, which largely covered the costs of the Association’s lake stewardship programs in 2022, 2023 and 2024.”
Although Friends and the Lake Association share many common supporters, the two organizations are distinct legal entities which operate independently. Friends’ independence provides it the flexibility to grant funds to any organization which is uniquely qualified to protect the health of Lake Leelanau.
