Iron Area Health Foundation funds junior golf clubs for youth clinic

A $500 mini grant from the Iron Area Health Foundation helped Young’s Golf-Recreation-Dining buy new sets of junior golf clubs for a youth clinic now drawing 42 children ages 5 to 13 in Crystal Falls.

The money went straight to the kind of equipment that can determine whether a child gets to participate at all. Junior clubs are not a luxury item for a growing player, and the foundation’s support lowered one of the most basic barriers to entry for families who may not already own clubs that fit younger children. For the four-week Youth Golf Clinics, that meant more kids could take part with equipment sized for them, rather than trying to make do with clubs that were too long, too heavy or simply unavailable.

The grant fit the Iron Area Health Foundation’s broader approach to healthy living in Iron County. Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, the foundation added a mini-grant option of up to $500 for any Iron County nonprofit working on healthy-living initiatives. The foundation says its mission is to provide leadership, guidance and support for Iron County residents to create a place of healthful living and encourage the well-being of every individual and family.

Its smaller awards have already reached a wide range of community needs. A Feb. 28, 2024 grant notice showed support for AED machines, cross-country skiing equipment, prescription medication support, a book club, the Wonder Days Youth Program and the 906 Adventure Team off-road support. The junior golf clubs now add another concrete example of how a relatively small grant can turn into visible activity, with children on the course instead of sitting out.

The check presentation photo identified Jason Red Rivard, Jill Sabotta, Chris Kent and Lyle Smithson Jr. as part of the moment, underscoring the local mix of foundation leaders, golf-facility staff and community representatives behind the clinic. The foundation has also promoted golf scramble fundraisers at Young’s in 2024 and 2025, showing an ongoing connection between the organization and the Crystal Falls venue.

For Iron County, the payoff is immediate: children in a structured summer setting, outdoor recreation that builds confidence and coordination, and a community health fund helping pay for the equipment that makes participation possible.