About

About Us

Expanding equitable health care and healthy living in Cook County

Closing Care Gaps

The North Shore Health Care Foundation works to address health care gaps and needs in Cook County. We believe in the possibilities of people, organizations, businesses, and governments working together to cre­ate healthy communities for all in Cook County.

We believe health is not just the absence of illness, but that a healthy community is reflected in the health of individuals which is embodied in prevention and education regarding health; a com­munity that maintains health through its systems of food, housing, employment, clean water, clean air, healthy exercise and social norms; and access to quality, affordable health care for all.

Our primary contributions for creating a healthy Cook County lie in our ability to provide and leverage funding, provide educational opportunities including convening community partners to address critical health issues fac­ing the community, and by advocating with others to help us achieve a healthy community. Where gaps exist, the Foundation also develops and incubates programs to address critical needs.

Board of Directors & Staff

Our Board of Directors is dedicated to making positive change and being a bright light for local health care providers, emergency services, and community groups implementing equitable health-focused programming. Directors serve three-year terms and are appointed through an application process. The Foundation also has opportunities to serve on committees, in the office or for special events. If you might be interested in joining our team, contact our Executive Director for more information.

Inger Andress

Inger AndressPresident

View Bio
Headshot of Mike Boomer

Mike BoomerTreasurer

View Bio

Patty LaneySecretary

View Bio

Barb Bernardy-RoseBoard Member

View Bio

Anna Cariad-BarrettBoard Member

View Bio

Michael HeroBoard Member

View Bio

Coralyn KoschinskaBoard Member

View Bio

Sue Nichols

View Bio
Valerie Marasco Eliasen

Valerie Marasco EliasenExecutive Director

View Bio
Headshot of Georgene Daubanton

Georgene DaubantonExecutive Assistant

Advisors/Partners

Kate Surbaugh
CEO – Sawtooth Mountain Clinic

513 W 5th Ave
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-387-2330

kate@sawtoothmountainclinic.org
www.sawtoothmountainclinic.org

Kimber Wraalstad
CEO/Administrator – North Shore Health Hospital & Care Center

515 W 5th Ave
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-387-3040

Kimber.Wraalstad@northshorehealthgm.org
www.northshorehealthgm.org

Dr. Alyssa Hedstrom, DDS
Grand Marais Family Dentistry

303 E 3 rd St
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-387-2774

Info@grandmaraisfamilydentistry.com
www.grandmaraisfamilydentistry.com

Julie Wilson, Executive Director
Care Partners of Cook County

513 W 5 th Ave, Suite 106
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-387-3788

carepartners@boreal.org
www.carepartnersofcookcounty.org

Mike Keyport
Cook County Emergency Management

411 W 2 nd St
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-387-3059

mike.keyport@co.cook.mn.us
www.co.cook.mn.us

Karen Blackburn
Executive Director – Cook County Higher Education

300 W 3rd St
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-387-3411

director@myCCHE.org
www.mycche.org

Values In All We Do

We believe in the possibilities of people, organizations, businesses and governments working together to create a healthy community for all in Cook County. Our values represent what we believe in, what we stand for and how we approach everything we do at the North Shore Health Care Foundation. They provide a guideline for making decisions at all levels of our organization and include:

  • Responsible stewardship
  • Collaboration and partnerships
  • Efficient and effective governance
  • Compassion
  • Inherent dignity
  • Inclusion
  • Integrity
  • Being nimble

A Little Goes a Long Way

By giving to the Foundation, you can support a variety of valuable programs and services dedicated to health care, emergency services, education and healthy living in a single donation. Be a partner in your own health system.

Have an initiative that helps work towards our vision of a healthy community for all in Cook County? You could be eligible for a NSHCF grant.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement

The North Shore Health Care Foundation (NSHCF) strives to act inclusively in all that it does. The NSHCF recognizes the diversity of human differences, and values the inherent worth of all people. NSHCF does its work with compassion and inclusivity by creating healthy communities with partners and in the conduct of its business internally. The NSHCF recognizes that health and well-being are directly connected to honoring the truth and wholeness of each person. Toward that end it strives to respect and support diverse identities in the communities it serves. The NSHCF endeavors to be nimble and open to teachings from those communities so that it can serve as an ally and partner in creating greater equity and inclusion for all in Cook County. The NSHCF ask all partners and grantees to honor these values in our work together.