EMPIRE, MI -- The philanthropic arm of Michigan’s most visited national park received a major boost to its budget with a $100,000 grant.

The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, the National Lakeshore’s nonprofit partner for the past 30 years, received the highest grant amount from the National Park Foundation for growing nonprofit operations.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore had 1.7 million visitors in 2024, bringing in $220 million in spending, according to NPS.

The Friends group trains and deploys volunteers for programs like the accessibility programs like the TrackChair and wheelchair bike rides. The nonprofit also fundraises and plans park programming around outdoor recreation, education and history.

If you’ve woken up early to do beach yoga or stayed up late to attend a dun

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