GRHF and Aspirus Ironwood Hospital Partner to Support Expecting Families and the Rx Kids Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JULY 23, 2026
IRONWOOD, MI – Aspirus Ironwood Hospital and the Gogebic Range Health Foundation (GRHF) have announced a joint initiative to strengthen support for expecting and new parents across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The partnership grew out of GRHF’s ongoing advocacy for expecting families in Gogebic County and the surrounding region.
As part of that advocacy process, GRHF worked with Aspirus Ironwood Hospital to identify meaningful ways to support local families. That collaboration resulted in a $28,855 donation from Aspirus Ironwood Hospital, flowing through GRHF to the Superior Health Foundation – which serves as the fiduciary for the Rx Kids fund for the Upper Peninsula – as well as the development of a new resource guide for expecting and new parents.
Rx Kids, a program developed by Michigan State University, provides direct cash support to pregnant mothers and new parents, $1,500 prenatally and $500 per month for the first six months of a baby’s life. The program recently expanded to cover all 15 counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Given the added costs families now face, including transportation to out-of-area birthing facilities, groceries, and newborn essentials, Rx Kids offers critical, flexible support at a time when it is needed most.
The new expecting families resource guide, developed jointly by Aspirus Ironwood Hospital and GRHF, helps families navigate the full range of services available throughout pregnancy and early parenthood, from prenatal care and financial assistance to community health programs and beyond. It is available at gogebicrangehf.org under the Community tab.
“We are deeply committed to the health and well-being of every family in our community,” said Rae Kaare, VP- Chief Administrative Officer of Aspirus Ironwood Hospital. “This partnership with the Gogebic Range Health Foundation allows us to make a meaningful impact on the lives of parents and children across the Upper Peninsula. We are proud to help bring Rx Kids’ resources to our region and to ensure expecting families have the information they need to plan for their care throughout pregnancy, labor and delivery, and beyond.”
“GRHF has a firm commitment to advocate for local families and find constructive ways to address challenges in our community,” said Kassi Huotari, Executive Director of the Gogebic Range Health Foundation. “Working with Aspirus, we were able to turn that advocacy into real, tangible support via a donation that will directly benefit families in Gogebic County through Rx Kids, and a resource guide that ensures families and those planning to start a family now have the tools and resources to pursue a safe, supported pregnancy and a strong start postpartum.”
Families who are expecting or have a baby born March 1, 2026 or later and reside in any of the U.P.’s 15 counties are encouraged to apply at rxkids.org/communities/gogebic-county.
About Rx Kids
Rx Kids is the nation’s first community-wide prenatal and infant cash support program, developed by Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine. The program provides $1,500 to expecting mothers and $500 per month for the first six months of a baby’s life, and is now available across all 15 counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. For more information, visit RxKids.org.