Foundation mission
and history
Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly Upper Michigan Foundation is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to help ensure the future of Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly Upper Michigan Chapter and its ongoing work in relieving isolation and loneliness among the elderly.
While the Upper Michigan Foundation was officially incorporated as a separate 501 (c)(3) non-profit in 2015, the concept of a local foundation began in 1990 when all wills and trusts were designated to be put aside to preserve the future of the chapter.
Today, the Foundation includes a Main Fund and three restricted Endowed Funds, each designated for a specific program or need of the chapter.
To date, the Upper Michigan Foundation has paid out more than $2 million to our local chapter.
Michael J. Aten, Chapter and Foundation Founder
Many of the elderly live in isolation up here. We're their support system.
Michael Aten’s lifelong commitment to serving others began as a teenager at O’Rafferty Catholic High School in Lansing, Michigan. There, he led a student outreach group, Catholic Mission Crusades, repairing homes in inner-city neighborhoods and traveling to Appalachia to assist families in need. These early experiences sparked a passion for helping those who are vulnerable and isolated.
While attending Lansing Community College, earning an Associate degree in Architectural Design, Michael joined like-minded friends under the guidance of Father John to support migrant families working in harsh conditions on Michigan farms. Their efforts provided not only practical help but also friendship and advocacy for those living on society’s margins.
After two years serving as a medic as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam era, Michael returned home and began a career in architectural design, but his heart continued to pull him toward service. In 1971, he volunteered for the first time with Little Brothers of the Poor in Chicago, a life-changing experience that deepened his commitment to companionship and care for elders. For eight years, Michael returned to volunteer for holiday celebrations and summer vacation sessions, building deep friendships with elderly participants, and embracing the organization’s mission of companionship and care.
In 1977, Michael earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Michigan University with an emphasis in Social Work and Community Development. Though architecture promised financial security, Michael felt called to dedicate his life to nonprofit work. In 1979, during a six-month sabbatical, Michael camped on his land in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, building a log cabin and reflecting on his future. By summer’s end, his decision was clear: he would devote his life to making a difference.
On his way to a nonprofit job interview in California, Michael stopped in Minneapolis to visit friends at Little Brothers. That visit turned into a year-long commitment to expand their visiting program into St. Paul, a pivotal step that eventually led him to bring Little Brothers to Houghton County.
Michael moved to the Copper Country in August 1981, living simply in his cabin while researching community needs. He met with agencies, gathered letters of support, and visited isolated elders, often joined by his friend and volunteer Roy Evenson from Minneapolis.
His proposal for expansion funding to the national organization highlighted the unique challenges of rural aging in Houghton County: high poverty, limited services, harsh winters, and a lack of family support due to decades of outmigration. On May 8, 1982, the national board approved the first rural Little Brothers program in the U.S.
From their humble beginnings in Hancock, Michael and Roy set out with one clear purpose: to bring friendship and care to elders who were alone. They created opportunities for connection through social gatherings and holiday celebrations, ensuring that no one felt forgotten. Their work quickly grew into a lifeline by visiting elders, offering companionship, and providing essential support like transportation and warmth during harsh winters. What started as a small effort became a community movement rooted in kindness, dignity, and the belief that every elderly person deserves friendship.
Michael’s guiding principle was simple: live humbly and make a difference. His leadership shaped Little Brothers into a vital resource for combating isolation among the elderly in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In 2014, after decades as Executive Director, Michael retired and founded the Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly, Upper Michigan Foundation to secure the organization’s future. Inspired by similar efforts in France, he worked tirelessly to ensure that the mission of friendship and service would endure for generations.
Today, Michael’s legacy lives on in every visit, every holiday celebration, and every act of kindness extended to an elder in need. His story reminds us that one person’s passion can transform a community, and that friendship is the greatest gift we can offer.