Welcome to MRMF

Bay Cliff Health Camp

The camp was established in 1934 to promote the health, welfare, happiness, and development of the children of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is a not-for-profit, non-denominational summer therapy center for physically handicapped children ranging in ages from 3 to 17. It is the only facility of its kind in the United States that accepts children with any kind of physical handicap for the purpose of providing therapy. The camp facilities include areas for dental work, and special areas for doctors to cater to the needs of the children while under the care of Bay Cliff.

For over sixty years, Bay Cliff's primary mission has been to improve the lives of children with physical disabilities. Today, Bay Cliff is a therapy center serving 180 children each summer with every kind of orthopedic, speech, hearing, and visual disability. Through an intensive program of daily therapy and traditional camp activities, children learn to become more independent and are inspired to believe in themselves and their potential. All therapy programs are administered by qualified registered therapists.

Bay Cliff is a place where very special children are able to pursue their hopes and dreams for the future!

About the Michael Ross Memorial Foundation

The Michael Ross Memorial Foundation is a tax deductible charity and qualifies under the IRS rules governing 501(C)(3) Charities. Tony and Kathy Ross, founders of American Compressed Steel, Inc. in Sedalia, Missouri, and daughter, Nicole Ross, established the foundation and its investment fund in memory of their son and brother, Michael Paul Ross. Michael passed away in 1990 at the age of 5 years old from a very rare genetic disease known as Tay-Sachs disease.

The proceeds of the foundation go to the Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay, Michigan. The camp is for handicapped children only, many with special care needs. Tony had been involved with Bay Cliff Camp when he lived in Michigan. It seemed appropriate that the Michael Ross Memorial Foundation be involved with the camp after Mike’s passing. Funding is raised to help remove the financial burdens from the children’s families so that the camp visit is completely paid for, including new wheel chairs, crutches, or other medical equipment the children may need.

The MRMF Dream Becomes Reality—“Mike’s Place” Is Complete

The Michael Ross Memorial Foundation has accomplished a lot in the last 11 years, but the main vision of the foundation was realized with the grand opening of “Mike’s Place”, the new Teen Center at Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay, Michigan. The Michael Ross Memorial Foundation was founded in honor of the son of Tony and Kathy Ross from American Compressed Steel, Inc. following Michael’s passing due to complications from Tay-Sachs disease. The MRMF is a non-profit charity organization supporting Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay, Michigan.

Bay Cliff Health Camp is a six-week summer camp that assists severely handicapped children. The camp funding is raised to help remove financial burdens from the children’s families so the visits are completely covered including new wheel chairs, crutches or other medical equipment the children may need. The children participate in camp activities and are taught specific learning strategies to aid them and their handicaps.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was in celebration of the opening of the camp’s new Teen Center, which features comfortable furniture, game tables and a wheel chair accessible soda fountain for the kids to enjoy. Mike’s Place will become the focal point of the camp, serving as a hub for special programs and camp activities. Along with Mike’s Place, the MRMF funds have also provided Bay Cliff with a badly needed Children’s Clothing Center, a modern and more accommodating laundry facility.

“I can’t say enough about all the support shown and contributions given over the years that helped to make Mike’s Place a reality at Bay Cliff. It was a project we were committed to and there was never a question as to where the MRMF funds would end up. This is a very special place and for Bay Cliff to name the Teen Center in Mike’s honor is something very special for Kathy and I. To know that Mike’s legacy will carry on at such an extraordinary place has made all the hard work worthwhile,” said Tony Ross.

“We really have a great group of people involved that have helped to make this happen. This is something we all believe in and we never lost sight of that. Together we’ve raised over $1,040,000 since the inception of the MRMF, which goes to show the dedication and support this charity has received over the past 11 years,” said Ross.

Tony and Kathy Ross were the guests of honor for the dedication ceremony at Bay Cliff. The campers treated the Ross’s and several other guests to lunch and even hosted the “Bay Cliff 500” to recognize Tony’s involvement with racing. The kids raced around the lunchroom area in their wheelchairs to the cheering of their peers. The children also put together a musical tribute in honor of the couple. “This was a big day for us. It was very gratifying to see the kids so excited and showing appreciation for their new Teen Center. This is what the MRMF is all about,” said Ross.