Wege Foundation OKs Great Lakes grant

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - A foundation led by philanthropist Peter Wege says it will continue funding a coalition that advocates for federal action to protect and clean up the Great Lakes.

The Wege Foundation says it will provide a $2.5 million grant to operate the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition for five more years. The coalition includes about 120 environmental and conservation groups, along with zoos, aquariums and museums.

Wege is the former CEO of Steelcase Inc. His foundation kicked off the coalition with a five-year, $5 million grant in 2004.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been a leading supporter of the Obama administration's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which has pumped more than $1 billion into toxic cleanups and programs to fight invasive species and restore coastal wildlife habitat.