November 30, 2018
In its fourth year of providing the platform for local nonprofits to participate in the ever-growing Giving Tuesday movement, the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM) surpassed last year’s event by far, helping to raise $156,058 for organizations throughout the region on November 27.
“When the 2018 giving totals were announced today at our office, the room was so full of positive energy,” said CFNEM Executive Director, Patrick Heraghty. “What’s incredible is that it was all possible because of the generosity of our communities, and the people who care so much about northeast Michigan.”
Giving Tuesday follows the widely recognized shopping events, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, offering a dedicated day for charitable giving as the holiday season kicks off. The hope for this global movement is that people will set aside a few minutes from holiday shopping to give back to their community through the charities and causes they support.
Sixty nonprofits from Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda and Presque Isle Counties participated in the event through the Community Foundation, which provided the online platform, marketing tools and all recording efforts. Of the sixty organizations participating in CFNEM’s 2018 campaign, 29 organizations joined in for the first time this year.
Ten organizations from CFNEM’s Iosco County Community Foundation (ICCF) affiliate participated in the event, raising a total of $6,135. Those organizations included AuSable Valley Audubon, Friends of East Tawas Library, Friends of Tawas Point Lighthouse and State Park, Iosco Exploration Trail, Oscoda FISH, Pine River Van Etten Lake Watershed Coalition, Quota International of Iosco County, St. Joseph Health System, Sunrise Side Lifelong Learning, and WE Players, Inc. Two ICCF endowment funds, which exist to support the nonprofits in Iosco County were also included as options for donors this year.
The Community Foundation hosted nonprofit representatives on Friday, November 30, to announce the final totals, and totals raised for each individual organization. Helping to lead some friendly competition and build excitement for the wrap-up event was Grant, the Giving Tuesday Golden Goose, who was unveiled in 2017. Grant was presented to Alpena’s Thunder Bay Theatre for raising the most funds ($14,730) during the 24-hour giving event. Funds raised on Giving Tuesday will help the professional theatre to complete Phase I of their capital campaign. Grant will spend his year with Thunder Bay Theatre, and will move in 2019 to the nonprofit that raises the most funds during Giving Tuesday Northeast Michigan 2019.
“Every donation received on behalf of these great organizations this week is a success story,” said Heraghty. “Seeing people show up in such a huge way to support the nonprofits doing incredible work in northeast Michigan is something each person who gave should take pride in.”
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