Giving Tuesday, continued from page 11 For the Boys and Girls Club of Alpena, that growth meant they were able to exceed their own fundraising goal of $1,000 eight times over! “Unbelievably, the community supported our organization with over $8,000 on Giving Tuesday 2017,” said Somers. “We planned originally to buy hygiene items, snacks, recreational equipment, award incentives, and to ix a broken computer. Now we plan to do all of that, plus buy more computers for our computer lab, and educational literacy software for the kids; expand our Healthy Habits program; and do more with our BIGS mentoring program. Every penny of this donation is being put right back into serving the youth of our area, and making the biggest impact we can!” CFNEM provides the online giving platform and overall marketing for 60 nonpro its throughout its nine-county service area, which includes its af iliate foundations: the Iosco County Community Foundation, the North Central Michigan Community Foundation, and the Straits Area Community Foundation. “Our 2017 Giving Tuesday fundraising goal was $3,000,” said Katy Conklin, Hope Shores Alliance Executive Director. “When the actual amount called out was double our goal, all I could do was cry. I was so very grateful, and felt so supported by the community!” Conklin says the funds raised in 2017 are being used for projects that grants cannot cover, and to inish improvements on Hope Shores Alliance’s safehouse. Giving Tuesday is always the Tuesday following Thanksgiving – after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.  “Grant”,theGivingTuesday GoldenGoose,goeseachyearto thenonproϐitraisingthemost fundsonGivingTuesday.Grant wearsapurpleribbonhere inhonorofbeingwoninhis inauguralyearbytheNortheast MichiganWomen’sGivingCircle. Passion with a Purpose 13