Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Guests of the Keweenaw Community Foundation’s annual fundraiser Keweenaw Gold look on during the awards ceremony in which three people were recognized for outstanding contributions to the local community.

HANCOCK — Keweenaw Community Foundation’s annual Keweenaw Gold event was took place on March 15 at the Bonfire Steakhouse Bar and Grill in Houghton, and according to Jim Vivian, executive director of KCF, the fundraiser was a success. This year’s Keweenaw Gold theme was “Blueprints of Our Community’s Future,” in honor of Herman “Winks” Gundlach, who was the owner of the Gundlach Construction Company of Houghton.

“I’ve heard nothing but great things about the menu,” Vivian said, “and Clay Hilman’s music was perfect.”

Three awards were given out during the event. Brent Peterson, a KCF board member, was recognized as Volunteer of the Year for his many years of service to the community’s youth hockey programs. Rebecca Crane was was awarded the Community Impact Award for her tireless dedication to Dial Help. This year’s Herman “Winks” Gundlach Award was presented to an anonymous donor who gifted the foundation over $113,000 in 2016. Vivian accepted the award on the donor’s behalf.

Guests arriving at the event were greeted by members of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) who manned a coat check as a fundraiser to help them attend an annual leadership conference. The group raised $217.

The Youth Advisory Council was developed and supported by the Michigan Community Foundation’s Youth Project to spread youth philanthropy in the state. That initiative was launched by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the community foundation members of Council of Michigan Foundations, according to Vivian.

Vivian said the figures on how much money was raised at the event were not complete, but the fundraiser was very successful.

Generous businesses and sponsors were the key to the success of this event, Vivian said. Aspirus Keweenaw; UP Health Systems – Portage; and Keweenaw Rocks were Silver Level sponsors . Chuck Outlette and Bernadette Yeoman-Outlette; Pat’s IGA; Ameriprise Financial — Ted Simonsen; Gundlach Champion; Mount Bohemia; Rukkila, Negro and Associates; and Eliason Law were Copper Level sponsors.