Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Jenn Beaudette, receives a check from Copper Shores on behalf of the Bootjack Fire and Rescue Foundation for nearly $11,500. The funds will be used to upgrade communications in the department’s new emergency vehicle to be state-of-the-art with all the different technology system.

HANCOCK – Tuesday was Check Presentation Day for Giving Tuesday at Copper Shores Community Health Foundation, said Emily Jacques, marketing associate with the foundation.

Since 2017, donors have given more than $5.8 million to nonprofit organizations based in and serving Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties. For the eighth time in nine years, the total amount given has surpassed the previous record, this time bringing in $102,488.32 in 2024.

“Our nonprofit community does incredible work, but moments like this remind us we should also celebrate our donor community,” said Michael Babcock, Copper Shores Director of Marketing and Donor Relations, in a press release. “It’s been a challenging year for many people, but our community continues to show the radical generosity needed to help these nonprofits better serve our community.

“Folks once again came out and showed immense support for the nonprofit sector this year,” said Babcock said. “It makes me incredibly proud to call this place home when you see the outpouring of support for groups that do so much to improve the health of our community.”

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. It takes place on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving each year. GiveCopperCountry is a Copper Shores Giving Tuesday campaign designed to raise awareness, advocate for the individual causes and help build local nonprofits’ capacity to fundraise.

“This is our ninth year and we are giving back just over 1.17 million back to the copper country,” Jacques. “We’ve had $970,000 in donations from community members and we are adding 200,000 dollars from Copper Shores Amplification Fund on top of that, helping individual donations get boosted a little bit further.”

Jacques said Copper shores is serving approximately 60 nonprofit across the copper country, which includes Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties.

Check presentations will continue at the Copper Shores office on Quincy Street in Hancock today, Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“This is a big deal for a lot of nonprofits,” Jacques said.