After 30 years of helping the Copper Country coordinate funds, projects, and programs the Keweenaw Community Foundation will take some time to celebrate.
During the foundation’s annual fundraiser next month, they will celebrate the work over the last 30 years and look forward to continuing their mission. The Keweenaw Community Foundation is a central organizer for several regional funds says Director of Operations and Communications Vienna Leonarduzzi, including scholarships, endowment funds, and donor-advised funds.
And (it starts) just having a conversation, letting us know what they’re hoping to achieve. And we can direct them, to figure out what fund makes the most sense. So we have endowment funds where that is a funds for an organization to hold, to receive donations, and that endowment fund grows over time. We also have donor-advised funds where the donor is more involved> Hey, I want these funds to go to this program in the community or this initiative in the community. –Vienna Leonarduzzi, Director of Operations and Communications, Keweenaw Community Foundation
Throughout the foundation’s history, it has worked with small groups to provide a financial agent to maintain project or program funds too. Since residents began working to raise a statue of Anna Klobacher Clemenc in Calumet KCF has helped promote the project and kept track of fundraising. In the past year, the foundation helped residents in Ahmeek replace boards on the community outdoor ice rink.
I was told it only took about eight months to raise the funds for that. And it was great just to see the community come together of all ages. So we had, kids to parents, and grandparents at that ceremony announcing that we were able to help them secure those funds. It was a community effort. All that we did was push out the information, but it was the community coming together and all sizes of donations were. So it’s a great community effort and the boards are already up and we’re excited to see that rink be used this winter. –Vienna Leonarduzzi, Director of Operations and Communications, Keweenaw Community Foundation
Keweenaw Gold 2024 celebrating 30 years of working with the copper country to advance projects, programs, and funds will take place at the bonfire in Houghton. Leonarduzzi adds that the evening will have plenty of enjoyment and delicious food, plus live music. Executive Director for the Keweenaw Community Foundation Robin Menguzzo will also share how the foundation has built bonds with the community in the past. And share how the foundation plans to continue working toward thriving Keweenaw communities.
So we kind of made some fun packages such as Keweenaw parents. So we have a two-night stay at the Keweenaw Castle Resort in Alloway. We also have something for kids. We have Casey Bonkers who donated a Keweenaw treasure box. But as a family, they can go around the area and look for different clues to then eventually open the treasure box, says Leaonarduzzi.
We also have a cool one called the Keweenaw Ariel Views package where we have Copper Country Boat Tours donating a private boat tour on Lake Fanny Ho. We then have a very nice canvas print from Quincy Ariel to two by three feet canvas of Copper Harbor, and then a 30-minute photo session with Amethyst imagery and 10 edited photos. So with that one, it’s a package deal. And again, the proceeds will go to a foundation here to our community impact fund where all that money will go back into the community.
Those interested in learning more about the event or wanting to purchase a ticket can find more details online. Keweenaw Gold 2024 with the Keweenaw Community Foundation is sponsored by Insight Wealth Solutions and the Nature Conservancy. The event will occur at the Bonfire in Houghton on November 7th. Tickets cost 75 dollars. Find more information here.
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