Shopko and the Weather Man

Wow.  What an amazing community we have at the end of the earth.  Not only do people donate to the kid’s new playground, but people make fundraisers specifically for it (as you have seen in past posts).  But, geez, not only that, people are constantly seeking grant opportunities and publicity for other options.

Did you see that thermometer?  We are getting there, my friend.  Thank you!

One of the latest gifts was $500 from Shopko’s Foundation’s Community Charitable Grant program.  How great that they have a community grant program.  Thanks Shopko!

Marty accepts the check from Shopko manager Gary Schroufnagel at the Calumet location

We even made it on weatherman John Dee’s site!  Check out www.johndee.com, and click on Current Journals.  We are mentioned at the end of the October 21st post.  Here is the excerpt, if you have a slow browser.

” My final item on tonight’s docket is a note I got from one of the good folks in Copper Harbor that is helping to raise funds for the new playground for the harbor. She wrote me to tell me this:
“This past January when we started fundraising, Vicki and Ken at the Pines were kind enough to let me solicit funds from our dining patrons. I didn’t hit them with a hard sell, just presented them with a playground envelope, told them a little about the project and asked if they could help out with a donation. If they could, great! If they chose not to, we totally understood. The majority of our donors during that time were snowmobilers. Through their generosity, we were able to raise $7000 just from the Pines patrons alone! We were overwhelmed!!!”
Awesome job folks! The playground is going to cost a total of $145,000 (who’d of thunk they were that much, eh !?) and they have been able to raise $100,000 of that so far. If you want to read more about the project, you can visit the website that they have set up for the project and also have a Facebook page.”

John has many loyal readers from the area and all over the world.  Thanks for helping to spread the word, John!

And thank YOU for your support and interest in our project.

A Color Cruise on the Queen IV

Every spring, the Isle Royale Queen IV cruises the coast of the Keweenaw Peninsula from the Portage Canal to its dock in Copper Harbor.  Well, then it would only be fitting that it journeys back down in the fall!  This year resident Sandi Siegmeier dreamed up the idea to make the return trip a fundraiser for the playground.

Sandi and Jack on the bow

On Tuesday, October 2nd, the Isle Royale Queen IV transported 28 guests for this cruise.  Passengers were treated to spectacular weather and an amazing palette of fall colors from the north shore and into the Portage Canal.  The guests returned to Copper Harbor via the Red Carpet Trolly.

Going under the lift bridge!

This trip raised $715 for the playground project.  Thanks goes out to Captains Donny and  John Kilpela and Sam of the IR Queen.

Don and John: Captains and brothers for life