Challenge Mountain Shares in Giving Tuesday Success

Giving Tuesday is a groundbreaking global generosity movement, traditionally held in December. With the COVID-19 outbreak, Giving Tuesday Now was coordinated to assist in the health and economic aftermath of the pandemic as a day of giving and unity to support communities and nonprofits around the world.

The Challenge Mountain Board of Directors embraced the Giving Tuesday Now concept and offered a matching grant of $4,000 to encourage donations. The outpouring of support was beyond expectations. “Not only did we receive $4,000 for the matching grant, but we more than doubled that amount to $10,000 in 36 hours,” explains Challenge Mountain Executive Director Elizabeth Looze.

“This will help to replace revenue lost due to mandated Resale Store spring closure, cancellation of fundraising events, and reductions in annual grants from foundations and corporations.”

THE GIVING SPIRIT

In the spirit of Giving Tuesday Now, Challenge Mountain committed 10% of donations raised that day to Good Neighbors Food Pantry to support non-profit organizations providing direct support during this pandemic. “We were thrilled to donate $1,000 to the Food Pantry,” Looze expresses. “This is the power of giving.”

Good Neighbors Food Pantry Executive Director Susan Conklin is equally as excited to receive this generous gift. “Due to the generosity of our community and Challenge Mountain, we will be able to purchase two week’s worth of food for our neighbors in need who are struggling during this time due to circumstances beyond their control,” Conklin shares. Good Neighbors serves an average of 60 families per week, representing more than 200 individuals, with generous amounts of meat, eggs, dairy, fresh fruits and vegetables, and a variety of non-perishable food.

SAFELY MOVING FORWARD

The Challenge Mountain Resale Store reopened May 26 to eager customers and generous donations. “Thank you to all our loyal customers, and committed staff and volunteers who have been wearing masks to keep others safe in our store,” shares Looze. “Your mask protects us. Our masks protect all of you. We understand this is a difficult time for everyone as we adapt to a new way of doing business while keeping each other safe. We appreciate everyone’s kindness and compliance with our safety procedures in the store.”

“At Challenge Mountain, we look forward to continuing adaptive recreational programs for individuals living with disabilities,” Looze says. “Social distancing is keeping us from providing our regular spring and summer adaptive programs, but we know the need will still be there when it is safe to gather again.”

For more information about supporting Challenge Mountain, visit challengemtn.org or call 231.582.1186. The Challenge Mountain Resale Store is located at 1100 Boyne Avenue (M-75) in Boyne City, open Monday – Saturday, 9:30am – 5:30am. Donations are accepted Tuesdays and Fridays.

 

 For more information about Challenge Mountain, call 231.582.1186.
Read more about how donations are used ONLINE.

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Challenge Mountain is a non-profit 501c3 organization.