Omega House is marking a decade-long partnership with the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation, which has organized an annual month-long fundraising campaign to support local nonprofits and community programs.
The hospice care facility joined the foundation’s efforts in 2016 when Copper Shores launched its Giving Tuesday month-long non-profit fundraising campaign. Over nine years, Omega House has received more than $260,000 through the campaign. That money has bolstered the organization’s ability to serve Copper Country residents.
“We’ve been one of the larger organizations to receive the largest amount of donations, so we’re really proud of that,” said Michael Lutz, executive director of Omega House. “That’s on top of what our donors are supporting us with.”
Lutz said the foundation has evolved the program significantly since getting things started. Beyond fundraising, Copper Shores now provides resources to help nonprofits communicate their missions more effectively to the community throughout the years.
“Copper Shores puts a lot of effort into awareness of our facility, along with all the other nonprofits,” Lutz said. “But Omega House is a little bit different. I don’t think that we are on people’s minds 24-7. You only will need us when you have someone that’s nearing the end of life, maybe in hospice. And just having the awareness today will resonate maybe years down the road when you need us.”
Omega House primarily provides end-of-life care to patients. The facility also expands its community impact through grief programming, respite care, and financial assistance for residents unable to afford full costs.
“All our grief services are no cost,” Lutz said. “We’ll meet one on one, or you can come to the group event every Thursday. Funding through Giving Tuesday helps us keep our rates really low and offer discounted fees for those who have very little.”
The Giving Tuesday campaign has created unexpected benefits beyond donations. Lutz said the event has fostered connections among nonprofit leaders who serve overlapping populations in the community.
“I meet with the folks from the shelter, from Little Brothers,” Lutz said. “We all service some of the same clients. It’s always good to know what’s going on in their court and how we can work together. When we all get together for the main event for Giving Tuesday, I learn about all these wonderful organizations in our area that I may have not even heard of.”
Financial support has enabled Omega House to provide more than 800 days of free care during the past 12 months. Lutz emphasized that the facility could not maintain its status as a premier hospice care site in the Upper Peninsula without community donations.
The Copper Shores Community Health Foundation’s Giving Tuesday campaign supports close to 70 causes throughout the region.
Learn more about Omega House here. Find more details for Copper Shores Community Health Foundation’s Giving Tuesday campaign in November here. Find more non-profit spotlights from My UP News and Keweenaw Report here and here.
