Courtesy Photo From left, Patrick Heraghty, Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan executive director, and Christine Hitch, CFNEM marketing communications director, present Chris Witulski, Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan executive director, with a big check for $32,920 for garnering the most donations on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 29. Witulski proudly holds Grant the Giving Tuesday Golden Goose, who will live at the Besser Museum for the next year.

ALPENA — The Golden Goose has a new home among the artifacts.

In a virtual Zoom and Facebook Live event Tuesday afternoon to announce the final Giving Tuesday totals, the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan presented Grant, the Giving Tuesday Golden Goose, to Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan for raising the most funds ($32,920) during the 24-hour giving event.

“It’s so exciting,” said Chris Witulski, Besser Museum executive director. “This is the first time Grant has been at the Besser Museum.”

Grant will spend the upcoming year in residence at the museum. The goose has been awarded to the top nonprofit since 2017.

“There are so many great causes, and the generosity of the community continues to grow,” Witulski said.

Funds raised on Giving Tuesday will help the museum with its new Discover Northeast Michigan History Exhibit.

“It tells me that this project is something the community is really getting behind, and thinks it’s a good investment,” Witulski said. “It’s an honor to work at Besser Museum and be able to serve the community in this way.”

The CFNEM helped 62 nonprofit organizations raise a grand total of $314,834 on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 29.

Besser Museum topped the competition, raising $32,920, followed by Huron Humane Society in second with $17,380, and Northeast Michigan Women’s Giving Circle in third with $16,180. Rounding out the top five were Presque Isle Township Museum Society with $14,176.44, and West Branch Rose City Educational Support Partnership with $12,927.43.

In its eighth year of providing the platform for local nonprofits to participate in the global Giving Tuesday movement, the CFNEM is grateful to all those who showed support this year.

“One of the best things about this giving event is that there is a story of caring and compassion behind every single donation received,” said Patrick Heraghty, CFNEM executive director. “It is great to see our community show up with such incredible support for the nonprofits tirelessly serving Northeast Michigan. Everyone who donated, no matter the size of the gift, should take pride in knowing they are part of that.”

Giving Tuesday follows the widely recognized shopping events, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, offering a dedicated day for charitable giving as the holiday season kicks off. The hope for this worldwide movement is that people will set aside a few minutes, and perhaps some shopping money, to give back to their community through the charities and causes they support.

Sixty-two nonprofits from Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties participated in the event through the Community Foundation and its three affiliate foundations, which provided the online platform, marketing tools, and all recording efforts, free of charge, to the participating organizations. Every penny of each donation received went directly to the organization chosen by the donor.

The top 25 organizations and their total donations received are listed below. For more information, visit the CFNEM website at cfnem.org.

Top 25

1. Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan $32,920.00

2. Huron Humane Society $17,380.00

3. Northeast Michigan Women’s Giving Circle $16,180.00

4. Presque Isle Township Museum Society $14,176.44

5. West Branch Rose City Educational Support Partnership $12,927.43

6. Boys and Girls Club of Alpena $11,101.38

7. Hope Shores Alliance $9,995.00

8. Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary $9,765.00

9. Alpena Community College Foundation $9,700.00

10. Alcona Humane Society $9,105.00

11. Sunrise Mission $8,930.00

12. Friends Together $8,507.00

13. Rea Family Animal Shelter $7,885.00

14. Friends of Hubbard Lake Center $7,175.00

15. Art in the Loft $6,930.00

16. Ogemaw County Historical Museum $6,406.00

17. Alpena Area Senior Citizens Council, Inc. $5,940.00

18. Northern Michigan Children’s Assessment Center $5,235.00

19. United Way of Northeast Michigan $5,047.00

20. CFNEM Community Impact Fund $5,017.30

21. All Saints Catholic School $4,620.00

22. Friends of Aplex Courts $4,615.00

23. Thunder Bay Theatre $4,540.00

24. Liberty’s Dream $4,210.00

25. Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan $4,195.00

Totals provided by the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan