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What is this group called WISE?
For many years, the Lioness Club’s main fundraiser was the fish cake buffet dinner on the Wednesday before Fisherman’s Picnic. Approximately 10 years ago, they started including a silent auction with the dinner, featuring items from members and local businesses. The auction gradually increased the organization’s funds.
In March of 2019 the Lioness Club morphed into WISE, an independent service organization. We were able to hold one in-person auction that summer with the buffet, and then the pandemic hit the following spring.
In 2020, we had no buffet because of the pandemic, and members were asked to donate funds in order to maintain our education grants, scholarships, and community donations. When it didn’t look like we’d have enough to cover all our obligations, we decided to try an online auction. Businesses in the community had been strapped by the pandemic, so we didn’t ask them for donations. Our members stepped forward again, offering services, art, merchandise, apparel, food, and gift certificates they purchased from local businesses. The auction raised over $6000, and WISE was able to not only meet its obligations, but increase their donations through education grants and scholarships.
It’s 2021, and this year many businesses are donating to the auction, as well as local non-profit organizations (the Grand Marais Art Colony, the Grand Marais Playhouse, Cook County Whole Foods Coop to name just a few). Of course, every member of WISE contributes something to the auction as well.
The auction will be held online from November 6th through the 14th. You’ll find home food, gift certificates and much more. Go to www.wisenorth.org to check out the goodies and place your bids. 100% of the proceeds go to scholarships for graduating seniors and adults seeking higher education, Cook County teachers for student enrichment, and local non-profit.
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