State of the Foundation with Kevin Store

The Copper Shores Podcast is BACK! With a new name and a great new soundtrack thanks to Ontonagon-native Noah Lukkari! Our first episode back - episode No. 70 overall - is actually a special insert episode thanks to our friends at Copper Country Today. We’re calling it our “State of the Foundation” podcast where we hear a little bit about nearly everything happening here at Copper Shores.  Oh - and don't forget this Sunday is our second annual Copper Shores Community-Wide Picnic! Learn about the event at coppershores.org/picnic. Todd VanDyke of Cooper Country Today interviewed Copper Shores Community Health Foundation CEO/ President Kevin Store on the recent changes at Copper Shores and how it’s going to positively influence the community. One of the first steps in helping the community was rebranding after a double acquisition. “We’ve contemplated the name change for some time now. We've talked a lot about a name that would be a little bit more inclusive and more representative of the region we serve,” said Store.  Knowing the acquisitions would serve as a good catalyst for a rebrand, Copper Shores moved forward with something that ties all of our communities together. With three great organizations coming together, Copper Shores is better equipped to serve Copper Country residents by cleaning up and expanding upon already established services. The foundation is uniquely equipped to both provide funding to other organizations, as well as provide services directly to community members. “About 2.5 to 3% of foundations in the country will function as what is referred to as an operating foundation, as opposed to a non operating funding foundation,” said Store. “We have become a bit of a hybrid.” After lengthy discussion with Rebecca Crane, former Executive Director of Dial Help and current Senior Director of Programming, Store and others felt that they could do more for the community together by creating some efficiencies in scale, lowering some administrative costs, and amplifying some of the services that are offered. “We may not know that they're in our circle,” said VanDyke, “Many of us would be surprised to find out what goes on with some of our friends and neighbors.” There are many people in the community who are in need of a variety of mental health and well-being resources, and Copper Shores aims to be the organization that the community can trust and fall back on in hard times. In order to better provide the community with these essential services, Copper Shores is moving forward with their Wellness Campus.  “How do we make sure that if somebody  shows up at the door, we can walk hand in hand with them on that path of whatever healing that they need,” said Store, “And either find the resources for them, help them connect with other agencies, and/or provide that service directly.” The feedback from community members has been overwhelmingly positive. Though it took some time to comb through the data, Copper Shores is excited to begin the planning stages of the Wellness Campus.