An example of this occurred on Wednesday, when all four Contrast Coffee locations — Marquette, Iron Mountain, Iron River and Ironwood — participated in the Superior Health Foundation’s Painting the Peninsula Pink fundraiser by donating 100% of the day’s net profits to the nonprofit organization’s Breast Health Fund.

“It’s a cause almost everyone is touched by in one way or another and it’s something that is very near and dear to a lot of people actually work here,” said Sarah Tuggle, a barista and community relations intern at Contrast Coffee’s Marquette location who helped orchestrate the fundraising day. “So it was very special for us to be able to help such a well-known fundraiser in the U.P.”

Furthermore, Tuggle said the business is glad to be “raising money for breast cancer awareness and research,” at all of the Contrast Coffee locations in the U.P., especially knowing that “all of the money we are raising and donating for the breast health fund stays in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.”

At the shop’s location along Third Street in Marquette — which was adorned with pink decorations in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month — staff saw many customers come in specifically because of the fundraiser, Tuggle said.

From left, Mandy Anglen, the general manager at Contrast Coffee in Marquette, and Sarah Tuggle, a barista and community relations intern at Contrast Coffee's Marquette location, smile as they wear pink shirts during the coffee shop’s fundraising efforts for the Superior Health Foundation Breast Health Fund on Wednesday. All four Contrast Coffee locations — Marquette, Iron Mountain, Iron River and Ironwood — donated 100% of Wednesday’s profits to the Superior Health Foundation’s Breast Health Fund as part of the foundation’s month long Paint the Peninsula Pink fundraiser.

“It makes me so happy when people come in and say that they’re here just because we’re hosting this,” she said. “It’s been great so far.”

Painting the Peninsula Pink is a monthlong fundraiser for SHF’s Breast Health Fund that goes on throughout the month of October, organizers said.

The fund supports men and women across the Upper Peninsula with out-of-pocket expenses that aren’t covered by insurance, with all funds raised staying in the Upper Peninsula to help Yoopers, SHF Executive Director Jim LaJoie said.

“The Superior Health Foundation is both honored and elated to be the recipient of dollars raised during Contrast Coffee’s 906 Day,” said LaJoie, adding that Painting the Peninsula Pink is proudly presented by Shamco, Inc. in Iron River. “A number of businesses across the Upper Peninsula have joined SHF in our efforts to raise money for this invaluable fund. We are so thankful to Contrast Coffee for going the extra mile and offering us 100% of the net profits from this day. It’s absolutely incredible.”

So far, the fund has provided financial support for over three dozen men and women in the U.P., he said, noting the monthly fundraiser is a mechanism for SHF to replenish the fund and ensure monies are available in 2020 and beyond.

LaJoie said the goal for the month is to raise more than $20,000.

“We’re well on our way to reaching and surpassing that goal,” LaJoie said. “We couldn’t do it without the fantastic support of so many people and businesses across the Upper Peninsula.”

The fundraiser held on Wednesday was the second 906 Day fundraiser held by Contrast Coffee this year, as the Marquette location hosted a 906 Day in the spring in support of the 906 Adventure Team.

“It was really successful and went over really well, so we wanted to try and do something every three months or so to give back to the communities we are in,” Tuggle said, noting the business was glad to include all of its locations in the fundraiser for the SHF Breast Fund.

Helping to organize the 906 Day fundraisers has also given Tuggle — a Northern Michigan University student majoring in public relations who will graduate in December — a chance to get real-world experience in her field while supporting local organizations, said Mandy Anglen, general manager at the Contrast Coffee Marquette location.

“It’s been really neat for Contrast to create a space for our students to not only be a really good barista and employee but also focus on their future career in public relations and get all of that experience while working here,” Anglen said.

Overall, Anglen said: “Coffee is community and Contrast is excited to be able to give back.”

To learn more about the Superior Health Foundation, visit superiorhealthfoundation.org. For more information about Contrast Coffee and its locations in Marquette, Iron Mountain, Iron River and Ironwood, visit contrastcoffee.com, or visit its Facebook page.

Cecilia Brown can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248.