Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
LAURIUM (August 6, 2015) – A photo contest for the new Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital expansion resulted in contributions to three local charities. Pigs-N-Heat, Glitter in Gold and No Kid Without a Christmas each received $200 from contest entrants whose photos were selected as the top three.
The top three photographers – Jeremy Rowe and Amanda Harju, both of Calumet, and Claire Happala of Mohawk – were awarded $200 each to be donated to their charity of choice. Rowe, who submitted a shimmering Northern Lights night sky in the Keweenaw, chose the Copper Country Police and Fire Relief Fund, Inc. (Pigs-N-Heat), which supports families in need in Houghton and Keweenaw counties. Harju, who entered a black and white portrait of her daughter Elli wearing a fur hat, donated to Glitter in Gold. Glitter in Gold raises funds and awareness for childhood cancer. Haapala submitted a colorful winter sunset scene of people snowshoeing along Lake Superior. She contributed to Keweenaw County Sheriff Ron Lahti’s No Kid Without a Christmas program. No Kid Without a Christmas is a toy collection program for kids in need in the Keweenaw.
The photo contest was held in conjunction with Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital’s three-phase expansion and renovation project. Entrants could submit up to 10 best digital photographs that capture what makes the Keweenaw special in the following categories: landmarks, community events, people and nature. A committee of hospital design professionals reviewed more than 900 submissions, narrowing it down to 130 that will be placed throughout the new addition and renovated space.
During a July 21 ribbon cutting and open house to celebrate the completion of phase one construction; the community got a first-hand look at the photographs decorating the hospital’s all-new emergency department, intensive care unit and patient care rooms. Phase two of construction, which includes an expanded surgery center, is underway and will be completed by fall. Phase three includes enhanced lab/diagnostics and patient registration and will be completed early spring 2016.
This is the second time Aspirus has held a photo contest in the Keweenaw. The first took place at Aspirus Houghton Clinic and was a great success with more than 400 photo submissions. Of that total, 120 are displayed throughout the clinic.
