The City of Hillsdale is competing with surrounding cities to raise money for breast cancer patients and research during October.
All money raised will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, which funds patient resources and cancer research. The other competitors include Clinton, Coldwater, and Marshall. Hillsdale citizens can donate through the Hillsdale community page on the foundation’s website.
“My hope is that we raise awareness for this cause and that our citizens continue to see how we give back to the communities that we serve,” said Paul Jakubczak, utility director for the Coldwater Board of Public Utilities..
According to a press release from the City of Coldwater, the winning community will receive the Pink Ribbon Award to recognize its contribution to breast cancer awareness.
Sam Fry, marketing and development coordinator for the City of Hillsdale, said the competition is meant to foster community among the members of the Michigan South Central Power Agency.
“At the end of the day, we’re all joining hands to help provide support, resources, and hope for the one in eight women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime,” he said.
The fundraiser is meant to celebrate public utilities and help people with breast cancer.
“With October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the first week of October being Public Power Week, it seems both fitting and proper that the City of Hillsdale, along with our municipal utility, do something to give back to the public,” Fry said.
Fry said the format is meant to bring the communities together.
“We’re all proud of our own cities and towns and this is a way to lean into that hometown pride and get people excited about getting involved,” he said. “Hillsdale is a very generous community, and this is a way for us to showcase that and channel it into a focused effort.”
Jakubczak said Coldwater is finding creative ways to raise money for the competition.
“We kicked off the challenge last week and are providing dedication ribbons for donations to our customers to be displayed in our lobby and at our recreation facility,” Jakubczak said. “Last Friday, we had an employee appreciation luncheon and rented a dunk tank to act as a fundraiser for this cause.”
Fry said the community response has been very positive so far.
“We’ve already had some local businesses step up and donate,” he said. “I think as we keep promoting this and getting the word out, hopefully more folks will want to take part in this, too.”
Jakubczak said the fundraiser is also an opportunity to help the members of the Michigan South Central Power Agency.
“We wanted to get other Public Power Utilities involved and figured what better way than a friendly challenge for a great cause,” he said. “CBPU is the largest of these four systems, and we felt that we could assist and mentor them through this to help them to get better engaged with their communities.”
Jakubczak said he wants the communities to join the public utilities organizations in helping the community.
“My hope is that we raise awareness for this cause and that our citizens continue to see how we give back to the communities that we serve,” he said. “Cancer has touched everyone’s lives in some way or another. If we can do something to help them then we have truly accomplished something.”
Fry encouraged Hillsdale citizens to donate if they are able.
“I think it’s great to see our cities and villages in this region coming together,” he said, “thinking of something outside the box like this friendly competition, and raising money for a worthy cause, and the public can certainly help us reach our goal.”