HELPING KIDS GO TO SUMMER CAMP

The “Walk for Camp” fundraising program included three walks during May to help raise funds to reach the agency’s goal of $50,000 to send 160 children to overnight summer camp. The event was sponsored by the Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers. Two walks held May 20 raised $9,739 and the third walk held May 13 raised $2,500. The agency’s scholarships have been providing Maine children with a brighter outlook on the future since 1967. This year, every $250 raised will send a child to camp for one week. In addition to the walks, there will be a Seafood and Meat Raffle at 5 p.m. Monday, June 28, at the Calumet Club in Augusta. For more information or to donate, call 872-0261.

Additional Photos

Casco Bay Ford raised more than $2,000 for Yarmouth High School through the Drive One 4 UR School program. Courtesy photo

Associates from Keller Williams pose at a Habitat for Humanity project while participating in the second annual Renew, Energize and Donate Day. More than 80 associates donated their time, labor and money, raising $2,400 for the cause. Courtesy photo

Maine Credit Unions gave $17,000 to be divided among food pantries to highlight the issue of hunger in Maine, in particular the needs of schoolchildren through summer. Courtesy photo

Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution donated $5,000 toward an electronic message board to keep Old Orchard Beach High School students abreast of school activities and events. Courtesy photo

BANK WORKERS GET NEIGHBORLY

On May 25, Key Bank closed its doors at noon to work on community projects for Key’s 20th annual Neighbors Make the Difference Day. Employees worked at more than 50 community organizations in the Portland area, helping as needed. Nationwide, nearly 8,000 employees were expected to donate 32,000 volunteer hours on Neighbors Make the Difference Day.

A DAY’S PROFITS DONATED

East Restaurant donated its profits made on Wednesday, June 2, to the Wells Rotary Club. The club will dedicate the proceeds to fund community projects. Ri Teng Li, restaurant owner, has been named “Honorary Rotarian” because of his consistent financial contributions to the community, such as the Wells-Ogunquit Senior Center and Wells High School Scholarship Fund. Li announced this donation in appreciation of his recognition.

TEST DRIVES BENEFIT HIGH SCHOOL

Casco Bay Ford and Ford Motor Company partnered to help raise money in support of Yarmouth High School as part of Ford’s Drive One 4 UR School program. Community members helped raise $2,200 for the high school by test driving a Ford vehicle. For each person who came from a unique household, Ford and Casco Bay Ford donated $20. The funds will help curriculum enrichment programs at the school.

MANY HANDS FOR HABITAT

Keller Williams Associates participated in the second annual RED Day by swinging hammers, cutting siding and collecting food and clothing. RED Day, which stands for Renew, Energize and Donate, had more than 80 associates volunteering their time to help Habitat of Humanity of Greater Portland begin the finishing process of three homes in Westbrook and collect items for the organization’s RE Store. They raised $2,400 for Habitat for Humanity and made significant progress on the homes.

CREDIT UNIONS TACKLE HUNGER

The Maine Credit Unions Campaign for Ending Hunger presented $17,000 to 33 hunger organizations throughout the state. The campaign helps bring awareness to the issue of hunger in Maine, and the acute need for food for Maine’s 65,000 schoolchildren during summer vacation.

GOLFERS TEE OFF FOR CAUSES

Associated Grocers of Maine and its Shurfine independent grocery stores held the 14th annual Shurfine Charity Golf Classic on June 1 at Natanis Golf Club. More than 180 golfers participated in the event. Over the previous 13 years, the event has raised more than $850,000 for the Maine National Guard Foundation Fund, The Ronald McDonald House of Bangor and Portland and Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine.

‘A WICKED GOOD YAHD SALE’

The staff at Gray Physical Therapy Center along with friends and family transformed the parking lot at their 6 Turnpike Acres location for a Wicked Good Yahd Sale. The event was a benefit for the Libby Hill Forest Trail System in Gray and raised $450 for the organization’s capital campaign. The group has now raised more than $150,000 for the project and is within $9,000 of its goal.

LIONS HELP FOOD CUPBOARD

The Thornton Heights Lions Club of South Portland recently donated $1,000 to The Food Cupboard, helping them distribute food to those in need. The club raises money primarily working the bingo hall at Lamson’s Entertainment Center on Friday nights. President Judy Carpenter presides over this small but very active club, with meetings on the first and third Thursdays of the month at IHOP.

GRANT GIVEN TO SCIENCE SCHOOL

Time Warner Cable announced it will be awarding a three-year grant of $100,000 to Coastal Studies for Girls in Freeport. The award will fund science programming and equipment and will be used as a challenge grant to launch a scholarship fund. Coastal Studies for Girls is a residential science and leadership semester school.

GIFTS FOR NEW COAST GUARD FOLKS

Rockland Coast Guard City held a charity event that involved contacting local businesses for gift cards and gifts that would be placed in L.L. Bean canvas totes and given to the approximately 12 families and eight personnel who are new to the Coast Guard. The totes contained maple syrup, jam, soap, Down East Magazine, as well as other gifts from local businesses. Local donors included Rockland Cafe, Down East Magazine, Lowes, Seaside Soap and Candle and the Maine Lighthouse Museum.

CHALLENGE GRANT MET

Hundreds of donors across the state have helped Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth meet a $500,000 fund-raising challenge presented late last year. In December 2009, an anonymous donor pledged a $500,000 gift in the form of a challenge grant. More than 25 percent of the donors to the challenge were first-time contributors to the hospital.

SPRUCING UP THE FARM

Two local businesses in Woolwich joined forces to pave the entryway and repaint the exterior trim of the Morris Farm. Quonset Hardscape and Wicked Picky Dirtsworks donated their time and resources to the Morris Farm because of the important impact the farm has had on the local community. Each year hundreds of schoolchildren visit the Morris Farm to learn about sustainable agriculture and stewardship of the Earth.

OOB MESSAGE BOARD

Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution is leading a fund-raising effort that hopes to provide a new electronic message board for Old Orchard Beach High School students when they return this fall. The message board will cost $10,000 and Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution have already pledged $5,000 toward that cost. The new message board will list school activities and community events.

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