MAKING STRIDES

Legacy Publishing supplied a 33-member team with shirts for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on Oct. 17. Krista Viola, an employee of the company for the past seven years, learned about her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis and immediately rallied a team. In addition to the shirts, Legacy Publishing matched donations solicited by each employee.

FARM INITIATIVE DELIVERS

The Good Shepherd Food Bank has delivered more than 325,000 pounds of locally harvested fresh fruit and vegetables to food pantries and soup kitchens throughout Maine since June. This donation was made possible by the Maine Farm, Dairy and Seafood Initiative that the food bank started last fall.

HELP FIX ME

The Maine Animal Coalition donated $4,000 to the state’s Help Fix ME spay and neuter program. The program works with Maine’s veterinary community to spay and neuter cats and dogs in very low-income households. The objective of the program is to decrease Maine’s animal shelter intakes and the state’s pet euthanasia rate.

SEA DOGS PARKING FUNDRAISER

The McDonald’s restaurant on St. John Street donated $9,241 to the Ronald McDonald House of Portland from money raised during the Sea Dogs Parking Fundraiser. For the seventh year, the restaurant made 20 spaces available in the parking lot during Sea Dogs home games for attendees. Parking spaces are $10 apiece. The program has raised $34,000 for the Portland Ronald McDonald House.

LITERATURE & MEDICINE

The Maine Humanities Council received a $25,000 grant to support Literature & Medicine: Humanities at the Heart of Health Care in Maine hospitals. The program began in 1997 and has spread to 30 Maine hospitals and 25 other states. The program supports health care professionals by bringing them together in hospitals for monthly scholar-facilitated discussions of readings that illuminate issues central to their work. The grant comes from the Sewall Foundation, which will underwrite the cost of the program at 10 Maine hospitals and health care facilities.

FEED YOUR RADIO, FEED A FAMILY

For every donation made to the Maine Public Broadcasting Network during its fall membership drive, Maine Community Foundation donors will in turn donate enough money to the Good Shepherd Food Bank to feed a family of three for a week. Food will be distributed throughout the state.

MARSH MEMORIAL FUND

The Andrew C. Marsh Memorial Fund, created to establish educational scholarships and raise money toward cancer research and awareness, recently made a donation to Cheverus High School. The nonprofit memorial fund is in honor of Andrew Marsh, who died of melanoma in August 2009 at age 27. A golf tournament to sponsor the fund drew 240 people in August.

CANS FOR A CURE

Teaming up with WJBQ FM’s Cans for a Cure fundraising campaign, students and staff at Saint Joseph’s College raised $1,292 by selling T-shirts. The college’s Office of Student Life, student clubs, Campus Activities Board and Eco Reps were involved in the effort. Money raised was donated to the Maine Cancer Foundation and the Cancer Community Center.

RED STORM GIVES BACK

Members of the Scarborough girls’ varsity field hockey team have been using their athletic talent to benefit the community. The girls have dedicated four hours on six Saturdays to teach field hockey techniques to young children. Their instruction reaches girls from kindergarten through sixth grade.

CREW FOR THE CURE

Diversified Business Communications raised nearly $12,000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and helped bring the Race for a Cure to Portland. Motivated by matching contributions for the company, 51 employees and friends formed the Diversified Crew for the Cure team and became the largest corporate team and top fundraising team.

FASHION FLING

The York Hospital Fashion Fling raised $56,000 to help purchase a new MRI scanner for the hospital’s Breast Care Center. The event drew more than 600 guests and featured a silent auction with more than 100 donated items. The fashion show included styles from 11 area boutiques and featured 80 models.

BON APPETIT

Biddeford’s Bon Appetit Community Meal Program received $2,500 from Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution. Since its establishment in 1989 to provide holiday dinners to those in need, Bon Appetit has grown to a communitywide program that provides a hot, nutritious meal five nights a week throughout the year.

HOLIDAY FOOD BASKETS

Duffy’s Tavern & Grill has joined with the Holiday Food Basket program to help those in need for the holiday season in the Kennebunks. Each year, the Kennebunk Clergy Association and the town organize baskets for the holidays. This year, Duffy’s is involving patrons, asking guests to donate to the food basket program directly through the restaurant. The fundraiser will run through the end of November.