United Way of Mid Coast Maine’s 2022 fall campaign raised $1,569,095, or 95% of its goal, the organization announced at its finale celebration last week at Bowdoin College. Campaign Chair Mara Pennell said the campaign was marked with successes and “tremendous” volunteer and donor support.

2022 Outstanding Organizational Support Award winner L.L. Bean United Way of Mid Coast Maine campaign team: from left, Cindy Tucci, Kayla DeVito, Tara McCannell and Anne Morong. Photos contributed by United Way of Mid Coast Maine

“We are so, so close to the goal,” said Pennell, vice president of commercial lending for Bath Savings. “These are challenging times, and our community needs us. The campaign will continue. We are asking people throughout the Midcoast to help all of us — our family members, friends, colleagues, neighbors and community — by raising $100,000 by the end of the year. I know we can do it! I cannot wait to see what we can do when we put our community first!”

United Way’s annual fundraisers help Midcoast people in need with food, shelter, fuel assistance, health care, volunteer matches for isolated seniors, Big Brothers and Big Sisters for adolescents, home visiting for new parents, high-quality child care and much more. Thirty-six local agencies rely on United Way funding as well as initiatives such as 211 Maine, the Diaper Project, the CA$H Coalition and more.

2022 Volunteer of the Year Award winner Megan Smith-Pinkham from Bath Savings.

Approximately 80 community leaders and volunteers attended the event celebrating the fall campaign. Pennell and Board Chairperson Joel Merry thanked the volunteer Campaign Cabinet, loaned executives, Development Director Nicole Evans and the rest of the United Way staff who organized and led the campaign. In addition to Pennell, members of the Campaign Cabinet include: Bob and Barb McCue of Brunswick, Karianne Merry of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Cindy Tucci and Tara McCannell of L.L. Bean, Steve Bailey of the Maine School Management Association, Patrick Manuel of RSU 1, Karry Kane of Norway Savings Bank, Barbara Tuttle of Bath Savings, Kelly Creamer of LincolnHealth and Chris Szalay of SEARCH.

2022 Commerce & Industry Division Award Winner Woodex Bearing Company and MECO Seals representative Somchai Taesuwan.

Awards

• Campaign Excellence Award – Hannaford.

• Volunteer of the Year Award – Megan Smith-Pinkham of Bath Savings.

• Outstanding Organizational Support awards – L.L. Bean and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.

• Campaign Division Awards – Woodex Bearing Company and MECO Seals (Commerce & Industry Division), MSAD 75 Schools (Education Division), Wright-Pierce (Financial and Professional Firms Division), LincolnHealth (Health Care Division) and Coastal Kids Preschool in Damariscotta (Public Service Division).

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