OLD ORCHARD BEACH

Volunteers sought to help with food pantry programs

The Old Orchard Beach Food Pantry is seeking volunteers to help with its programs.

Needed are individuals who are willing to help four to five hours per week with some lifting, as well as someone to manage the organization’s Facebook account.

The facility at 155 Saco Ave. is open from 2 to 7 p.m. Mondays and from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For more details, call 937-8094 or email oobcfp@gmail.com.

BIDDEFORD

Southern Maine Health Care volunteer honored for efforts

Julie Chapman of Sanford recently was recognized with the prestigious Lauren Shulman Volunteer of the Year award at the annual Charles and Virginia Allard volunteer luncheon at Southern Maine Health Care. The event was held to thank the hospital’s volunteers for contributing more than 33,000 hours in 2016.

Chapman volunteers at the front desk at SMHC’s Sanford Medical Center. This nomination-based honor is given to a group or individual who best exemplifies “the volunteer spirit,” with enthusiasm and support for the organization, as well as dependability and contributions of time and energy.

Student recognized for essay on global financial markets

Biddeford Regional Center of Technology senior Austin Dutremble is the first-place Maine state winner of the SIFMA Foundation’s InvestWrite competition for an essay he submitted analyzing global financial markets.

The program challenges thousands of students across the country to consider an investing scenario and make recommendations that incorporate short- and long-term investment goals.

“Austin Dutremble’s rigorous analysis and remarkable essay earned him the SIFMA Foundation’s ‘InvestWrite Genius’ title this semester,” said Melanie Mortimer, president of the SIFMA Foundation.

“We commend Austin and his teacher, Ken Crepeau, for this achievement. Helping students better understand our economy, our markets, the role of investors, and how to make good investments will pay dividends for the students, their education and the economy.”

InvestWrite serves as a culminating activity for 600,000 fourth- through 12th-graders nationwide, who compete each year in the SIFMA Foundation’s Stock Market Game, an online simulation of global capital markets that reinforces STEM learning, 21st-century skills, economics, investing and personal finance. STEM learning involves science, technology, engineering and math.

Dutremble was among 20,000 students participating this year in the InvestWrite challenge, which bridges classroom learning in mathematics, social studies and language arts with the practical research and knowledge required for long-term personal financial planning.

His essay described the strategy he used to select his Stock Market Game classroom portfolio and also to analyze and suggest stocks based on the “blended” approach favored by investment guru Peter Lynch.

The recommendation needed to include a stock, bond or mutual fund that would make a good long-term investment. The essay required Dutremble to describe the technical or fundamental analysis he used to make his recommendation.

OXFORD

High schooler helps raise $5,560 in fight against cancer

Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School senior Bailey Wood recently oversaw a multifaceted project that helped raise $5,560 to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign.

Wood, who has loved ones living with a cancer diagnosis, made the effort as part of her senior project.

She organized an event at Oxford Plains Dragway, selling advance tickets for opening night.

She also managed its first big rig drags and got sponsors for T-shirts that were sold at the event. Basket raffles, 50/50 raffles and bake sale items also were included. Wood set up an American Cancer Society information table at the event.

Wood’s efforts started in 2016, when she had her truck painted pink and wrote special messages on it in support of those battling breast cancer. The positive feedback led her to do more to support awareness and raise funds to eradicate the disease.

PORTLAND

Gala nets $80,000 for groups that pair veterans, service dogs

The Planet Dog Foundation said its inaugural Planet Dog Ball, held April 8 at the Westin Portland Harborview, has raised more than $80,000 for veterans’ service-dog programs.

More than 150 patrons, 20 canine companions and 11 sponsors supported the dog-friendly gala. The funds will benefit two nonprofits that provide service dogs to veterans free of charge: national group America’s VetDogs and Maine-based K9s on the Front Line.

Copy the Story Link