United Way of Mid Coast Maine presented a Community Builder Award to Damariscotta Bank & Trust Company for wide-ranging support of local people and nonprofits at its annual meeting.
“Damariscotta Bank & Trust donates money and resources to many organizations such as YMCAs, Rotary and Lions clubs, food banks, libraries, hospitals, and schools,” said United Way Executive Director Barbara Reinertsen.
“Employees volunteer time to help out in many different ways, participating in fundraising walks for breast cancer awareness and to support diabetes research. They serve on nonprofit boards and committees, including United Way’s Campaign Cabinet and Success By 6. Employees support United Way. They also contribute to a dress-down fund, which is used to give help when a family is facing a tragedy, and to purchase meals for families in need. Damariscotta Bank and Trust supports many community events, and you can see its employees in the thick of activities such as the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest, the Pemaquid Oyster Festival and the Pirate Rendezvous,” Reinertsen said. “We are proud to give United Way’s Community Builder Award to Damariscotta Bank and Trust.”
Heidi Shott, of Newcastle, canon for communications and social justice at the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, was elected to United Way’s board of directors. She currently serves on United Way’s Basic Needs/Safety Net Council. Also elected or re-elected to the board were Rick Bohan, of L.L. Bean, and Dodie Jones, of Brunswick.
Connie Jones, of Boothbay Harbor and Boothbay Region Senior Services, was elected as second vice chair of the board. She serves on United Way’s board, nominating committee, and campaign cabinet. George Reichert, of The Times Record, was elected as chair of the board, Police Chief Mike Field as first vice chair, and Matt Orlando, comptroller of Bowdoin College, was elected treasurer.
The annual meeting focused on “first steps” and children. “Taking the first step to learn takes courage if you’re an adult who has never learned to read very well,” said current United Way Board Chair Dennis Unger. “Taking steps toward independence can be hard if you are in economic crisis, elderly, or disabled.”
“With United Way, we can all help each other take the first step toward a better life.”
Keynote speaker Claire Berkowitz, executive director of the Maine Children’s Alliance and Bath resident, gave up-to-date information on the number of Maine children who live in poverty, are in state custody, or have experienced abuse or neglect.
“Children exposed to violence, abuse, neglect, or extreme poverty can have lifelong difficulties with key developmental indicators for school readiness: learning, memory, and self-regulation,” said Berkowitz.
“A strong foundation in the early years is what drives positive outcomes later. We know that children’s brains are literally being built in the early years, and it is stable, consistent relationships with caring adults in their families and communities that are the building materials,” she said.
United Way initiatives highlighted at the meeting include a successful volunteer drive to recruit hundreds of readers, tutors, and mentors for youth, a major symposium entitled Communities in Action: Improving Children’s Mental Health, held at Bowdoin College, and a planned home visiting initiative to greatly scale up outreach and support to new parents.
Berkowitz said that home visitors “work in partnership with expectant parents and parents of babies and toddlers to ensure safe home environments, promote healthy growth and development, and provide key connections for families to needed services in their community.”
Reinertsen, the executive director, gave examples of local people of all ages whose lives were improved thanks to United Way-funded programs. “We are so proud of all of our excellent partner agencies, whose staff and volunteers provide such good care for our families, co-workers, friends and neighbors, every day of the year,” she said.
Maria Hinteregger, United Way’s associate director of community impact, was thanked and honored for her 15 years of service to United Way.
In his closing remarks, Reichert, the incoming board chair, said he was excited about the impact United Way’s work could have on the Midcoast’s young children, including the grandchild he is expecting any day. “United Way includes everybody,” he said. “We welcome everyone to continue to be part of making Midcoast Maine an even better place to live, and to create the absolutely best childhood for our children.”
United Way of Mid Coast Maine’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. In partnership with thousands of donors, United Way works on community solutions in the areas of education, financial stability, and health. It funds local programs that change thousands of lives in Lincoln and Sagadahoc Counties, Brunswick, and Harpswell.
