For More Information:
Lisa Bird
Media Contact
(207) 974-4163
Lisa.bird@bangor.com
BANGOR, Maine – A food pantry, library, pet rescue, children’s museum and community band are among the grant recipients for the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation’s 2018 Community Matters More program.
The 11th annual grant program awarded $117,000 to 45 Maine and New Hampshire nonprofit organizations chosen by a public ballot voting process. More than 76,000 votes were submitted during the month of February for more than 3,400 unique nonprofits located in every Maine county and Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
The top two vote-getters, including write-ins, in nine regions of Maine and Rockingham County each received a $5,000 grant. Twenty-seven other organizations each received a $1,000 grant.
The 2018 Community Matters More $5,000 grant recipients are:
Androscoggin/Franklin/Oxford Counties
The Center for Wisdom’s Women, Lewiston
Tree Street Youth, Lewiston
Aroostook/Northern Penobscot/Piscataquis Counties
Houlton Performing Arts Center, Houlton
Natural Resource Education Center at Moosehead, Greenville
Cumberland County
Buddy Up Animal Society, Portland
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine, Portland
Hancock/Washington Counties
Families First Community Center, Ellsworth
Paws Brave Hearts, Calais
Kennebec/Somerset Counties
Children’s Discovery Museum, Augusta
Waterville Area Habitat for Humanity, Waterville
Knox/Lincoln/Sagadahoc/Waldo Counties
Jackson Food Pantry, Jackson
Knox County Meals on Wheels, Rockland
Southern Penobscot County
EMMC Champion the Cure Challenge, Bangor
Old Town Animal Orphanage, Old Town
York County
End 68 Hours of Hunger - Sacopee Valley, Cornish
Saco Food Pantry, Saco
Rockingham County, New Hampshire
HAVEN, Portsmouth
Veterans Count, Portsmouth
“Once again, community members rallied for their favorite local nonprofits to help them win a grant and support the role these organizations play in the community,” said Bangor Savings Bank President and CEO Bob Montgomery-Rice. “We look forward to seeing the impact that these Community Matters More grants have on the dozens of communities throughout Maine and Southern New Hampshire.”
Since 2007, Community Matters More has awarded $1,154,500 in grants to more than 475 different nonprofit organizations.
Nonprofits receiving Community Matters More $1,000 grants are:
Androscoggin/Franklin/Oxford Counties
Mahoosuc Land Trust, Bethel
Western Maine Community Action, Inc, East Wilton
Franklin County Animal Shelter, Farmington
Aroostook/Northern Penobscot/Piscataquis Counties
McGill’s Community Band, Houlton
Millinocket Regional Hospital Auxiliary, Millinocket
Halfway Home Pet Rescue, Caribou
Cumberland County
Community Financial Literacy, Portland
Freeport Community Services, Freeport
Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals, Windham
Hancock/Washington Counties
Peabody Memorial Library, Jonesport
We Care Community Baby Center, Machias
Community Closet, Ellsworth
Kennebec/Somerset Counties
Siesta Sanctuary, Harmony
The Ziemer Sisters Foundation, Gardiner
Somerset Humane Society, Skowhegan
Knox/Lincoln/Sagadahoc/Waldo Counties
Brooks Preservation Society, Brooks
Stockton Springs Community Library, Stockton Springs
Thompson Community Center, Union
Southern Penobscot County
Penobscot Theatre Company, Bangor
Some Theatre Company, Bangor
Neighbors Supporting Neighbors Food Pantry, Hermon
York County
Ogunquit Housing Inc., Ogunquit White Pine Programs, York Engine: Propelling the Creative Community, Biddeford
Rockingham County, New Hampshire
Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation, Portsmouth Richie McFarland Children’s Center, Stratham Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County, Derry
The Community Matters More program is a partnership of the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation, NEWSCENTER Maine, WGAN 560 Newsradio, and Blueberry Broadcasting. In addition to the grant money, the 36 nonprofits included on the ballot received substantial exposure about their missions.