As MaineShare moves through the first half of each year, headquarters spends most of the first three months receiving pledge results, acknowledging donations, and planning for the next event or appeal. During the next three months, April through June, we work to reach individuals outside of the workplace in an effort to expand awareness about the tremendous impact that the organizations we represent have in Maine! This May, we connected with over 30,0000 Mainers!

In early June of each year, we distribute both workplace and direct contributions to member organizations, dive into a little professional development, and then immediately begin ramping up our Fall Appeal. And so, the wheel continues to turn.

This annual cycle - where staff are al ways peddling - is often spinning so fast that we need to stop, reflect on, and acknowledge the real impact that MaineShare donors have. Early July gives us that time.

MaineShare donors choose to support the environment, choose to support economic opportunity, choose to support education, diversity and the arts, choose to support safety and health, and choose to support social justice in Maine!

It also takes until about June for us to realize the depth of your generosity! As we round out the first half of this year, we want you to know that your dollars continue to have real impact. The total of gifts and pledges made in 2018 to MaineShare organizations was up 8 percent from the previous year!

As we turn our focus toward the fall, we know we can rely on the support of Maine's public organizations (federal, state, municipal), private businesses, and nonprofits to join us in this work. Our collective effort to support giving to Maine causes is a reflection of how committed to social responsibility we all are, year round. We recognize that our reach to those of you giving to the Fall Appeal is not possible without our year round workplace campaign coordinators and the commitment of your organization's leaders.

You understand that your contribution, no matter the size, results in meaningful change. Day to day, month to month, and year to year we hope for and can often see sustainable change for Maine.

Your help has impact and your giving has impact - as an economic opportunity, a cleaner bay, a more protected species, a protected natural area, an accessible pathway, a safe work environment, better food, a healthy family, cleaner air, a rainbow of diversity, and a more just world. The people, environment and animals of Maine deserve a sustainable future and your commitment to these causes makes all the difference.

MaineShare's 30th year of giving is just around the corner. In January of 2020 we will have raised and distributed over $5.5 Million - 10 times what we distributed in our 10th year.

Together, we are going to continue to have impact!