 |
Give to Causes You Care About. The Choice is Yours.
Donate Today!
|
|
Setting a new pace in 2018!
|
|
Community Minded
Maine people are
truly
generous
!
This has been made evident over the decades. Now, as we see 2017 year-end giving carrying well into the new year, it is proven that this generosity has helped MaineShare nonprofits
not only create solutions and sustainable changes, but also helped them
begin 2018 with a boost to their new cycle of environmental and social driven missions.
Five Million Dollar Mark
MaineShare donors are also among the most dedicated, consistent, and committed champions of social and environmental change. In 2018, we are thrilled to report that since our first campaign in 1990, your generosity has reached $5,007,000 distributed to our growing community of Maine nonprofits!
These dollars have
gone to work to ensure a better Maine - for all of us. Each year direct and pledged contributions - from a few dollars each paycheck, to steady monthly MaineStay commitments -really add up.
And,
at the end of each year, the additional one-time gifts that MaineShare receives from workplace campaigns are added directly to the total distributed to 44 Member Groups each January.
There is no gift too small and each gift has impact.
We know the options that Maineshare provides make it easy for everyone to be part of this change. Not only are we happy to see more people beginning to participate, but we are sure that giving and being connected to the organizations that donors support results in greater impact and awareness on many fronts.
Stepping up the Pace
We are also very excited with initial responses to our 5-year Momentum Campaign. This fall, response exceeded expectations to help MaineShare build resources needed to expand new outreach initiatives and fundraising efforts in 2018.
In this newsletter, you will see highlights of some of these upcoming initiatives:
- The MaineShare March Workshop will connect member groups with one another to update and consider fresh perspectives and proven strategies in their ongoing work for the Environment, Education, Diversity and the Arts, Economic Development, Health and Safety, and Social Justice.
- Workplace Partnership Stewardship and Expansion - Well designed corporate social responsibility programs have broad benefits.
- In May we will push a new single-day campaign, #theSpringShare, in collaboration with member groups in order to strengthen member group outreach, raise greater awareness,
and boost 2018 funding for all 44 organizations we support.
|
March Workshops for Member Group Organizations
On March 8th, MaineShare will help facilitate the first annual March Workshop day at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Middle Street in Brunswick.
Based on last year's feedback from a number of member groups requesting an opportunity to gather to share proven approaches and fresh perspectives on positive change in Maine, this year's general focus will support participants in joining forces for collective impact.
Member group leadership and staff are now being invited to participate on panel and round table discussions. A full schedule will be sent out and posted on our website on the 14th of February for registration. All inquiries can be directed to
giving@maineshare.org.
|
New Workplace Partnerships
Did you know? According to
Project ROI, well-designed corporate social responsibility programs can have broad benefits.
Engaged employees and community impact are a priority to most medium and large businesses and
MaineShare's existing workplace partners are aware of its value. Workplaces in Maine that offer choices in giving, creative incentives, and volunteering options see higher level of employee engagement, retention, and commitment to the community around them.
Our current partners in Maine - educational, medical and municipal institutions, and for-profit business across the state realize this philanthropic impact.
As we move into the first full year of our Momentum Campaign, MaineShare hopes to add 20 new business partners and to work more closely with our current partners to increase engagement and participation. We are eager to provide creative reach and solutions for this employee engagement and look forward to reporting back soon about new partnerships for the 2018 campaign season.
If you would like to recommend an organization, of any size, which might be interested in adding MaineShare to their employee community engagement plan or annual giving campaign,
please contact us at giving@maineshare.org for next steps or go to www.maineshare.org/businesspartnerships for more information.
|
Save the Date!
This spring, MaineShare will host its first annual day of giving - #theSpringShare - on May 18th, 2018. This event, based on a model run by several of our peer community shares across the country, will expand community awareness and support of MaineShare member groups with a full-on multimedia driven push. The days before will feature a series of series of "power hour" events (coffee hour, lunchtime meetings, coctail, and happy hours) - led by key MaineShare advocates and "supersupporters" in Portland, Brunswick/Topsham, Auburn/Lewiston, and Bangor. We encourage you to follow #maineshare and #thespringshare to keep up with and support this upcoming initiative! We are also seeking "supersupporters" as media mavens, volunteers and sponsores to join us in this push! More to come!
|
New Year's Day Minimum Wage Hike Boosts Income for 59,000 Mainers
- Jody Harris, Associate Director, Maine Center for Economic Policy
On January 1, 2018, roughly 59,000 Mainers saw their wages grow to $10 per hour as a $1 hourly increase in the minimum wage went into effect.
In November 2015, voters approved the state's minimum wage to gradually increase to $12 per hour by 2020, giving one in three Maine workers a raise when all is said and done.
New Year's Day marked the second increase since voters raised the wage. Maine's minimum wage increased from $7.50 to $9.00 per hour on January 1, 2016.
The 59,000 Mainers receiving a direct raise in the new year represent roughly one out of every 10 workers in the state
. It makes for a roughly $1,349 annual pay increase for each minimum wage worker in the state.
The minimum wage increase will provide direct economic relief to Mainers at the bottom of the income distribution scale. However, its benefits aren't limited to those who earn the minimum wage. Other low-income Mainers will see their salaries increase as a result of the well-documented "spillover effect," in which employers raise salaries for other workers as pay scales are adjusted to reflect the new wage floor set at the state level.
MECEP research
shows that raising the minimum wage doesn't just provide greater economic security for Maine workers; It boosts Maine's economy as well. The new year's increase will provide families with additional means to buy groceries, pay for their children's health care, and spend at local businesses.
|
|
|
|
|
Holocaust and Human Rights Center
Each year, the HHRC reaches over 4,000 teachers and students with free outreach programs about civil rights, civil discourse, the Holocaust, and more.
Though the fundraiser is sold out, be sure to take some time to see this upcoming exhibit in Augusta Maine.
Deborah McCullough - Along the Migrant Trails:
January 16th - May 30th, 2018 |
Michael Klahr Center Atrium
This exhibit documents the 'Decade of Death' on the Arizona/Mexico Border
Along the Migrant Trails with an exhibition of items left behind by migrants traveling north along Arizona/Mexico desert trails, collected by Deborah McCullough, artist and member of the Tucson Samaritans humanitarian aid group. These mundane artifacts and the stories, art, photographs, and maps that contextualize them help to shed light on the harsh realities of migration along the United States' southwestern border.
Along the Migrant Trails is presented as a partnership between the HHRC, the Wilson Center at UMaine, the Tucson Samaritans, and especially Sara Lowden and Deborah McCullough.
|
|
WERU is hosting "Love Stories by Mainers" on Valentines Day!
Bucksport's Wednesday on Main and WERU Community Radio present an evening of storytellers sharing "Love Stories by Mainers," at the Alamo Theatre in Bucksport on Wednesday, February 14, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Feel the love!
According to WERU staff "Halfway through winter means longer days, dreams of spring, and of course, Valentine's Day. Having paid our dues for surviving the season so far, we're all ready for some LOVE, and we'vegot just the thing. Join or Listen in on a Wednesday night of storytelling - laughter, tears, horror and more when these gifted tellers of tales share Love Stories by Mainers.This event may not be kid friendly, so grownups only!"
Suggested donations of $10 gratefully accepted at the door-show your LOVE because half of the donations go to WERU Community Radio!
|
|
Power for the People on February 14, 10:00 a.m.
Power for the People is a call-in public affairs program designed to help Mainer's take control of their energy future. Host Steve Kahl's guests on Wednesday, February 14 at 10-11 a.m. will be Michael Stoddard, the director of Efficiency Maine, and Paul Shepherd of Penobscot Home Performance in Bucksport.
This is a
Valentines gift to listeners because Efficiency Maine is THE go-to state agency for energy information and most importantly, for energy rebates for equipment to reduce your energy costs; equipment such as heat pumps and high efficiency water heaters. Paul Shepherd will add the practical insight into the homeowner experience with Efficiency Maine.
Join them Wednesday at 10:00 am with questions about money-saving energy efficiency options and the rebates available from Efficiency Maine!
|
MaineShare supports the Maine Peace Fund
The Maine Peace Fund provides a broad understanding of security based on nonviolent conflict resolution, social justice, sustainable environmental policy, and conversion from a military to a peacetime economy.
The Maine Peace Fund is a non-profit, non-partisan corporation devoted to educating Maine citizens about the need and opportunities for weapons reduction; pursuing non-violent conflict resolution and possibilities for international peacekeeping structures; broadening our understanding of security to include a healthy economy, environment and people, and changing national priorities to meet these needs; and enabling the process of economic conversion to assist the transition from a military to a peacetime economy.
|
M
aine Labor Group on Health
The Maine Labor Group on Health was founded in 1977 by trade unionists concerned with workplace health and safety issues and with other health care issues such as the cost of health insurance. Its mission is to educate Maine's working people about health and safety in the workplace and to function as a statewide advocate for working people within the health care system. In February and March, the Maine Labor Group on Health will be hosting the following trainings:
- OSHA 8-Hour Hazwoper Refresher Training - 8 am to 4 pm, February 16. Auburn Maine.
- NSC Certified First Aid & CPR w/AED - 8 am to 12:30 pm, February 23. Augusta, Maine.
- NSC Certified First Aid & CPR w/AED - 8 am to 12:30 pm, March 30. Augusta, Maine.
- OSHA 40-Hour Initial Hazwoper Course - Daily 8 am to 4 pm, March 12 - 17. Winthrop, Maine.
To inquire and register for classes, call 207-622-7823, or send an email to
mlgh@gwi.net.
|
Maine Access Immigrant Network
Maine Access Immigrant Network (MAIN) bridges access to
health and social services for immigrants and refugees in Portland Maine. They work to build a stronger multicultural community in Portland, and to address refugee health literacy, health care enrollment, and coordination of health care benefits and non-clinical care. MAIN provides resource and referral information that is culturally and linguistically appropriate in English, Arabic, Somali, and French to ensure equal access to programs and services for new Mainers from Africa and Middle East. MAIN hosts monthly Healthy You workshops that are about chronic disease and preventative health education. They invite community to take part in these educational workshops, taught by qualified health professionals. The presentations are translated into French, Somali and Arabic by MAIN Community Health Outreach Workers.
Telephone:(207) 552-1800 E-mail: info@main1.org
|
MOFGA accepting applications for
Organic Farmer Loan Fund
MOFGA is accepting applications until March 30 for the spring 2018 funding cycle of its organic farmer loan fund. This fund is intended particularly to help organic farmers working on establishing a credit history for their farms. Loans in the range of $2,000 to $20,000 are available to MOFGA-certified organic farmers and farmers exempt from certification under the NOP rules; farmers interested in transitioning to organic management; and current participants in, or graduates of, MOFGA's Journeyperson Program. The fund will provide loans to small and medium-sized businesses seeking to expand or enhance their farm or processing operations through business planning, marketing, aggregation or other business enhancement.
Funds may also be used for working capital or equipment purchases. Interest rates will be determined by Bangor Savings Bank at the time of loan application.
|
Maine Federation of Humane Societies is a statewide network of companion animal welfare organizations working to support animal shelters to promote the adoption of homeless animals and responsible pet ownership, and to end pet overpopulation through education, outreach, and advocacy.
Founded in 1953 and incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1980, they are Humane Society Executive Directors, Animal Welfare Facility Managers, Shelter Board Members and private citizens from throughout the state advocating and working for animal welfare. http://mefed.org/contact/
|
If you are a MaineShare supported organization, workplace partner, or supporter, please feel free to send suggestions for inclusion in our upcoming newsletters to giving@maineshare.org. We look forward to hearing about and featuring your stories!
|
|
|
|
|
