United Way of Greater Portland kicks off its 2017 campaign and breaks its own record for Cumberland County’s largest one-day food drive.
On September 15, Greater Portland delivered enough food for 16,428 meals and set another new record for Cumberland County’s largest one-day food drive. United Way of Greater Portland kicked off its 2017 Campaign with the second annual United We CAN event in Monument Square, featuring can sculptures built by twelve teams: Burnham & Morrill Company, Hannaford Supermarkets, IDEXX, Infinity Federal Credit Union, L.L.Bean, MaineHealth, Martin’s Point Healthcare, ServPro, United Way of Greater Portland/John T. Gorman Foundation, Unum, Verrill Dana, and WEX. Hundreds turned out to view the food sculptures and attend a rally to kick off annual fundraising effort.
The food from the twelve can sculptures, plus another 600 lbs.of food from other event attendees, was donated to
Wayside Food Programs–one of United Way of Greater Portland’s Funded Community Partners–to be distributed to food pantries throughout Cumberland County. “United Way of Greater Portland works to achieve community-wide change by improving the building blocks of a good life – Education, Financial Stability, and Health – for all in Greater Portland. Today we’re focused on access to food because it’s fundamental to our ability to thrive in these focus areas,” said Ann Dalton, Board Chair of United Way of Greater Portland.
With the help of seven judges and a vote from event attendees, a total of four awards were given to three sculpture teams.
- Most Nutritious Let’s Go! Award: Hannaford Supermarkets
- Community Choice Award: Hannaford Supermarkets
- Most on Brand: L.L.Bean
- Best in Show: Unum
At the event, 2017 Campaign Chair and President and Managing Principal at BerryDunn, John Chandler, announced a $8,050,000 goal for this year’s community fundraising campaign with the help of ten Loaned Executives. The Loaned Executives from Gorham Savings Bank, Hannaford, L.L.Bean, MaineHealth, Maine Medical Center, MEMIC, Unum, and WEX work with United Way for nine weeks to help execute the campaign. In addition, Chandler announced that the John T. Gorman Foundation is matching all new and increased leadership contributions ($1,000+) to United Way of Greater Portland, up to a total of $150,000.
United We Thrive from United Way of Greater Portland on Vimeo.
News Coverage:
WMTW-TV 8 – Cans for a cause: United Way fighting food insecurity in Maine
Portland Press Herald – Portland sculpture event makes art of food donations
The Forecaster – Portland event kicks hunger in the can