(Portland, ME – August 16, 2021) United Way of Southern Maine (UWSM) announced its Greater Portland Fiscal Year 2022 community investments of $6,595,877.
UWSM has awarded $3,940,854 in strategic investment grants to 56 community programs at 38 nonprofits in Greater Portland, including 9 new programs. Included in the total are $276,000 of member-directed investments through United Way’s own giving circles, Brick & Beam Society and Women United.
These grants reflect strategic investments in our community’s shared vision, Thrive2027, three 10-year goals for a measurably better community:
- Give kids a strong start;
- Ensure our neighbors thrive – not just survive; and
- Help people live longer, better lives.
“The past year has reinforced our interconnectedness. Our community needs us now more than ever to help recover and rebuild a more equitable community,” said Liz Cotter Schlax, President and CEO of United Way of Southern Maine. “There is no simple answer to giving people the opportunities to thrive but there are many proven solutions. That is why United Way funds programs and initiatives that address the roots of complex challenges holding people back.”
More than 40 community volunteers helped make funding decisions, collectively spending over 450 hours evaluating requests and ensuring grants were distributed objectively to make best use of donated funds and have the greatest impact on the community-developed Thrive2027 Goals.
“Thanks to the generosity of our community and the hard work of our volunteers, we are able to continue the momentum of Thrive2027,” said Dan Coyne, Senior Vice President of Community Impact and Finance, United Way of Southern Maine. “Our funded partners share a desire for collaboration around our shared community vision, a focus on racial equity, and on proven strategies.”
This year, UWSM also invested $239,173 through its Racial Equity Fund to local nonprofits led by and serving people of color in our community, while advancing the work at the heart of Thrive2027. Recipients include eight new programs and encompass a range of local organizations within Cumberland County.
Finally, United Way of Southern Maine will invest an additional $2,441,850 into the community through donor-directed contributions; policy work; community and volunteer engagement; evaluation and measurement; United-Way led programming such as 211 Maine, CA$H Greater Portland, and the Greater Portland Workforce Initiative; and programmatic leadership for Thrive2027.
These grants, made possible by thousands of generous donors, will fund holistic solutions and innovative ideas to strengthen the areas of education, financial stability, and health.
“As a volunteer for the past four years, I continue to be inspired by the community solutions, particularly at how they get more and more innovative each year,” said Cassandra Cote Grantham, Investment Reviewer Volunteer, and Director, Child Health Programs, Center for Health Improvement, MaineHealth. “I’m proud to play an active role in supporting these thoughtful, strategic investments that will help our community recover and rebuild from setbacks created by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
United Way recently announced the merger of United Way of Greater Portland and United Way of York County to create United Way of Southern Maine, expanding its impact across Southern Maine.
“The challenges facing our communities do not recognize city boundaries or county lines,” said Todd Cesca, Partner at Charter Oak Capital Management and United Way of Southern Maine Board Vice-Chair. “Together, we will drive greater impact, create a better understanding of community priorities, develop stronger relationships, and offer easier engagement with United Way throughout Southern Maine.”
United Way of York County previously announced its community investments for this year of $622,588.
United Way of Southern Maine has a long history of mobilizing individuals as well as non-profit, business, and government partners to tackle immediate crises and critical long-term issues. United Way encourages everyone to join together – United for a hopeful and thriving Southern Maine. To give, volunteer, advocate, or learn more, visit uwsme.org.
Download Investment Portfolio.
UWSM GREATER PORTLAND FISCAL YEAR 2022 INVESTMENTS (ALPHA ORDER BY ORGANIZATION):
|
A Company of Girls |
Creative Expanded Learning: Arts-Based Resiliency, Mentorship, and Empowerment Supports for Girls |
$25,715 |
2 |
|
Amistad, Inc. |
Peer Outreach Worker program |
$55,000 |
3 |
|
Avesta Housing |
Homeless to Housing Support Worker for the formerly Homeless |
$45,000 |
2 |
|
Avesta Housing |
HomeOwnership Center |
$30,000 |
2 |
|
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine |
On-Track Initiative |
$140,000 |
1 & 2 |
|
Catherine Morrill Day Nursery |
Quality Learning Program |
$70,009 |
1 |
|
Catholic Charities Maine |
St. Elizabeth’s Child Development Center |
$37,674 |
1 |
|
Catholic Charities Maine |
Immigration Legal Services |
$59,861 |
2 |
|
Count ME In |
Count ME In |
$10,000 |
1 |
|
Day One |
Adolescent and Family Community Treatment Services |
$64,000 |
3 |
|
Day One |
Adolescent Medication Management Program |
$37,399 |
3 |
|
Day One |
Adolescent Residential Treatment Services |
$27,000 |
3 |
|
Day One |
Street Program |
$96,231 |
3 |
|
Frannie Peabody Center |
Client Services |
$28,453 |
3 |
|
Freeport Community Services |
FCS Youth/ Family Food Programs |
$7,805 |
1 |
|
Goodwill Industries of Northern New England |
Job Connection Greater Portland |
$69,500 |
2 |
|
Greater Portland Family Promise |
Homelessness Prevention and Housing Stabilization |
$20,000 |
2 |
|
Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) |
Immigration Legal Services |
$50,000 |
2 |
|
LearningWorks |
LearningWorks AfterSchool |
$10,000 |
1 |
|
LearningWorks |
LearningWorks YouthBuild |
$10,000 |
2 |
|
Legal Services for the Elderly |
Cumberland County Senior Legal Helpline |
$15,540 |
2 |
|
Legal Services for the Elderly |
Elder Abuse Law Project |
$20,000 |
2 |
|
Locker Project |
Providing families with young children at risk of hunger with reliable access to healthy food |
$20,000 |
1 |
|
Maine Association for New Americans |
Resilient New Americans and MANA Mingles |
$45,000 |
3 |
|
MaineHealth |
The Children’s Initiative Early Childhood Education Collaborative |
$90,000 |
1 |
|
MaineHealth |
Maine Behavioral Healthcare Outpatient Services |
$189,675 |
3 |
|
Milestone Recovery |
HOME Team |
$90,000 |
3 |
|
Morrison Center |
Therapeutic Special Purpose |
$45,000 |
1 |
|
My Place Teen Center |
Youth Leadership Academy |
$20,000 |
2 |
|
Northeast Hearing and Speech |
Speech and Hearing Services |
$86,000 |
1 |
|
Palaver Strings |
Palaver Music Center – Early Childhood Music and Strings Programs |
$15,000 |
1 |
|
Pine Tree Legal Assistance |
Safe and Stable Families Thrive |
$92,515 |
3 |
|
Portland Community Health Center DBA Greater Portland Health |
Behavioral and Mental Health Services in Greater Portland’s School Based Health Centers |
$30,000 |
3 |
|
Portland ConnectED – Starting Strong |
Parent Advocacy and Engagement: Parent Council and Talking is Teaching |
$15,000 |
1 |
|
Portland Housing Authority |
Empowerme |
$90,642 |
2 |
|
Portland Public Schools/ Portland Adult Education |
Gerald E Talbot Community School |
$100,000 |
1 |
|
Portland Public Schools/ Portland Adult Education |
High School Credential and Post-Secondary |
$115,000 |
2 |
|
Portland Public Schools/ Portland Adult Education |
Portland Adult Education Street Academy |
$50,000 |
2 |
|
Portland Recovery Community Center |
Connecting to Community – Open Doors, Open Hearts |
$17,879.44 |
3 |
|
Preble Street |
Critical Needs Programs |
$289,718 |
2 |
|
Preble Street |
Health Services |
$35,000 |
3 |
|
Quality Housing Coalition |
Project HOME Navigation Services |
$30,000 |
2 |
|
Regional Transportation Program |
Transportation |
$34,430 |
2 |
|
Spurwink Services Incorporated |
Project NOW: Ending Youth Exploitation |
$46,193 |
3 |
|
The Center for Grieving Children |
Bereavement Support |
$40,000 |
3 |
|
The Opportunity Alliance |
CDA Development Center |
$10,500 |
1 |
|
The Opportunity Alliance |
Early Childhood Initiative |
$150,000 |
1 |
|
The Opportunity Alliance |
Maine Families Infant and Newborn Home Visits |
$10,000 |
1 |
|
The Opportunity Alliance |
The Westbrook Children’s Project |
$15,000 |
1 |
|
The Opportunity Alliance |
Gateway to Opportunity Youth Employment |
$32,000 |
2 |
|
The Opportunity Alliance |
Senior Companion Program |
$18,810 |
2 |
|
The Opportunity Alliance |
Culturally Relevant Adolescent Mental Health First Aid |
$49,700 |
3 |
|
Through These Doors |
Emergency Shelter for Victims of Abuse in Cumberland County |
$33,195 |
2 |
|
Through These Doors |
Advocacy and Victim Services for Victims of Abuse in Cumberland County |
$35,518 |
3 |
|
Westbrook School Department |
Westbrook Partners for Prevention: Focus on Mental Health |
$21,000 |
3 |
|
Youth and Family Outreach |
Early Care and Education |
$50,000 |
1 |
About United Way of Southern Maine: Everyone has a role to play in the recovery, rebuilding, and reimagining of a thriving community; UWSM actively seeks to engage donors, advocates, and volunteers to create measurable, long-lasting community change. Learn more at uwsme.org.
