Over 1,200 volunteers (a record!) from local companies, schools and non-profit organizations spent a full day working on over 100 community improvement projects on Thursday, May 16th at United Way of Greater Portland’s 21st annual Day of Caring. An estimated $132,000 worth of labor was donated during Greater Portland’s single largest one-day volunteer effort.

The day began at 8:00 a.m. with UWGP President and CEO Suzanne McCormick and Portland City Councilor Ed Suslovic speaking at a kick-off breakfast at the Back Cove soccer field in Portland. After that, teams from Unum, Hannaford, Martin’s Point Health Care and dozens more local organizations, dressed in their finest LIVE UNITED t-shirts, spread out to sites throughout Cumberland County to provide volunteer services. Some examples of projects include:

• Campus beautification and landscaping at Camp Sunshine in Casco
• Building picnic tables at Wolfe’s Neck Farm in Freeport
• Trail work at Presumpscot Regional Land Trust in Gorham
• Grounds cleanup at Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland
• Medical supply sorting at Partners for World Health in Scarborough
• Trail cleanup at Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center in Windham
• Cooking and warehouse updates at Wayside Food Programs in Portland
• Playground maintenance at the Peaks Island Children’s Workshop on Peaks Island
• Moving and organizing classrooms at the Westbrook Community Center in Westbrook

Suzanne McCormick, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Portland, says: “We’re truly inspired by the volunteers that turn out for our Day of Caring. Their giving of time and talent, together with their team’s energy, makes it a very powerful and moving day for everyone. We’re especially grateful to the business leaders who afford us their employees’ time for a whole day.”

McCormick added, “For some participants, Day of Caring is their first volunteer experience. We try to make it a great one, and hope it’s the start of life-long volunteerism. We encourage everyone to visit www.volunteermaine.org to find opportunities appropriate for any skill level or time commitment.”

More information about Day of Caring is available here.

In recognition of Hub Furniture Company’s 100th Anniversary, you are cordially invited to this fantastic event benefitting Jewish Community Alliance, Preble Street, and United Way of Greater Portland. This promises to be the event of the year — we hope to see you there!

Thursday, June 6, 2013
6:00 – 9:00PM
6 PM Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and entertainment
7:30 PM Program and toasts, followed by dessert
Entertainment by The Fogcutters

Holiday Inn By the Bay
88 Spring Street, Portland, Maine, 04101
Hearty hors d’oeuvres – Cash bar
Festive attire

For tickets and more info visit facebook.com/Hub100 or www.mainejewish.org

Investments in early childhood programs, like Head Start, Maine Families Home Visiting, and Child Care Development Funds, represent essential investments in the health and development of our children. Such investments are a down payment on a future productive and healthy workforce.

Brain research supports the critical importance of the first five years of life, with eighty percent of brain development occurring before age three. Early intervention for the most vulnerable children will generate perhaps the greatest payback. As Elevate Maine notes, “return on investment in early care and education yields a range between $7 and $16 for every $1 invested.”

Accordingly, we must focus collective efforts on early childhood in order to ensure our children can start on the path for school success. The United Ways of Maine continue to advocate for such strong investments. Recently, UWGP testified on behalf of all ten United Ways of Maine in support of legislation that would strengthen support for Head Start, Maine Families Home Visiting, and Child Care Development Funds.

UWGP also champions the cause of other important education, financial stability, and health related policies. Please click here to add your voice!

On April 24, members of the Leaders’ Circle, Tocqueville Society, and United Way Board of Directors rolled up their sleeves and helped to assemble hundreds of Literacy Kits at Ruth’s Reusable Resources. On April 26, a team from TD Bank did the same at the United Way offices. Volunteers filled backpacks with games and activities designed to make reading interactive and fun, and these Literacy Kits will be distributed to  all children entering kindergarten this fall in Westbrook. Thanks to all the individuals, families, and businesses who sponsored this effort, and the volunteers who made it happen!

Click to view our photo album on Facebook!

There are lots of ways to be part of the change in Greater Portland. Especially this time of year, dozens of runs, walks, spins, and swims are happening all around our community. Many of these are supported by small armies of volunteers, so no matter how active you are, you can still help to improve people’s lives.

Run or Walk for a Cause

• Habitat for Humanity 3rd Annual 5K Home Run – Saturday, May 4 in Bath
• “It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere” 5k run/walk in Freeport on Cinco De Mayo (Sunday, May 5). Proceeds will benefit the Women Build Project in Freeport.
• Mother’s Day and Father’s Day 5k Road Races, May 12 and June 16, to benefit Maine Breast Cancer Patients and Research and Maine Coalition to Fight Prostate Cancer

Walk to End Homelessness for Veterans
The Annual VA2K Walk and Roll will be held on Wednesday, May 15 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Portland VA Clinic at 144 Fore Street. This event is to raise awareness and educate the community to the needs of homeless veterans, and to help employees and others to recognize the importance of exercise and nutrition to live healthier lives. It’s a little different than other walks, there are no pledges or charge to walk. The 2K walk is designed to be easy and walkable (the trail is paved) for most individuals and takes place along the beautiful Portland Trails on Casco Bay starting at the Portland Clinic . There will be a light lunch, beverages, giveaways, music and mini classes on health and fitness. There will also be staff available to provide information about the VA’s initiatives to end homelessness for Veterans. Please call Lee Thompson at 207-771-3520 or email at donna-lee.thompson@va.gov for more information.

Triathlon Volunteers Needed
The YMCA of Southern Maine is looking for energetic, positive volunteers for their upcoming 4th Annual Tri for the Y event on Saturday, May 18 at the Casco Bay Branch in Freeport. Whether you are looking to direct people around the event site or to count laps in the pool, there is an opportunity for everyone to get involved and volunteer. The lengths of the volunteer shifts vary by position, so you can find an opportunity that fits your schedule.

Laura Vogel Memorial 5k
The 7th Annual Laura Vogel Memorial 5K will take place on Sunday, May 19 at 9:00 a.m. in Yarmouth, Maine and will benefit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center. The LV5K is organized in memory of Laura Vogel, a former pediatric nurse at The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital whose dedication and passion for helping people was evident through her work in Maine and abroad. Register now for this exciting event. The first 100 registrants will receive a free race t-shirt!!  Not a runner? You can still help. Sign up to volunteer by emailing tamaravogel@yahoo.com.

Join the YMCA for the 2013 Peaks to Portland Swim
Registration for the Peaks to Portland Swim is full, but you can still join a waiting list or sign up to volunteer. The YMCA is looking for excited, hardworking volunteers to help with this great Portland on Saturday, July 13 (rain date Sunday, July 14). Volunteers are needed to help with set up, Peaks Island registration and start, East End Beach Finish Line activities, kayaking, and event clean-up. This is a great chance to experience the excitement of the 2.4 mile open water swim from Peaks Island to East End.

Run with The Opportunity Alliance
The Opportunity Alliance is the beneficiary of Maine’s premier road race – the TD Beach to Beacon – and has been given a number of race bibs to increase fundraising efforts around this event. Join their team by raising a minimum of $500 and you will get a spot in this very popular race, and support The Opportunity Alliance. To make your pledge to be part of the team and start fundraising, contact Katie Paye at 523-5031 or katie.paye@opportunityalliance.org.

During tax season, people are focused on filing their tax returns, but financial stability – one of the building blocks for a good quality of life — is about more than just tax preparation. This tax season, CA$H (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) Greater Portland prepared over 1,000 federal and state income tax returns for qualifying individuals, and connected hundreds more to free online tax preparation through MyFreeTaxes.com. In addition, CA$H volunteers assisted with credit report reviews, unclaimed assets searches, and other programs that help people understand and make the most of their money.

Between January and March, CA$H Greater Portland prepared 1,112 federal and state returns for individuals making under $57,000, and promoted a new, free do-it-yourself resource, www.myfreetaxes.com/maine in partnership with Goodwill Industries of Northern New England. So far this year, $1.26 million has been returned to qualifying community members through federal and state refunds. Since 2004, CA$H has helped 5,196 households save $960,476 in income tax preparation fees, apply for $9.35 million in federal and state income tax refunds, and receive $2.7 million in federal Earned Income Tax Credits.

One of the primary goals of CA$H Greater Portland is to increase the number of eligible clients who apply for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), often considered the largest anti-poverty program in the country. Every year, up to $30 million in EITC dollars are left unclaimed by Maine residents simply because individuals don’t know they qualify. “Typically, 40% of CA$H clients claim the EITC, but this year we saw a 17% increase in the number of people who were applying for the first time,” said Suzanne McCormick, President and CEO at United Way. “While thousands of Maine households struggle with issues like underemployment and food insecurity, programs like CA$H are critical strands in the safety net.”

“Through the efforts of CA$H and our annual Super Refund Saturday, KeyBank works to help members of our community receive as much of their hard earned income as possible. KeyBank is dedicated to helping people in Maine achieve financial stability. The Earned Income Tax Credit is a powerful tool to help put people on the road to success in life,” said Sterling Kozlowski, president, New England District, KeyBank.

As CA$H’s IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers focus on filing taxes, “Money Coach” volunteers focus on financial stability by helping individuals apply for the Maine Property Tax and Rent Refund, worth up to $1,600; providing free credit report reviews; and searching for unclaimed assets. “Free tax preparation is the gateway to helping individuals find ways to make the most of their money. Client interest in these asset development areas was up 60%,” said CA$H partner Jim Stone, President and CEO of Casco Federal Credit Union.

At the heart of CA$H Greater Portland’s service are hundreds of dedicated volunteers. The tax sites were comprised of 166 volunteer tax preparers, money coaches, greeters, schedulers, and interpreters, contributing 2,600 volunteer hours during the season. “Our volunteers are our greatest asset—we couldn’t have done this without them,” said Gorham Savings Bank CEO Chris Emmons. “If you put a dollar value on their time, it would total over $40,000.” Five individuals were recognized as “Volunteers of the Year”: Allen Bates (Saco) with B&M, Stephanie Desrochers (Portland) with Maine Medical Center Department of Vocational Services, Edward Rea (Portland), Joanna Stowell (Cumberland), and Sherry Tutt (Windham) with UNUM.

The CA$H free tax preparation season was made possible with funding from United Way of Greater Portland, Internal Revenue Service, Casey Family Services, KeyBank Maine Division, Gorham Savings Bank, and Casco Federal Credit Union. In-kind support was provided by from Goodwill Industries of NNE, Avesta Housing, SymQuest Group, and East Brown Cow Property Management Co.

CA$H Greater Portland, an initiative of United Way of Greater Portland, is a partnership of community leaders and industry experts working together to help empower individuals and families to achieve long-term financial stability. Members of the Greater Portland CA$H Coalition include: AARP Tax-Aide, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., Community Financial Literacy, Goodwill Industries of NNE, Internal Revenue Service, KeyBank, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Portland Housing Authority, and Women, Work and Community. For more information, visit cashgp.org.

Everyone thinks a lot about money as April 15 rolls around, but financial health is about much more than preparing tax returns. To help celebrate Financial Literacy Month, here are our top five tools to test (and improve) your financial knowledge:

1. 30 Steps to Financial Wellness: www.financialliteracymonth.com
2. Financial planning checklists: www.fpanet.org (under tools & resources)
3. Money management resource library: www.smartaboutmoney.org
4. Personal finance calculators: www.360financialliteracy.org
5. Children and financial education: www.moneyasyougrow.org

Visit your local library for Money Smart week (April 20-27): www.moneysmartweek.org, and get connected to organizations that can help you find ways to make the most of your money all year round by dialing 2-1-1, visit www.211maine.org.

Did you know that scholarship funds are available through the United Way of Greater Portland Foundation? The Kenneth Jordan Higgins Scholarship Fund extends scholarships to students who are residents of Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, Falmouth, Scarborough, or Cape Elizabeth.  2013 application materials are available here, and the deadline is May 3. If there’s a student in your life who has been accepted to a post-secondary institution (like vocational school or college) and can demonstrate financial need, encourage them to apply!

Would you like to leave a legacy that improves people’s lives? We’d love to hear about it, and help to make it a reality.

“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”

– Henry David Thoreau

United Way of Greater Portland advances the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. To accomplish this, one of our primary goals is to increase the long-term financial stability of individuals and families.

We are seeking to fund one collaborative project in Westbrook or Portland that moves beyond provision of basic needs services and provides supports to help individuals and families achieve long term improvement in their financial stability. Such a project must:

• Provide supports to secure and maintain safe, affordable housing
• Maximize income/work supports and public programs
• Build education and skills for the workforce
• Increase basic financial skills

Amount: Up to $50,000 with the possibility of continued funding
Funding Period: One year, starting on award of grant funding
Deadline for Submission: May 1, 2013

Click below to access:

• Request for Proposal
• Instructions
• Budget Forms

Questions? Please contact John Shoos, 874-1000.

General Assistance is a program of last resort that helps individuals and families in immediate crisis pay for housing, food, heat, utilities, and other basic necessities like medical assistance. General Assistance, which is administered at the local level but is funded by both the town and State, represents a lifeline for many Maine people, helping keep them warm, fed, and housed. General Assistance is not a program that is out of control or one in which overwhelming amounts of people spend extended periods receiving public assistance. In the last fiscal year in Portland, 71% of recipients received assistance for six months or less.

United Way of Greater Portland (UWGP) believes that a strong, efficient General Assistance program is needed to ensure that people facing crisis can get the assistance they need to stave off that crisis. In recent years and again this legislative session, proposals have been advanced to change General Assistance. Many of these changes would significantly weaken the program and jeopardize the ability of vulnerable individuals and families to get the help they need to stay in their homes. UWGP has opposed many of these changes, while participating in efforts to explore ways to find short-term savings and ensure the long-term integrity of the program.

For more information about UWGP’s advocacy in support of a strong General Assistance, click here.

For more information about General Assistance in general, please visit:

·         Pine Tree Legal Assistance
·         Office of Aging and Disability Services
(Department of Health and Human Services)
·         General Assistance Work Group
·         2-1-1