Collaborative Partnerships

Puck Pals

Puck Pals is a Portland Pirates program that enables area kids, families and adults to experience a Pirates game. Tickest are distributed through United Way and our Partner Agencies. Last season over 4,000 tickets were distributed thanks to local businesses, organizations and individuals who sponsored the program. For more information visit the Puck Pals page of the Portland Pirates' website.

ACCESS (Alliance for Children’s Care, Education, and Supporting Services)
This is an alliance of early care and education providers and advocates whose mission is to ensure the availability of family focused services through collaborative relationships with traditional and non-traditional partners.
Other members include: Child Care Connections; St. Elizabeth’s Child Development Center; Maine Roads to Quality; Center for Community Inclusion; Child Development Services, Cumberland; Southern Maine Parent Awareness; Maine Humanities Council; Catherine Morrill Day Nursery; and PROP.
United Way Staff Contact: Jessica Esch

Emergency Shelter Assessment Committee
This is a collaboration between service providers, consumers, local and state government representatives, advocated and other interested community members working to ensure the safety and well being of people who are homeless in Portland since 1987. Other members of this group include: Avesta Housing, Community Housing of Maine, Family Crisis Center, Day One, Frannie Peabody Center, Ingraham, Maine Medical Center, McAuley Residence, The Milestone Foundation, PROP, Portland West, Preble Street Resource Center, Serenity House, Shalom House, Spring Harbor Hospital, Wayside Soup Kitchen, Youth Alternatives and Preble Street Consumer Advocacy Project.
United Way Contact: John Shoos

Portland Area Volunteer Administrators (PAVA)
Directors and administrators of programs that utilize volunteers in Cumberland County meet to network, share information and learn more about the profession
United Way Contact: Karen Stephenson

Portland Partnership for Homeless Youth
The Partnership was launched in 1998 in response to the growing number of homeless youth in the area with limited opportunities to improve their situation and continues as a working group today to try to develop long-lasting solutions to the problem. Partnership meets monthly, with leadership provided by a steering committee. The group’s goals are to work with all homeless youth, regardless of circumstance, to meet basic needs for housing, safety, clothes, food and support; create safe, stable places for youth to live; and help homeless youth meet their goals related to education, health, employment, social supports, mental health, substance abuse, legal issues and recreation.
United Way Staff Contact: John Shoos

Workplace Volunteer Council
Managers of workplace volunteer programs and projects in Cumberland County meet on a regular basis for training, networking and to share ideas and challenges.
United Way Staff Contact: Karen Stephenson

6 Who Care
This program provides annual recognition of outstanding volunteers who live and work in the WCHS 6 viewing area. Awards include 6 Who Care Awards, the Mary Rines Thompson Award and Agency Distinction.
United Way Staff Contact: Karen Stephenson