Events

8th Annual Day of Giving

January 24, 2025By

On Saturday, December 21, local businesses from Searsport to Thomaston and community members came together in the spirit of generosity and cooperation during UMC’s annual Day of Giving. On this special day, participating businesses pledged a portion of the day’s sales to support UMC’s Grants Program. The event not only bolstered our fundraising efforts but also highlighted the incredible power of community solidarity.

We are deeply grateful for the support of the local businesses and the enthusiastic participation of everyone who shopped, dined, and contributed to this event. Together, we are making a difference.

See all participating businesses here.

Photo above shows 2024 Day of Giving collection box at Winifred and Evalyn in Rockland.

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Events

2nd Annual Gingerbread Contest

January 24, 2025By

During Camden’s festive “Christmas By The Sea” weekend, our Gingerbread House Contest & Exhibition drew in a crowd of enthusiastic participants and visitors. In its second year, the event saw a remarkable doubling in attendance, as families and friends gathered to marvel at the creativity on display and vote for their favorite gingerbread creations. Beyond the fun, and monies raised for UMC’s Grants Program, this event provided an excellent opportunity to educate the community about the critical needs UMC addresses.

    • 1st Place Adult Amateur & People’s Choice Award – Jessica Bailey
    • 2nd Place Adult Amateur – Barbara Bauldaman
    • 3d Place Adult Amateur – Justin Cristiansen
    • 1st Place Youth Amateur – James Kivel
    • 2nd Place Youth Amateur – Victoria Mason
    • 3rd Place Youth Amateur – Nataly Turner-Watts
    • 1st Place Professional – Stephen Watts
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Agency Events

Advocating for Hope & Kindness

September 5, 2024By

United Midcoast Charities Annual Grantee Breakfast to Participate in Live, Virtual Global Conversation on Advocating for Hope and Kindness

On September 11, during National Compassionate Leadership Week, author and philanthropist Donato Tramuto, of the TramutoPorter Foundation, will host a live conversation at United Midcoast Charities’ Annual Grantee Breakfast Celebration sponsored by the Samoset Resort in Rockport. Tramuto, speaking from Maine, will be joined virtually by 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, who will participate via Zoom from India. This conversation, held on the anniversary of September 11, will examine the crucial role of compassion in leadership and its healing power. Community members can register for the free virtual event here: https://tramutofoundation.com/compassion/2024-summit/

National Compassionate Leadership Week honors leaders who use empathy to drive success in business, education, and community. This week highlights the proven benefits of compassionate leadership and its positive impact on all areas of life. “Our goal is to create a movement that brings more compassion into every part of life,” said Tramuto. “By honoring those who lead with compassion, we aim to build momentum and make a lasting impact.”

UMC is proud to partner with the TramutoPorter Foundation as the host of what is being recognized as a major highlight of the week’s agenda.

This year, United Midcoast Charities is distributing grants totaling $630,000 to 42 agencies providing the basic needs of food, housing, health & safety, and economic security to residents of Knox and Waldo counties. We couldn’t think of a more inspiring topic for an event dedicated to leaders who are committed to compassionate leadership within their own organizations.

About Donato J. Tramuto

Donato J. Tramuto is the former CEO of Tivity Health®, Inc. (Nasdaq: TVTY). He is widely recognized for his commitment to social change and transformational leadership in healthcare innovation, which led the New York Times to deem him “a global health activist.”

Tramuto is also the founder and chair of The TramutoPorter Foundation, which advances young people’s rights to education and healthcare access and combats human rights violations. He launched the foundation in memory of his two friends and their three-year-old son, who lost their lives on 9/11 when United Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower. Tramuto had planned to be on that flight; however, he never joined his friends due to a toothache. Since the foundation’s launch, over 100 young adults have received a TramutoPorter Foundation Scholarship to pursue their dream of a College Education. Many organizations have received financial and partnership support, helping them deliver on their promise to make the world a more equitable place.

His three-decade commitment to social change and innovation has earned numerous awards, including the prestigious Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope (2014) and the RFK Embracing His Legacy Awards (2016). He also received the PharmaVoice RedJacet award presented to leaders in the Life Sciences Industry who have shown what it means to be an inspired leader for their teams, their companies, their communities, and the industry at large.

Tramuto currently serves as a member of the board of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and is chairman of its Leadership Council, where his foundation has committed to funding a three-year, $1 million grant to address workplace bullying, leading a national initiative to address workplace dignity and inclusion in the U.S. and Europe.

To learn more about Donato Tramuto visit https://www.tramutofoundation.org

About Kailash Satyarthi

2014 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Kailash Satyarthi is a human rights activist from India who has been at the forefront of the global movement to end child slavery and exploitation since 1980, when he gave up a lucrative career as an electrical engineer to initiate a crusade against child servitude. As a grassroots activist, Kailash and the grassroots movement he founded, Bachpan Bachao Andolan (English: Save Childhood Movement), have liberated more than 83,000 children from exploitation and developed a successful model for their education, rehabilitation, and reintegration into mainstream society. As a worldwide campaigner, he has been the architect of the largest civil society network for the most exploited children, the Global March Against Child Labour, a worldwide coalition of children’s rights organizations, teachers’ unions, and trade unions. His efforts led to the adoption of ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labor in 1999. He is also the founding president of the Global Campaign for Education, an exemplary civil society movement working to end the global education crisis, and GoodWeave International, which raises consumer awareness and positive action in the carpet industry.

For more on Kailash Satyarthi and his passionate work over the years, visit https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2014/satyarthi/biographical/

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Events

Eat, Drink & Be Generous

August 28, 2024By

United Midcoast Charities’ Eat, Drink & Be Generous Event Honors Volunteers, Donors, and Grantees

On August 22, a quintessential Maine summer day featuring everything from bright, sunny skies to a sudden downpour and a stunning double rainbow, United Midcoast Charities gathered with friends and supporters to celebrate the organization’s grantee organizations, honor its Community Champions, present the Sani Award for Philanthropic Excellence to Karen Foxwell, and launch its 2025 fundraising campaign.

Partygoers at the Belfast Yacht Club & Event Center took in breathtaking views of Belfast Bay, enjoyed delicious food and drink, participated in an engaging silent auction, and won unique door prizes. The prizes included a one-of-a-kind plein-air painting created by Mary Ann Heinzen-Hackett during the event.

“We were delighted to honor the individuals who tirelessly carry out our mission and to celebrate the generous supporters who make our work possible,” said UMC Executive Director Becca Gildred.  “The evening was a beautiful blend of recognition and gratitude. I am incredibly proud of the impactful work UMC does to amplify the efforts of our partner agencies throughout the Midcoast region.”

Cellardoor Winery, Rockport Steel, O’Hara Corporation, and Front Street Shipyard generously sponsored the event.

Local businesses supported the event by donating silent auction items. Contributors include 250 Main Hotel, 40 Paper, Ada’s Kitchen, A Morning In Maine, Acadia Ebike Adventure, Allagash Brewing Co., ALLPLaY Family Entertainment Center, American Flatbread, American Ghost Walks, Amy Jenner, Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co., Bay Chamber Concerts, Bay View Collection, Bears Den Billiards & Trapt Escape Rooms, Beaver Lodge, Bistro La Cave, Blue Barren Distillery & Restaurant, Boston Red Sox, Camden Conference, CedarWorks, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Christine’s Framing Gallery, City Drawers, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Colburn Shoe Store, Delvino’s Grill & Pasta House, Dot’s Market, Dry Dock Restaurant, Farnsworth Art Museum, Flowers by Hoboken, Front Street Pub, Goose River Golf Club, Graffam Bros. Seafood Market, The Grasshopper Shop, Hey Sailor, House of Logan, Jess’s Market, Jesse Tobias Designs, L.L. Bean, Leonard’s, Loyal Biscuit Co., The LimeRock Inn, Maine Island Trail Association, Maine Mariners, Maine Media, Maine State Credit Union, Mainely Gallery & Studio, McLaughlin Seafood, Midcoast Recreation Center, MountainSea Expeditions, Once A Tree, Pen Bay YMCA, Planet Toys, Nina June, RAYR – The Wine Shop, Rockland Golf Club, Sailing Vessel Owl, Strand Theatre, Symmetree Base Camp, The Craignair Inn by the Sea, The Everyman Repertory Theatre, The Pour Farm, The Samoset Resort, The Smiling Cow, The Waterfront Restaurant, The Wharf at Lyman-Morse, TOPO Gallery, Waldo County YMCA, Winifred & Evalyn, and Wooden Alchemy.

For more details on this year’s event click here.

 

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2023 UMC Days of GivingEvents

United Midcoast Charities’ Annual “Day of Giving” Sets New Record!

December 15, 2023By

CAMDEN – United Midcoast Charities’ annual “Day of Giving” was held this past Saturday, December 9, and a record-setting 88 local retailers and restaurants from Thomaston to Belfast donated part of the day’s proceeds to support more than 40 agencies in Knox and Waldo counties providing essential services in UMC’s focus areas of food, housing, health and safety, and economic security. Thanks to the support of sponsors, participating retailers, and community members who came out in droves, UMC’s grants program will continue to grow and thrive in the new year!

“As a locally owned family business operating since 1975, we take pride in being able to support the local community,” said Sierra Dietz, owner of The Grasshopper Shops and longtime supporter of Day of Giving. “UMC provides incredible assistance for so many area nonprofits and we are happy to be able to support the work they are doing.“

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Events

UMC Selected For Hannaford Bloomin’ 4 Good Program

July 19, 2021By

CAMDEN, Maine – Brighten your day with a bouquet that gives back to the local community!

The Camden Hannaford has chosen United Midcoast Charities (UMC) as the benefiting non-profit in the store’s brand-new Bloomin’ 4 Good Program in August. For every $11.99 Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet purchased from the store at 145 Elm Street, UMC will receive a $1 donation.

“Flowers can make someone’s day, brighten up a room or spread a smile,” said UMC Executive Director John Viehman. “Now those blooms can help even more people! We are thrilled to benefit from Hannaford’s unique and impactful Bloomin’ 4 Good Program, as the demands of those in need are higher than ever this year.”

UMC is a non-profit based in Camden, Maine. Founded in 1942, it energizes Midcoast Maine non-profits through finance and guidance, supporting a network of resources stronger than any single organization. UMC’s primary focus areas are food, housing, health & safety, and economic security. Learn more about United Midcoast Charities by visiting www.unitedmidcoastcharities.org.

For details about the Hannaford Bloomin’ 4 Good Program, please visit www.hannaford.bloomin4good.com.

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Nazrin-Dixon-FNWMCapacity Building

Learn with UMC: Effective Relationships with Wealth Managers

February 27, 2020By

Our March offering in the Learn with UMC series, Effective Relationships with Wealth Managers, will take place from 9-11 am on March 13, at 16 Bayview in Camden. This event is sponsored by First National Wealth Management.

Invested funds are a critical tool in nonprofit finance. They allow the organization to adapt to situations of rapid change, address emerging needs, and plan for the long term. Portfolio managers Gary E. Stone and Christopher J. Shelton will discuss how to know if an endowment is right for your organization and answer important questions about how to start. Who is the best investment manager to oversee the administrative and fiduciary requirements to properly maintain the endowment? How do you find services to manage your endowment? What other things should you consider?

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KCareyWorkshopCapacity Building

United Midcoast Charities offers Grantseeking: Goals & Objectives

February 5, 2020By

UMC’s next free Learn with UMC event, Grantseeking: Goals & Objectives will be offered at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb 28 at the Picker Room of the Camden Public Library. UMC program coordinator Kelly Carey will offer hands-on coaching about writing a winning grant application with concrete goals and objectives.

All around the nation, funders are increasingly moving to data-informed, outcome-focused grantmaking strategies. That means that it’s critical for nonprofits to clearly and concretely explain what they expect to do, and why they expect their activities will make difference to a social problem.

This workshop is recommended for anyone with grant-writing responsibilities, but especially for those who plan to apply for a UMC grant in 2020.  Pre-learning resources and post-workshop support are included in registration.

The workshop is free but we request that attendees register here to assist in planning. Refreshments will be provided.

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Public Events

Shop Local, Support UMC on Dec 14.

November 26, 2019By

The holiday spirit is thriving in the Midcoast, where businesses in the Belfast, Camden and Rockland area have set aside Saturday, December 14 to contribute to United Midcoast Charities (UMC) in support of the work of local nonprofit organizations.

Participating shops have committed to generously donate a portion of their sales to UMC, and all proceeds will be applied toward UMC’s grants – which help food pantries, health clinics, nursing services, homeless shelters and other providers of vital services in Knox and Waldo counties. The Day of Giving events are made possible through lead sponsorship from Allen Insurance & Financial and Camden National Bank, with media sponsored by Courier Publications.

“Now in its fourth year, we are seeing a building momentum with Day of Giving events,” said UMC Executive Director, Megan Williams. “Last year, the event raised $10,000 for UMC’s local Grantmaking efforts.  Everyone can show support by shopping local on December 14.”

Participating businesses this year range from co-ops to clothing stores to restaurants. All involved will display Day of Giving posters and are listed HERE.

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Public Events

Annual Community Celebration Happening September 19

August 9, 2019By

The 2019 UMC Community Celebration will take place on Thursday, Sep. 19 from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Samoset in Rockport. UMC will recognize its 2019 grant recipients and supporters with an evening of fun, dancing and delicious food and drink, including music by The Right Track.

The Unsung Hero community volunteer of the year, a joint project of Courier Publications and UMC, will also be awarded at the Community Celebration. Nominations are being accepted now through Sep. 2 at UnitedMidcoastCharities.org/unsung.

The public is invited to attend the Community Celebration. Tickets are available for $30 in advance here or by calling 207-236-2299. If space allows, tickets will be available at the door via cash or check.

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