Board and staff at Belfast BoathouseEvents

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 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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2018 Unsung Hero Awardee, Kathy BeckNews

Nominations now accepted for Community Volunteer of the Year Award

August 7, 2019By

NONPROFITS, tell us about that one amazing volunteer who is quietly going about getting the job done!

Nominations for the “Unsung Hero Award” are accepted under the following criteria:

  • Nominee(s) must be an individual who volunteers in Knox and/or Waldo County, Maine.
  • Nominations must be made by a nonprofit. Employees and paid staff of the nonprofit may not be nominated for work at their organization.
  • Board and staff of United Midcoast Charities and staff of Courier Publications are ineligible for nomination.

Awards are determined by an Award Selection Committee based on award criteria. Award will be presented on September 19 at UMC’s Community Celebration at the Samoset.

To nominate a volunteer for the Unsung Hero Award, please follow this link to the Unsung Hero Award Nomination Form.

ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 2, 2019.

If you have questions, please email Megan Williams, megan@unitedmidcoastcharities.org

The award recipient will be selected from nominations by a panel made up of UMC’s Nonprofit Advisory Council, UMC’s Board Members and Courier Publications Editorial staff. Their decisions are based on reviews of each application and assessment of the following criteria:

IMPACT – How significant is the impact of the nominee’s service on beneficiaries? Tell us about the volunteer’s impact on organizations, their community and others. How has the volunteerism impacted this individual?  Reviewers look at whether the service is exemplary or unique.

INSPIRATION – Tell us how your volunteer stands out from others doing the same or similar things. Do they serve as a strong role model for others, and inspire others to serve?

COLLABORATION – Does this volunteer encourage community members or organizations to work together to solve problems/get things done? How is their service collaborative in nature?

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News

Day of Giving in Belfast, Camden and Rockland to Support UMC

November 26, 2018By

The holiday spirit is thriving in the Midcoast, where businesses in the Belfast, Camden and Rockland area have set aside Saturday, December 8 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 Horch Roofing with media sponsored by Courier Publications.

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2018 Unsung Hero Awardee, Kathy BeckAgency Events

United Midcoast Charities Awards $500K in Grants at Community Celebration

September 20, 2018By

We are pleased to announce our 2018 grant awards of $500,000 to more than 40 nonprofit organizations in Knox and Waldo counties. A community celebration, “Grants and Dance,” marked the occasion on Sep. 20 at the Rockport Opera House, where an awards ceremony was followed by dancing to music provided by The Right Track.

Highlights of the event included the announcement of the first “Unsung Hero Award,” given to Kathy Beck of Rockland, a long-time volunteer at the Knox Clinic in Rockland. UMC board members, grant recipients and others in attendance offered Beck their warm congratulations and a hearty round of applause. The award was a cooperative effort between Courier Publications and United Midcoast Charities.

United Midcoast Charities’ grants in 2018 were given in four focus areas, based on UMC’s new strategic plan: Food, Housing, Health & Safety and Economic Security. A complete list of 2018 grant recipients in each focus area is available here.

This community celebration was made possible with support from the following sponsors: Bangor Savings Bank, Grasshopper Shop of Rockland, McLean Borden Cottage, O’Hara Corporation, Café Miranda and media sponsor Village Soup/Courier Publications.

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