United Way of Mid Coast Maine Tuesday kicked off its annual campaign to improve people’s lives in Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties, Brunswick and Harpswell.

“Our mission is ‘to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of community,’ and the Annual Campaign is a time when we’re mobilizing like mad.” said United Way Board Chair Dennis Unger.

Unger also thanked all the area workplaces that participated in a Food Drive for the Kick-off, collecting more than 2,300 pounds of food to help people in need through Midcoast food pantries.

Lincoln County representatives attending the Kick-off included United Way Campaign Director Tom Blatz of Wiscasset; United Way Board member Connie Jones of Boothbay Harbor, director of Boothbay Region Senior Services; United Way Campaign Cabinet member Charlie Ault of Damariscotta and Mechanics Savings Bank; United Way sponsored Loaned Executive Gabrielle DiPerri of Wiscasset; Chris Szalay of Wiscasset, Search program coordinator; Leslie Livingston and Lucy Smith of Healthy Kids in Damariscotta; Lee Karker of Coastal Trans; Bonnie Johnson and Tina Tucker of New Hope for Women; Priscilla Congdon of Coastal Kids Preschool; and Marianne Pinkham of Spectrum Generations.

Over 6,000 Lincoln County residents received help last year from United Way-funded programs at agencies such as Central Lincoln County YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midcoast Maine, Coastal Kids Preschool, Healthy Kids, Lincoln Academy school-based health clinic, New Hope for Women, Mobius, Eldercare Network of Lincoln County, Spectrum Generations: Meals on Wheels, Tri-County Literacy and others.

“It’s important that we grow this campaign as much as possible, so that we can continue the good work of United Way and our partner agencies in the coming year, and help more people,” said United Way Campaign Chair Vin DiCara, owner of DiCara Training and Consulting.

“Our campaign theme is ‘Connections’ because United Way connects local people to work on solutions, and connects generous people to their neighbors, by transforming their caring into practical, important help that changes people’s lives,” said DiCara. “It’s a great feeling to connect to something bigger than yourself. And when you connect to United Way, you connect to a community of caring people, and you make great things happen.”

Donations from anyone not reached by a workplace campaign can be sent to United Way of Mid Coast Maine, 34 Wing Farm Parkway, Bath, ME 04530. People can also call 207-443-9752 to give by credit card, ask to be billed, give monthly via credit card or bank debit, or contribute stocks or securities. 

All individuals in Midcoast Maine are included in the community effort and encouraged to give.  More information on United Way’s results in improving lives can be found at www.uwmcm.org.

DiCara announced early “Pacesetter” campaigns, including great results from AOS 93 in the Damariscotta area, which increased, Lincoln Academy, MSAD 40 in the Waldoboro area, where giving more than doubled, and Wiscasset schools, where employee giving has tripled. UPS also held a Pacesetter campaign, and several companies have made early corporate gifts, including L.L.Bean which increased its donation.

Campaign Chair DiCara thanked and congratulated employees of Bath Iron Works who are Sustained Givers (donating one percent or more of their salary to United Way) as well as the company for its corporate gift. Together they have raised $210,954 already for United Way, with meetings for employees still to come.

DiCara thanked the United Way “family” of Board, Cabinet, and staff members, who collectively donated almost $60,000 to the Campaign. DiCara announced that as of the kick-off, the campaign has raised $453,169, or 23.5 percent of the goal.

The campaign goal is to raise $1,930,000 to improve the lives of Midcoast residents. Last year United Way and its 37 partner agencies responded to people’s basic needs for financial stability, health and education. In addition to meeting immediate needs, United Way works to create long-lasting solutions for our community.

It has a special strategic focus on preventing problems in early childhood, as the most effective way to have the greatest possible positive impact on people’s lives.

Every workplace in Midcoast Maine, of any size, is urged to include a United Way presentation in a meeting so employees can hear about local services and make a personal decision whether to contribute through payroll deduction. Brief meetings that fit a workplace’s schedule can easily be arranged by calling United Way at 207-443-9752.

L.L.Bean, Hannaford and Amtrak have donated incentives for workplace campaigns. As a thank you for attending a presentation with a United Way representative, all employees present, whether or not they donate, will be eligible for one of three $100 grocery gift cards donated by Hannaford.

New givers and people who increase their donation by $1 per week ($52) or more are eligible for a $500 gift certificate from L.L.Bean or one of two $100 Hannaford gift cards.

Workplace givers who make new or and increased leadership gifts of $500 or more are eligible for a block of four round-trip tickets on the Downeaster from Brunswick to Boston, donated by Amtrak.

A highlight of the Kick-off was the showing of the annual video, and the presence of the local people featured in the video who told their stories of being helped. The gathered audience of about 100 business and community leaders gave the video participants a round of applause for their contribution to spreading understanding of how United Way donors’ gifts help real people.

The kick-off was held at the Maine Maritime Museum and was sponsored by Mid Coast Hospital.

In addition to DiCara, the 2013 United Way Campaign Cabinet includes: Patricia Marcotte, Local S6/BIW; Sharon Dohner, BIW; Rick Bohan, L.L. Bean; Put Armstrong, Tech Air Connections; Rick Wilson, Brunswick School Department; Mary Booth, MSAD 75; Larissa Darcy, The Bank of Maine; Dave Nadeau, Riley Insurance Agency; Amy Berube, CHANS Home Healthcare; Ann Angell, Lincoln County Healthcare; Walt Reynolds, Ship Shape Financial; Captain Mark Waltz, Brunswick Police Department; Sue Hall Dreher, Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine; and Charlie Ault, Mechanics Savings Bank.

Loaned Executives working on the campaign for ten weeks include: Terry Smith of BIW and Local S6, Suzanne LeBlanc of L.L.Bean, Gabrielle DiPerri of Wiscasset, Sharon Hanna of Cumberland Foreside, and Erin Meyers of Brunswick.

Organizations that have sponsored Loaned Executives are: Bath Iron Works, Local S6, Bath Savings Institution, FHC, Inc., L.L. Bean, and Norway Savings Bank.