Barbara Reinertsen, executive director of United Way of Mid Coast Maine, has announced she plans to retire at the end of the year, following 30 years of service to the organization.

United Way works daily to improve the lives of thousands of local people by mobilizing people’s compassion into action, raising funds for 36 local agencies delivering critical services, promoting volunteerism, bringing people together around issues, and leading initiatives to meet emerging needs and create long-lasting change.

“I feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful job, working with the best people I can imagine,” said Reinertsen. “I am thankful for all the people in our community who work, give, and volunteer to lift each other up. Together they’ve done so much to improve people’s health and financial stability, and – a special focus of our United Way’s – give the best start in life to our children.

“I am grateful.”

United Way’s Board Chair, Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry, said: “We are fortunate to have had Barbara as executive director for the past twenty-three years. Her caring and compassionate leadership has helped to improve the lives of many individuals and families in the southern mid coast area.”

Reinertsen joined United Way as Campaign and Communications Director in August of 1992 and became Executive Director in 1999. Previously she had worked as a Congressional Press Secretary and as a television news reporter and anchor. She has also served on a variety of non-profit boards, including those of Mid Coast-Parkview Health, Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), Bath-Brunswick Regional Chamber, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, the Maine Center for Economic Policy, the Maine Children’s Alliance, the Maine Women’s Lobby, the Maine Women’s Policy Center, and 211 Maine.

United Way of Mid Coast Maine serves people throughout Lincoln and Sagadahoc Counties, Brunswick and Harpswell. Its mission is “to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.”

“Our United Way has the best partners, supporting workplaces, donors, and volunteers – and our Board and staff members are second to none,” said Reinertsen. “We’re fortunate to live in such a wonderful Mid Coast community, and we’re looking forward to how our United Way can have even greater impact in the future.”

Meanwhile, Reinertsen said, “there is much to be done in the next few months before I retire – including this fall’s Campaign which we want to be very successful to meet the needs of our friends and neighbors over the coming year.”

Merry said the Board is forming a search committee to recruit Reinertsen’s successor as United Way’s executive director. More information will be available on the organization’s website, www.uwmcm.org