Groups aiding youth, voters, immigrants, girls to boost finances with MaineShare agreement

MaineShare now helps 43 Maine nonprofits get support from individual donors

Portland, Maine - MaineShare, the payroll-giving program that links donors to progressive Maine causes, announced it is adding seven new organizations to its lineup of members.

The new groups, unveiled at a news conference today at The VIA Agency, “represent MaineShare’s expanded focus to address the growing and significant needs of groups advocating for youth, voter education and engagement, helping Maine immigrants and refugees, and more,” Executive Director Hildie Lipson said.

The groups gaining access to new funding through MaineShare are: Center for African Heritage, Portland; Community Financial Literacy, Portland; Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Portland and Ellsworth; Hardy Girls Healthy Women, Waterville; Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, Portland; League of Young Voters Education Fund, Portland; and Mano en Mano- Hand in Hand, Milbridge.

Appearing with Lipson and MaineShare board chair Kelly McDonald were Community Financial Literacy Executive Director Claude Rwaganje, Hardy Girls Healthy Women President Megan Williams and Maine Citizens for Clean Elections Executive Director Andrew Bossie.

Also speaking was Teddy Stoecklein of The VIA Agency.  "We've all heard of Think Global, Buy Local. Well, that notion applies here.  Thanks to MaineShare, giving back to local organizations is crazy simple.  Choose the amount  you feel you can spare from your paycheck without hurting your wallet and give to the groups you love."

“The money we receive from MaineShare is all unrestricted, and that really helps us achieve our mission,” Williams said.  “MaineShare is the leader in this state raising funds for progressive groups, and we are proud to be on their list of giving options.”

“With funding from MaineShare, we will be able to support our statewide advocacy and offer more programs, like the weeklong soccer clinic in the Milbridge area that parents requested in our Community Needs Assessment,” Mano en Mano Executive Director Ian Yaffe said.

“We are expanding our popular ‘Basic Money Management in America’ course to immigrants and refugees throughout the state,” Community Financial Literacy Executive Director Claude Rwaganje said.

Based in Augusta, MaineShare gives donors an easy way to fund 43 statewide organizations that make Maine a better place to live.  Using MaineShare payroll giving and direct gifts, these groups promote good health, environmental protection, safe communities, economic opportunity, human rights, animal welfare, peace, and more.  Year-round giving at work provides these nonprofits with a steady flow of dollars to keep vital programs going.

MaineShare’s board chair Kelly McDonald, a lawyer with Murray Plumb and Murray, said that he is “proud of all of MaineShare’s 43 groups and the work they do to make Maine a better place to live.  MaineShare is an easy way to support the Maine we all love.  Either through direct gifts or through workplace giving, MaineShare is a one-stop giving opportunity to support groups that share the values of fairness, equality, and environmental stewardship.  Today, we are launching our 23rd annual workplace giving campaign to support all our member groups and welcome our seven new groups”.

Since 1989, MaineShare has distributed over $3.6 million Maine groups.  Currently, 150 workplaces offer MaineShare to their employees.  To learn how to expand payroll giving at your workplace, visit www.maineshare.org or call (207) 622- 0105.