WATERVILLE, Maine - On January 19, The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers hosted their annual dinner at The Elks Club in Waterville to bring together employees, community members and businesses that have supported Maine's oldest adoption agency. The night included a dinner, awards ceremony and silent auction. The event helped the agency raise more than $2,000.
"This was a wonderful evening that shared information about the programs that The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers provides, while honoring those who have worked tirelessly to make those programs strong," said Sharon Abrams, executive director for The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers.
The dinner featured guest speaker Andrea Pasco, a Waterville native who, as a sophomore in high school, attended The Maine Children's Home where she made the decision to place her child for adoption. Pasco, who attended the agency's Teen Parent School Program, talked about her experiences and shared her inspirational story, including 15 years of employment at KVCAP as a Family Life Educator and supervisor in the area of adolescent sexual health.
As part of the evening, Jill Huard, board president of The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers; Sharon Abrams, executive director; Steve Mayberry, development director and Cristen Sawyer, Christmas Program director and volunteer coordinator all spoke and presented recognition and awards to employees and community partners that helped the agency in 2011.
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| Carol Rowe of Waterville was named Employee of the Year at The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers |
Employee of the Year - Carol Rowe (Waterville)
Carol Rowe has been an Assistant Preschool Teacher at The Children's Place since 2002. Carol also plans and implements a bi-weekly Movement Program for both preschool rooms, helping the children build skills that will lead to a lifetime of healthy living. At The Maine Children's Home's Annual In-service this past September, she presented a one and a half hour staff training titled "Learn To Move, Move To Learn" to The Children's Place teachers. In 2010, Carol received her Child Development Associatecredential. Starting this semester, she is one of 24 people in four Maine counties, accepted as a member of the pilot cohort for the 1st on-line Early Childhood Education degree program at KVCC.
Exceptional "Lunch Lady" and Mentor - Gloria Keay (Albion)
Gloria has transformed the lunchroom at The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers into a place where students will patiently wait in line to enter. Her passion for her job and the children is what sets her apart. She smiles at each person coming through the line and shares her genuine care. She listens to the students and children tell stories and understands, that for many of our students, this may be their only meal. Gloria has been instrumental in creating a dialog with the students about the foods they would like to eat and has worked hard to make sure that the lunch meets those requirements. She brings the sense of motherly nurturing to her work that these students desperately need and crave. In 2012, Gloria has also offered to become a mentor to student at The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers.
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| Carol and Gene Lozito of Waterville were named Volunteers of the Year |
Mentors of the Year - Carol and Gene Lozito (China)
Carol and Gene Lozito have worked with two of the agency's alternative education students. They have hosted the students at their house several times a month for dinner; they take them out to dinner and the movies, celebrating birthdays and holidays. Since their involvement as mentors, the students have become more focused at school and have a desire to live with hope for the future. Carol and Gene have extended themselves to other students and babies, and keep in touch with the kids after their time at the agency. They have also been involved as Bigs in the Big Brother/Sister program and continuously support every agency. Gene has played a large role in developing the agency's Wine Tasting event and building a connection with Pine State Beverage Company.
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| Emily Saucier and Megan Champagne raised funds for The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers |
Student Volunteers of the Year, Teen Parent School Program - Emily Saucier and Megan Champagne (Messalonskee High School)
Messalonskee students Emily Saucier and Megan Champagne were recognized for their work in Mr. DeMott's civics class. For their class project, the two students came to the Teen Parent School Program looking for ways they could help. Staff provided them with an extensive list of the ways they could help. In addition to completing every task, they also raised several hundred dollars between their family and friends and bought backpacks for all of the students in the school. The young women also filled the backpacks with school and art supplies as well as several brand new toiletries and household items for the students living on their own. The backpacks were presented to students from the Teen Parent School Program right before Christmas.
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| Left to right: Greg Glynn, Whitney Moreau, Nancy Marshall, Nikki Busmanis and Matt Rideout from Nancy Marshall Communications in Augusta |
Business Partner Award - Nancy Marshall Communications (Augusta)
Nancy Marshall Communications, a public relations, marketing and web development agency, has been working with The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers since 2009. In the past three years, the Augusta-based agency designed and built the agency's new website, increased online donations and provided public relations to announce the agency's Hague Accreditation and other news. The NMC team continuously arranges media interviews for staff and coordinates press conferences. Each month, Nancy Marshall Communications' employees also help create "Open Arms," the official e-newsletter of The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers.
Corporate Partner Award - Marden's (Store locations throughout Maine)
In 2011, the 14 Marden's stores sold $33,916 worth of Little Red Stockings. In the past five years, beginning with just one store the first year, Marden's has raised $96,330 for The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers.
As part of the evening, Rosemary Winslow was honored for her six years of service on the board of directors for the Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers. During her time, she was President of the Board in 2009 and also served on the Personnel/Policies Committee, the Executive Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee. Her energy, and expertise and commitment to the agency will be missed. Winslow is currently the Intergovernmental Liaison for Congressman Michael Michaud, 2nd District Congressman.
All award winners and representatives from The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers are available for interviews about the awards. To arrange, contact Greg Glynn at 207-620-9076.
Editor's Note: Click on the photos above to access a larger downloadable version.
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