Press Release

For Immediate Release
Friday, May 21, 2010

Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers
Raises Over $15,000 to Send Kids to Summer Camp

WATERVILLE, Maine – The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers is taking strides to raise funds to send underprivileged children in Maine to overnight Summer Camp. The adoption agency's recent events and donations to support the "Walk For Camp" fundraising program have raised $15,866. The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers, based in Waterville, is a nonprofit agency that operates Maine's longest-running adoption program.

The agency's camp scholarships have been providing Maine children with a brighter outlook on the future since 1967. This year, every $250 will send a child to overnight summer camp for one week. Camps involved in the program include Camp Susan Curtis in Stoneham, Camp Tracy in Oakland, Camp Mechuwana in Winthrop, and Fair Haven Camps in Brooks.

The "Walk For Camp" fundraising program included three walks this month to help raise funds to reach the agency's goal of $50,000 in order to send 160 kids to overnight summer camp.

Two "Walk For Camp" fundraising walks were held on May 20 in Augusta and Waterville. The walks were sponsored by Kennebec Savings, Acadia Trust and Poland Spring. The total contributions from pledges, donations and sponsors from the two walks equaled $9,739.

The third walk was held at the Samoset Resort on May 13 as part of the Human Resources Convention in Maine. The event included all seven Human Resource Chapters in Maine totaling over 700 guests. As part of the event, attendees were encouraged to donate or seek pledges for a three mile walk from the resort to the breakwater. The partnerships and fundraiser at the Samoset Resort helped raise $2,500 to send 10 children to camp.

Steve Mayberry, development director at the Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers, says the "Walk For Camp" program supports the agency's efforts to nurture and inspire the youth.

"We're thrilled with the contributions that we've seen from all walkers, sponsors and volunteers this year. Every person has made a difference by helping to support our efforts to send kids to camp," says Mayberry. "The funds from these series of events will play a big part in helping us reach our goal of $50,000 and make a lot of kids very happy."

In addition to incoming donations by mail, the organization has additional events planned in an effort to continue to raise funds to send more children to overnight summer camp.

On Monday, June 28 the Calumet Club in Augusta will host a Seafood and Meat Raffle with all proceeds benefiting the "Walk For Camp" program. The event will begin at 5:00 p.m. The cost of the buffet dinner is $3.00. Non-members of the Calumet Club, must be accompanied by a club member.

As part of the "Walk For Camp" fundraising program, Ray Haskell Ford in Waterville is challenging local car dealerships to sponsor a child ($250) in an effort to see which dealership can send the most children to camp. The funds raised from the upcoming raffle and car dealership challenge will be announced at a later date.

To donate to The Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers Summer Camp Scholarship Program or if you know of a child in need that could benefit from an overnight camping experience, contact Devon Pooler, summer camp coordinator, at 207- 872-0261.