United Way of Kennebec Valley (UWKV) has named Kennebec County residents Nate Curtis and Sue Grenier as the campaign co-chairs for the upcoming fundraising season. Curtis of Gagnon Dental and Grenier of G&E Roofing Company are charged with growing community partnerships throughout Kennebec County.
“This year, we have an opportunity to make strides in northern Kennebec County by strengthening and expanding our existing partnerships and forming new ones,” Curtis said. “I look forward to seeing how the campaign will adapt in the newly added communities of UWKV’s service area—I think there will be excitement in the campaign among both partner programs and businesses.”
Last September, UWKV
announced its expansion to cover the remaining nine towns of northern Kennebec County that were formerly managed by United Way of Mid-Maine—unifying all United Way efforts within Kennebec County for the first time.
“We are very excited to work with individual supporters as well as the business community across Kennebec County to raise funds that support the incredible agencies and programs that make a huge difference in the lives of local people,” Grenier said. “I am also thrilled to welcome our neighbors in Waterville to our United Way family.”
With the support of the Campaign Champions—a group comprised of business and community members who will facilitate campaign support from across the region—Curtis and Grenier will broaden UWKV’s network of individual and corporate donors.
“As we continue to deal with the consequences of the pandemic, I hope we see normalcy return, but not complacency,” Curtis said. “As evidenced by the last couple of campaigns, when people in our area see a need, they tend to pitch in and help. Things are getting back to normal, but we still face all the old challenges, and with the rising costs of living, basic needs are getting further from reach for many people.”
Grenier agreed, adding, “I know our community can come back even stronger as we persevere through the rest of the pandemic. I hope our young community members see more reasons than ever to stay in Kennebec County to live, work and raise their own families.”
As part of its annual initiative, United Way’s workplace campaigns engage more than 150 local businesses each year representing more than 3,500 donors. Last year, donations to United Way totaled more than $1.8 million and supported 49 nonprofit programs across Kennebec County.
Curtis is an Augusta native who attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania for mechanical engineering. In 2012, after working as an engineer for seven years, Curtis joined the Gagnon Dental team as the general manager. Curtis has been heavily involved with the community and United Way for many years—having been its 365 Small Business Chair in 2018 and an active volunteer, committee member and current board member. Curtis lives in West Gardiner with his wife and three daughters.
Grenier, now a resident of Augusta, graduated from Lewiston High School and attended the University of Southern Maine for accounting. After college, Grenier worked in accounting and cosmetology, and was a fundraiser for the American Lung Association. In 2005, she joined G&E Roofing as the client service coordinator and sales assistant. Grenier is also no stranger to volunteering, having received many awards and recognitions since 1999 for her dedication and community service in Kennebec County. Grenier is the oldest of four children and enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her partner Mark.
“We are very fortunate to live in an area that, while fairly populated, almost feels small—many of us tend to go to the same places and see the same faces,” Curtis said. “It’s rewarding to know that we can help neighbors who might need a little extra support. Giving back means being part of a solution, and I might be helping somebody I see that day or one of my kids’ classmates.”
If you are interested in serving as a United Way Campaign Champion or supporting the fundraising effort, please contact (207) 626-3400. For more information about United Way of Kennebec Valley, visit
uwkv.org.
