AUGUSTA — UWKV is thrilled to announce that it raised $23,509 to support community programming at its 54th Annual Golf Scramble, presented by Charlie's Family of Dealerships. This marks a more than 12% increase from last year — making this year's event the most successful to date. The tournament, held on July 29 at the Augusta Country Club, saw participation from 30 teams and received sponsorship from 31 businesses.

The proceeds from this successful event will contribute to United Way's annual fundraising campaign, benefiting 59 nonprofit and school-based programs across Kennebec County.

2024 United Way Golf Scramble Winners: 

1st Gross: Dan Benson, Dan Dalfonso, Kris Welt and Jeff Seavey, representing Goose River Holdings.

1st Net: Gary Smith, Kelly Huggins, Chris Markos and Craig Day, representing One River CPAs.

Click the link below to see a full list of all Scramble and Course Challenge winners.

Charlie's Family of Dealerships served as the presenting sponsor and also sponsored the hole-in-one challenge. Central Maine Power was the exclusive cart sponsor. Golfers enjoyed lunch provided by Milestone Funeral Partners and J.S. McCarthy Packaging + Print. The event banquet was generously sponsored by NRF Distributors and Performance Foodservice — NorthCenter.

Charlie's Family of Dealership's is considered the largest new car dealer group in Maine — offering a vast inventory of new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles. With state-of-the-art service, parts, and body shop facilities, over 60 factory-trained technicians ensure top-notch customer satisfaction. Despite significant growth, Charlie’s remains a family-run business, maintaining the values and personalized service that have driven its success for over 30 years. For great prices, a large selection, and exceptional customer care, Charlie’s Motor Mall is the place to go.

Thank you, Charlie's Family of Dealerships for being this year's presenting sponsor!

Employee Campaign Managers (ECMs) are the driving force behind United Way’s workplace giving campaigns.

To ensure your success, we provide ECMs with a comprehensive toolkit, including tailored training sessions. Whether you're an experienced ECM or new to the United Way community, this training will provide valuable insights into 2024 messaging, including this year’s new and impactful UNIGNORABLE theme and how to apply it to your campaign. You’ll also learn about new donor initiatives, Impact2032, and innovative fundraising strategies that drive results.

We invite a representative from your business to join us at Kennebec Savings Bank in Waterville on August 27 from 11 am to 12:30 pm.

Join us for an engaging virtual panel discussion on Aug. 20 at 10 am as we delve into the transformative concept of Community Schools and explore what makes them unique. Discover how the four core pillars set Community Schools apart from traditional models, and gain insights into the landscape and development process of becoming a Community School in Maine.

This is a unique opportunity to hear from leading voices, including Melissa Cilley, J.D. (University of New England), Joline Collins (Institute for Educational Leadership), Ann Hanna (Maine Department of Education), and Mike Jaruszewicz (United Way of Erie County), who are shaping the future of education.

Zoom information will be provided upon registration. Don't miss your chance to be part of this important conversation!

We are excited to welcome Karen Tracy as our new Administrative Assistant at United Way. Karen, a native of Augusta, brings a deep connection to the community and a background in journalism with a concentration in advertising from the University of Maine.

Karen will be the friendly face greeting visitors and answering calls, while also playing a key role in processing pledges for our upcoming campaign. Her extensive volunteer work and passion for community service make her a valuable addition to our team.

Karen and her husband live in Jefferson, where she enjoys gardening, rock collecting, and quilting. Please join us in welcoming Karen to United Way!

UWKV is excited to introduce our first-ever Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) micro-grants. Designed to support events or marketing projects that enhance accessibility and educate our community on DEI, these grants range from $500 to $1,000.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed monthly. The process will continue until 2024 funds are fully allocated, with plans to offer these grants annually through at least 2027.

Apply today and help us build a more inclusive community!

We are excited to announce that we are recruiting new members for UWKV's Board of Directors! If you have a passion for building strong, healthy communities, giving all kids equal opportunities, and improving financial stability for everyone, we encourage you to consider joining our team.

Serving on the Board is a unique opportunity to shape the future of our organization and make a lasting impact in the lives of those we serve. Whether you, or someone you know, is interested in this meaningful role, we invite you to submit a nomination.

Please complete the Board Nomination Form by Sept. 1.

Together, we can continue to build a better community for all.

Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KVCAP) has been working with UWKV on the Impact2032 project since its inception. As a partner agency, KVCAP is committed to working in tandem with the many partners that UWKV has convened to improve Impact2032 on several domains.

KVCAP’s wide array of services support each of the three goal areas in numerous ways, such as providing transportation services to get people to medical appointments and providing quality early education to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, which lays a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

The following success story was submitted by the South End Teen Center (SETC), a United Way partner program. Your dollars supported this family as well as many others across Kennebec County.

Ricky (a pseudonym) was an early participant in Snow Pond’s StoryCorps sessions at Waterville’s SETC, which began in June 2022. Snow Pond’s staff first met Ricky when he attended its Learn to Own music program at SETC. His background included an unstable home environment, food insecurity, and lack of support. He would barely make eye contact.

Ricky participated in StoryCorps because he wanted to learn about the roles of interviewer and interviewee. When he tried these skills during a live on-camera session, he looked straight into the camera, proudly introduced himself, and dove into an inquisitive and empathetic interview process with a younger teen. Due in part to his patient questioning, the interview became a rich discussion.

When it was his turn to be interviewed, Ricky shared a vision of his “future self,” in which he would have a positive impact on protecting the natural resources of Maine, as the population grows and energy demands increase.