The Maine State Housing Authority awarded Stanford the management contract for Munjoy South a year ago along with other properties formerly managed by Liberty Management, Inc. The contracts added $30 million to Stanford’s portfolio of developments in four states, and made Stanford Management the largest woman-owned affordable housing management company in the nation.

“We’ve worked very hard in the last year to listen to the residents of Munjoy South and make needed improvements in their quality of life,” said Rosa Scarcelli, president of Stanford Management. “Stanford has no ownership interest in the property, but we manage it as if we do. Many of our residents are elderly or disabled, so even small changes can mean a lot.”

Residents seem pleased. Carolyn Weiss, a 38-year resident of Munjoy South, said, “I am very satisfied with the response of services and staff, and couldn’t be happier. Problems are responded to right away and I am very happy with Stanford Management since they have been here”

Freda Anderson, a 28 year resident, said, “After a recent injury the staff immediately made modifications to my apartment. I am very happy with the changes since Stanford Management. This is the first time since I have lived at this property that I have ever had an opportunity to actually talk to the management company. I think that the management company has just gotten better.”

Scarcelli credits her capable, on-site staff for the turnaround. “It’s important to have qualified and enthusiastic staff members and managers who are invested in making sure that the needs of the tenants are being met,” she said.

About Stanford Management: Stanford Management is a full service property management firm founded in 2001. Our $250 million portfolio consists of thousands of units of affordable housing in four states allowing us to offer housing opportunities for seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and families. Stanford Management is headquartered in Portland, Maine. It started as a family owned business with a goal to make a difference in the affordable housing sector and provide outstanding service to our residents, owners and reporting agencies. For more information see www.stanfordmanagement.com

Contact: Rosa Scarcelli, 207-772-3399

presents 5 Planned Giving Workshops

The first and very timely for many  Executive Directors,

this January 19 in Portland Maine

and January 26 in Augusta Maine
“Strategies for Planned Giving for the “small” Development Office”

attendees will learn:

• Maximizing potential with minimal capacity
• Engaging board and senior management for support and success
• Sustaining the effort for the long-term

Fees detailed at www.planningforgood.net

advance registration required,  no charge for Planning For Good clients

Complete details available at www.planningforgood.net

email @srueflindquist@gmail.com or call 975-5165

The films include “The Triumverate”, ‘Vital Records” and ‘For the Life of Me” by Jean Strauss, “Adoptee Rights:Philadelphia 2009” by Scott Hancock and “Roots: Unknown” by Zara Phillips.

Admission is by donation and light hors devours will be served at intermission. Festivities begin at Noon at The Maine Studios Facility on Presumpscot Street in Portland.

Snowdate is January 3^rd, 2010.

The Maine Studios is an eco-friendly Film Studio located in Portland; Maine’s largest city.  With over 43,000 square feet of production and office space, this facility is one of the largest film studios in the Northeast.  www.mainefilmstudios.com

CONTACT: Sarah Ruef-Lindquist (207) 975-5165

HALLOWELL, Maine.

Sarah Ruef-Lindquist has been named President of the Board of the Maine Bar Foundation (MBF) for the year 2010.

Founded in 1983, MBF serves Maine’s communities and the legal professional through its administration of the Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (“IOLTA”) Program and other public-service law related activities. MBF funds Pine Tree Legal Services, the Volunteer Lawyers Project, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Maine Equal Justice Partners, Legal Services for the Elderly, the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic and has also provided funding to other non-profit organizations working to increase access to justice for those in poverty in Maine.

The Maine Bar Foundation has provided leadership and administrative support to one of the most successful fundraising initiatives amongst lawyers and the judiciary in the United States: Now in its 6^th year, the Campaign for Justice raises more funds from lawyers and the judiciary in Maine for legal services than all but one other state, raising over $400,000 in each of the years 2008 and in 2009 to support access to justice.

Ruef-Lindquist, a member of the Foundation Board since 2003, has served as Development Chair, Finance Chair, Investment Committee Chair and Treasurer. She also serves on the board of the Maine Philanthropy Center. She also serves on the Development Committee of Franklin Pierce Law Center, and has served on numerous boards of Maine and New Hampshire non-profits. She is a frequent writer and speaker on the topic of trust, estate and charitable planning, and is Senior Consultant and founder of Planning for Good, www.planningforgood.net providing gift planning support services to non-profits.

The Maine Bar Foundation’s offices are located at 40 Water Street, Hallowell. www.mbf.org

Kristy Engel tries to live by her saying, “Do what you can, with what you’ve got, in the moment you’re given” through her medical work in La Romana, Dominican Republic and the surrounding sugarcane villages.

Spending time as a mission volunteer in Haiti helped Kristy to realize that God was calling her into medical mission. After completing nursing school, she returned to Haiti and worked in pediatrics at Good Samaritan Hospital in Limbé for eighteen months. Now she works with the Good Samaritan Hospital in La Romana, Dominican Republic, ministering to Haitians who are among the poorest in the country. She travels daily to batey (work camp) villages and barrios providing medical attention where so many have been unwilling or unable to offer these services.

“I find incredible joy and fulfillment in working with children,” says Kristy Engel, who uses her skills in nursing and education in medical ministry in the Dominican Republic.

Malnutrition, parasites and poor economic conditions make it difficult to provide appropriate care to the children she works with, but with the help of many American volunteers, she is able to meet some of their needs. She helps to coordinate the medical and volunteer teams that visit the Good Samaritan Hospital as well as mentor individuals or university students who seek international experiences.

Her two dogs, Kobe and Sasha, are also part of her ministry by being her “patients” as she demonstrates appropriate oral hygiene by brushing their teeth and talking about
caring for our bodies. “When I work with my dog, Kobe, to teach children proper hygiene by brushing his teeth, bathing him and brushing his coat,” she says, “most of the kids know his name better than my own!”

Kristy believes few people enter the field of medical ministry because of perceived hardship and often-volatile work environments. “Unfortunately, this means that many people around the world will suffer and die due to lack of medical treatment,” she says. “I have found that God has given me a greater sense of His purpose through nursing on the mission field.”  Kristy completed her Master’s in Nursing and her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program in 2009.

Kristy has been working in La Romana since 2000 and she speaks both Spanish and Haitian Creole fluently.

Kristy also leads many American work teams that minister to the needs in the Dominican Republic.

Kristy Engel’s Schedule:  Sept. 19 – 6:00 pm Potluck Supper with Kristy Speaking at 7:00 pm.  Sept. 20 – 9:00 am: Kristy will share with the children and youth. Sept. 20 – 10:15: Kristy will share in the morning worship service. Sept. 20 – 6:00 pm: Kristy will share in the evening worship service

The Charlotte White Center is grateful to acknowledge the sponsorship of Newport Motorsports, along with G3 Boats, for the Maine Bass Championship Tournament.  The Maine Bass Championship Fishing Club will be hosting the four day event and donating all proceeds to the Charlotte White Center’s Children’s Programs.

Southern Qualifier          Saturday, July 18           Pleasant Pond                  Gardiner

Northern Qualifier          Sunday, August 2                  Sebec Lake                Dover-Foxcroft

Fish-Off (day one)         Saturday, August 22      Sebasticook Lake            Newport

Fish–Off (day two)         Sunday, August 23                Unity Pond                       Unity

All events start at 7am.

1^st place for the fish-off is $2000 guaranteed!

The Charlotte White Center is a social service and healthcare agency that serves children, adults and families with cognitive and intellectual disabilities and behavioral health challenges.  Through the hard work of highly trained staff, over eight hundred consumers are served every month through out central and eastern Maine.

For information about the fishing tournament or services provided by the Charlotte White Center, please call Erica Kimball at 207-947-1410 ext 120.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: entreverge Director Johann Sabbath

Phone (207) 807-7073 cell

Email: johann.sabbath@gmail.com

Portland, ME – Portland PROPEL unveiled entreverge, a bold new project to celebrate and support local entrepreneurs.

The inaugural entreverge Awards, a collaborative project led by PROPEL in partnership with the Portland Regional Chamber and numerous local businesses, business groups, non-profits, and social networks, will accelerate economic growth by connecting entrepreneurs and business innovators with resources and relationships within Portland’s local business community.

“The launch of entreverge comes at a time when the economy is starving for positive energy and when national trends toward innovation and entrepreneurship are amplifying louder than ever”, said Mike Carey, Chair of PROPEL and auctioneer with Tranzon Auction Properties.

Nominations for the entreverge Awards will be fielded at www.entreverge.com from May 5th to 31st.  Nominees will be considered by PROPEL on a number of criteria, including the nominees’ scalable vision for their business and their commitment to a triple bottom line—the people, place, and prosperity of Maine.

Five entreverge Award-winners will receive face time with Portland’s leading business figures and a package of pro bono consultation, services, and products volunteered by local artistic, finance, IT, legal, marketing, and web experts and other business service providers.

Dana Hutchins, owner of Image Works Internet Business Solutions, is one of the local business leaders who is volunteering consulting services to the winners.  “When I was approached about getting involved, “ remarked Dana, “I thought is was a great opportunity to give back to the business community and meet exciting new clients.”

“This is a critical time for collaboration and getting the resources of Portland’s business community behind its future leaders,” said Will Thomas, an entreverge organizer and founder of the Portland-based triathlon company Tri-Maine. 

The entreverge Awards will culminate with a celebration on Thursday evening, June 25th at Port City Music Hall in downtown Portland with live performances by Adam and the Waxmen and the Jason Spooner Band. Tickets can be purchased through the Portland Regional Chamber by calling 207-772-2811.

Recognizing the need to celebrate risk and innovation in today’s economic climate, PROPEL began planning entreverge this winter when approached by the University of Maine Farmington and Swardlick Marketing Group.  Six months later—after comprehensive feedback from many of Portland’s business leaders and social entrepreneurs—entreverge has arrived.

“I’ve spent the last few months meeting with business leaders and organizational heads throughout Greater Portland,” said entreverge Director Johann Sabbath, “trying to figure out the greatest potential value that PROPEL could bring to the community.  Organizing entreverge became the answer.”

Portland PROPEL is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering leadership and education among Greater Portland’s young blue, white, green, and no-collar business community. In 2006, PROPEL was inspired by the Realize!Maine network and formed as an affiliate of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce.

entreverge is made possible by Premier Sponsors Bangor Savings Bank, Swardlick Marketing Group, and the University of Maine Farmington and Premier Media Sponsor Mainebiz.

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Columbia Street Baptist Church’s physical location in the heart of Downtown Bangor, and close proximity to the Bangor Homeless Shelter, Shaw House, and Manna Ministries, makes it a great place to host a soup kitchen and serve a meal to those who would otherwise have no meal on Sunday.

The general feeling within the community is that a meal on Sunday is needed. Manna Ministries and The Salvation Army Soup Kitchen—who serve meals during the week—are closed on Sunday. The Bangor Homeless Shelter turns away 20-30 people each Sunday. Once word gets around, the Soup kitchen expects to serve 80 to 90 people each week.  During these tough economic times, it’s possible the need for a Sunday soup kitchen will be here for a very long time.

Planning for Good, www.planningforgood.net

a Maine-based firm out of Camden, offers education, training and support to non-profit organizations seeking to build their endowments through planned gifts. In 2009, Planning for Good is offering a series of Workshops designed to support organizations beginning or continuing to develop their planned giving efforts.

The workshops are designed for development and executive staff as well as board members as an opportunity to learn practical tips for designing and implementing policies and procedures to optimize planned giving to support building endowment and organizational sustainability. The workshops will be led by Sr. Consultant, Sarah Ruef-Lindquist, JD, CTFA.

Sarah Ruef-Lindquist

Ms. Ruef-Lindquist has a background in law, philanthropy and wealth management. She is a frequent speaker and writer on the topic of planned giving. Participants of other programs on planned giving she has presented have remarked:

“You made a complex topic accessible.  I came in knowing nothing. Now I know at least which questions to ask” and

“Open, easy presentation style” and “(Materials are) Superb. Looking forward to revisiting them frequently” and

“Opened my eyes to aspects of planned giving I have never experienced” and finally “Her pace was perfect and her use of the materials – providing just enough information on the side – produced a fascinating session.”

The schedule of workshops is as follows:

April 6 Gift Acceptance Policies: A strong foundation for your planned giving program

Necessary input; Marketing aspects; Managing risk & maximizing opportunities

June 8 Marketing Planned Giving: Focus on Board, Professional Advisors and Prospects

Developing network of professional advisors through board and other networks; Do’s and Don’ts for outreach methods and materials

September 14 Legacy Societies: Designing Meaningful recognition for donors

Creating recognition that supports donor relations and prospect development in keeping with organization’s culture

November 9 2009 Updates:  Trends, Developments and Ideas to support planned giving

Regulatory and legal developments that impact charitable gifting; Outlook on estate and gift tax’s changing landscape, Reports from the field of planned giving

All programs will be held 9:30a – 12:30p at the Maine State Bar Association Offices, 124 State Street, Augusta. For directions, visit www.mainebar.org. Advanced registration is required. While there is no cost to board or staff members of Planning for Good Clients, others will be charged $175 per attendee per program, or $800 to register for all 5 workshops.  FMI, call (207) 975-5165, or visit www.planningforgood.net. SPACE IS LIMITED

Eastern Maine AIDS Network (EMAN) will once again be sponsoring the Bangor area route of AIDS Walk Weekend 2009 on Saturday, May 2, 2009. Organized by Maine Community AIDS Partnership (MCAP), walks will take place across the state and in Portsmouth, NH, during the weekend of May 2-3. The funds raised will be matched by the National AIDS Fund, and all monies will go to local HIV/AIDS service organizations.This 5k (3.1m) walk begins and ends in front of the Eastern Maine AIDS Network office at 370 Harlow Street and will follow a route that goes across the State Street Bridge to Main Street, Brewer, back across the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge, and through downtown Bangor. Registration commences at 10:00AM with the Walk starting at 11:00AM.

Can’t walk? Not a problem. Volunteers are also needed to help set up, direct participants to the parking areas, and act as crossing guards at the various intersections along the route. Donations are also gratefully accepted.

Participants are encouraged to go to www.aidswalkweekend.com/bangor.htm, our Kintera website, where you can register online and create your very own fundraising page! You can also register by picking up a registration form at the EMAN office at 370 Harlow Street, Bangor, or at 10:00AM on the morning of the walk. There is no fee to participate and pledges are optional, but highly encouraged.

For more information about AIDS Walk Weekend 2009, go to www.aidswalkweekend.com/bangor.htm or contact Joy Sinclair at 207-990-3626 or joy@maineaidsnetwork.com.

Eastern Maine AIDS Network was established in 1987 as a grass roots response to the needs of people living with and affected by HIV / AIDS. EMAN is a not-for-profit agency that provides a variety of services throughout Eastern and Northern Maine. Its primary goal is to support clients who are living with HIV / AIDS. EMAN also provides community and outreach prevention education, as well as HIV antibody testing to the general public. For more information, visit EMAN’s website at www.maineaidsnetwork.com or call toll-free 1-877-990-3626.