"This is a real success for our community," said Campaign Chair Bob Davis of Border Trust. "Our Campaign theme was `Together We Are Strong,' and our donors and volunteers this year proved this is true. The way everybody pulled together represents the commitment people have to helping others. This is something that's very special about our Mid Coast community. Thank you to everyone involved! Many lives will be better over the coming year because of this commitment."

United Way's fundraising supports vital health and human services for Mid Coast residents in four key areas: Meeting Basic Needs/Safety Net, A Safe & Healthy Community, Success By 6: Early Childhood, and Youth and Lifelong Learning. United Way's mission is "to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities." It currently funds programs helping thousands of people at 36 local partner agencies. Work will continue over the next few weeks to bring in the remaining individual gifts and projected donations that make up part of the announced total.

The overall Campaign Excellence Award was presented to FHC in Bowdoinham. For their all-staff United Way meeting, the employee team organized United Way Loaned Executive and agency speakers, the video, a spaghetti luncheon and auction. In addition they held a community dance, a pot luck breakfast and lunch, candy and bake sales, and a United Way trivia quiz. All together with the corporate gift they raised over $25,000 for United Way and showed tremendous community spirit.

The Volunteer of the Year Award, usually presented to an individual, this year was presented to the Employee Volunteer Team at Bath Iron Works. Under the leadership of Sharon Guay of Local S/6 and BIW and Bruce Savage of BIW, the team organized and conducted meetings reaching thousands of workers, and raising approximately $700,000 for United Way. The team undertook additional training this year, distributed more educational materials to employees, and helped with other United Way events in the community as well. In addition to Guay, Savage, and Loaned Executive Robert Washington of Local S/6 and BIW, the Employee Volunteer Team included: Sorale Black, Bob Bull, Lisa Cook, Steve Cornish, Dick Doyle, Lori Fancisco, Janice Gammon, Del Gardner, Glen Hilt, Carroll Leeman, Randy Levesque, Ed McCarren, Paul McLaughlin, Anna Parker, Cathy Pierce, John Portela, Zada Rolfe, Sarah Savage, Scott Sorenson, Dave Sparks, Laurie Sylvester, Tom Trowbridge, Jack Ware, Lorraine White, and Steve Young.

A highlight of the Finale was the drawing for United Way's "Paddle Away" incentive, an Old Town Kayak donated by L.L. Bean. Everyone attending a meeting to hear the United Way message face-to-face was eligible, and approximately 7,000 people entered. The winner was Catherine Glover of Topsham and the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber. L.L. Bean was thanked and presented with an Outstanding Organizational Support Award. Border Trust also received the Outstanding Organizational Support Award, in part for the extensive volunteer support offered by Davis, Charles Butts, and Bill Force.

Division Awards went to Sweetser (Public Service); Bath Schools (Education); The Times Record (Commerce and Industry); Mid Coast Health Services (Health); the James Building Employees (Bath Iron Works); the Naval Air Station Brunswick Personnel Support Detachment (Combined Federal Campaign); and Wright Pierce (Finance & Professional).

The organizations providing or sponsoring Loaned Executives were thanked for this critical support: Bath Iron Works, Local S6, L.L. Bean, Naval Air Station Brunswick, Northeast Bank, Norway Savings, Parkview Adventist Medical Center, Bath Savings Institution, Downeast Energy, FHC, Inc., and The Times Record. Loaned Executives working full-time on the campaign for ten weeks include: Linda Corey, Dan Hancock, Laurie Keen, Annie O'Rourke, Diana Selee, Lt. Peter Toscani, Lisa Walker, and Robert Washington.

In addition to Davis, the 2005 United Way Campaign Cabinet includes: Vice Chair Doug Morrell of Downeast Energy; Bruce Savage, BIW; Sharon Guay, Local S6/BIW; Lt. Peter Toscani, Naval Air Station Brunswick; Glenn Irish, Woodex Bearing Co., Inc.; Don Winckler, Solutions Maine; Mike Wilhelm, MSAD 75; Darlene Chalmers and Barbara McCue, Mid Coast Health Services; Ed Catlin, attorney; Bill Force, Border Trust; Terry MacGregor, Sun-Ray Animal Clinic; David Vazdauskas, Victory Branding; Charlie Butts, Border Trust; Bethany Hunter, Sexual Assault Support Services of Mid Coast Maine; Joan Maloney Chrane, Re-Max Riverside; Pamela Bowerman, Norway Savings Bank; Janine Thompson, Atlantic Regional Federal Credit Union.