At its May annual meeting, United Way of Mid Coast Maine presented its Community Builder Awards to Hope & Resiliency in the Boothbay Region, and to the Midcoast Community Alliance in Sagadahoc County, two coalitions working to prevent youth suicide.

United Way Executive Director Barbara Reinertsen and Board Chair Connie Jones of Boothbay presented the awards, saying that the winners had “gone above and beyond in working to build an even stronger, more compassionate Midcoast Maine community.”  

United Way noted that a survey of Lincoln County high school students found that 23.8 percent reported feeling sad or hopeless, and 12.9 percent seriously considered suicide, with the numbers in Sagadahoc County even worse with 28.7 percent feeling sad or hopeless, and 19 percent who seriously considered suicide – the highest percentage in the state.    

“These local citizens looked at the increasing numbers in their home communities and decided they needed to understand, and to act,” said Reinertsen in presenting the Awards.  She praised members for banding together into coalitions, holding community forums, raising awareness about mental health challenges, and planning future actions to try to reduce or eliminate suicide.  

Reinertsen also thanked the Boothbay Hope & Resiliency group for giving guidance to the newer Midcoast Community Alliance.  Coalition members, including co-founders the Reverend Sarah Foulger and Boothbay Harbor Police Chief Bob Hasch, were present to receive the award and the applause of the approximately 120 community leaders gathered for United Way’s annual meeting.

“We all know that there’s a long way to go,” said Reinertsen.  “And we know that progress, and prevention, are possible.  We salute these two groups, and everyone else who is working to help our young people toward health and happiness.”  

Community Builder Awards were also presented to the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) for its work bringing jobs to the former Naval Air Station, and Barry Sturgeon of Bath for his years of service through the Davenport Trust Fund

MRRA was praised for bringing in more jobs, at a faster rate, years ahead of projections, and years ahead of other base redevelopments across the country.  “The good jobs MRRA has brought make families more financially stable, and our whole community stronger,” Reinertsen said in presenting the award to MRRA’s Executive Director Steve Levesque and other staff and Board members.

Also honored by United Way was Barry Sturgeon, a 24-year Trustee of the Davenport Trust Fund, that was founded in 1927 for the benefit of young and needy children and non-profit organizations, especially those in the Bath area.  Reinertsen said that during Barry’s tenure, the Trust has provided millions of dollars to local nonprofits, working with the agencies to identify their needs and foster collaboration, and given thousands of area youth opportunities to see live theater, go to camp, and attend college, thanks to scholarships.  

United Way of Mid Coast Maine’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. In partnership with thousands of donors, United Way works to improve education, financial stability, and health for people in Lincoln and Sagadahoc Counties, Brunswick and Harpswell.