MaineWorks founder honored by Northern Light Mercy Hospital

File photo / Tim Greenway Margo Walsh is the recipient of this year's Forsley Award, named for Fred Forsley, an avid supporter of the Gary's House program at Northern Light.

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By Alexis Wells

MaineWorks CEO and founder Margo Walsh is the winner of this year's Forsley Award, presented today by Northern Light Mercy Hospital in honor of business leader Fred Forsley, a longtime advocate of the hospital’s Gary’s House program.

"The award really recognizes leadership and dedicated services to the community and neighbors in need, and to me, there's no better person that embodies that than Fred Forsley," said Walsh. "So, I think it's his ability to have pulled in so many different types of people over the years and to establish this award just to recognize people who reach out with a great intention to help people in the community."

Walsh has supported others through her innovative social staffing company, MaineWorks, a Portland-based business that helps those in recovery transition into the workplace. Walsh has worked for many years with local employers to help build their staff with employees who are beginning a new chapter in their lives.

Established in 2015, the award recognizes a leader and advocate who works to improve the community, focusing on people in need.

“It’s an honor for the Mercy family to recognize Margo for her extraordinary work to help support and advocate for others while partnering with employers to help address workforce challenges,” said Charlie Therrien, president of Mercy Hospital, in a prepared release.

The award was presented at a benefit for Gary’s House, a Mercy Hospital program that provides a home-away-from-home for families with loved ones who are receiving care at greater Portland health care facilities.

Sea Dog Brewing Co., which hosted the event at its Broadway location in South Portland, will donate all proceeds from the benefit to support Gary’s House, a Northern Light Mercy Hospital program that provides a safe, comfortable, affordable home-away-from-home for loved ones receiving care at any Portland area health care facility.

Walsh was honored as a Mainebiz Woman to Watch in 2014.