United Way of Greater Portland raises $8.1M, names WEX leader as next campaign chair

While the pandemic has dampened much charitable giving, the United Way of Greater Portland on Wednesday said it received donations totaling over $8.1 million in last year’s community fundraising campaign, up 4% from the 2019 total.

The campaign, which kicked off in September 2020, drew contributions from 160 Maine businesses, other partners and their employees, in support of a wide range of organizations that advance education, financial stability and health for residents of greater Portland.

A total of $4.9 million came from organizational partners, according to a news release. They included L.L.Bean Inc., IDEXX Laboratories, Hannaford Supermarkets, Unum Group, TD Bank, WEX Inc., MaineHealth, John T. Gorman Foundation, BerryDunn, SunLife Financial/Disability RMS, Gorham Savings Bank, MEMIC, Texas Instruments, Bank of America, Baker Newman Noyes, KeyBank, Dead River Co., Martin’s Point Health Care, Drummond Woodsum, Verrill and ON Semiconductor.

Among other results:

51 local nonprofits received a total of $711,000 in COVID-19 rapid response funds
37,000 pounds of food were collected in a drive to fight hunger
The UWGP Racial Equity Fund raised nearly $295,000.

“The unprecedented events of 2020 and ongoing community impact of the pandemic made this campaign uniquely challenging,” said Steve deCastro, 2020 campaign chair and president and CEO of Gorham Savings Bank. “Yet at every step of the way United Way donors, staff, campaign volunteers, our non-profit partners and the community-at-large rose to meet the most urgent needs.”

The United Way chapter also announced that WEX Chair and CEO Melissa Smith will chair the 2021 campaign. Smith said, "I am very excited to continue the momentum that has been built by so many great leaders that have chaired the campaign in the past … I am honored to work with UWGP, whose purpose positively impacts the lives of so many."