Nicole Witherbee

In all, 70 nonprofits in all 16 Maine counties received funding. In addition, the foundation gave $100,000 each to Preble Street, based in Portland, and Good Shepherd Food Bank, headquartered in Auburn.

Nonprofits in all of Maine's 16 counties have received grants from the Portland-based foundation to address hunger, housing, transportation and health.

For the past decade, the foundation’s support of the Lewiston Tree Street Initiative has yielded results and is considered a model for other organizations.

While the number of donors continues to increase, businesses and organizations supporting the Maine Community Foundation's Lewiston-Auburn Area Response fund include L.L.Bean and the John T. Gorman Foundation, a Portland-based nonprofit.

Nicole Witherbee, president and CEO of the Portland-based foundation, talks to Mainebiz about the foundation's mission and impact.