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Sponsored by: ProsperityME: The Center for Financial Education
Updated: September 23, 2019 2019 Giving Guide

ProsperityME: The Center for Financial Education

2020 Goals

We will be expanding our reach into Kennebec county in 2019 and 2020, concentrating our outreach efforts in immigrant community centers, churches, and schools and by collaborating with immigrant and low-income-focused nonprofits. We will add additional classes in the Lewiston area and continue to focus on increasing partnerships in Androscoggin county. We will empower our robust network of volunteers to expand their outreach efforts to immigrant and housing organizations and offer additional “How to be Successful Tenant” workshops pending our program replication in Lewiston. In 2020, we plan to award an additional five to ten college scholarships to asylum-seekers and begin a fundraising plan to create an endowment so the scholarship can exist in perpetuity. We will pair each of these students with a professional mentor to guide them on their career path and help ensure their academic success by strengthening our partnerships with target schools CMCC, SMCC and USM.

Fundraising events/Opportunities

The Community Block Party is our largest annual fundraiser where we honor immigrant community contributions to the Maine economy. Over 20 local businesses sign on as sponsors. The event is a true celebration of community accomplishments, with strong attendance from business leaders and partner nonprofits working on the behalf of immigrants. In 2020 we will honor business leaders and immigrant community organizers whose work has made contributions to the economic advancement of New Mainers. We will also announce and celebrate our 2020 scholarship winners and share with Greater Portland a slice of Central, East African, and Middle Eastern cultures though food and music.

The Block Party will be held in early May 2020. Sponsorship opportunities open on October 1, 2019. We invite you to learn how you can become a key player in this unique event.

For sponsorship and event information contact Matteson Nadeau: mnadeau@prosperityme.org

Giving Opportunities

New in 2020, ProsperityME will be launching our Maine Immigrants Prosperity Network, (MIPN) a network of financial services businesses with a long-term interest in helping Immigrants, Asylees, and Refugees understand and engage proactively in the American financial system. MIPN raised funds will support our financial education and counseling programs.

Please contact Claude Rwaganje with questions about MIPN membership and contributions: crwaganje@prosperityme.org.

ProsperityME conducts an individual annual appeal in November every year. We invite individuals to simplify their giving by joining our monthly giving program. Gifts are tax deductible. We also accept gifts of stock and in-kind donations.

You can donate though our website or mail. Questions about in-kind or stock gifts should be directed to Byron Bartlett: bbartlett@prosperityme.org

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Volunteer Housing Coach: In conjunction with our Supporting Immigrant Tenants program, housing coaches prepare asylum-seekers to rent their first apartment by reviewing the lease, giving advice, and offering friendship.
  • Scholarship Student Mentors: You can help nurture the next generation of talent in your industry by mentoring one of our 2020 scholarship recipients. Scholarship mentors help our student recipients to plan for the road ahead, offering professional advice and support as they advance through their post-secondary education.

ProsperityME is currently looking for professionals with backgrounds in marketing, development, or direct sales who want to make a difference in the lives of Maine immigrants by joining our Marketing and Development Committee! Interested parties should contact Matteson Nadeau, mnadeau@prosperityme.org, for more information.

Leadership

Claude Rwaganje: Executive Director
Helen Andreoli: Board Chair; Founding Partner & Chief Financial Officer, Great Diamond Partners

Board officers

Colette Twigg-Rowse: Board Vice Chair; Senior Vice President, Commercial Lending, Bath Savings Bank

Eileen Fongemie: Board Treasurer; Vice President, Finance, The MEMIC Group

Craig Tribuno: Board Secretary; CEO and Chairman of the Board, Systems Engineering


Board Members

Eric Boucher: SVP, Finance and Administration, Avesta Housing

Bill Brown: Principal CPA, Government Assurance Practice, BerryDunn

Elizabeth Eames: Associate Professor of Anthropology, Bates College

Christen Graham: President and Founder, Giving Strong

Gregory Hansel: Partner, Preti Flaherty

Quincy Hentzel: CEO, Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce

En’kul Kanakan: Employee Relations Director, Granite Bay Care

Tara Jenkins: Founder, Conscious Revolution LLC

Cheryl Lancaster: EVP of Marketing, Maine Credit Union League

At a glance

Established: 2008
Employees: 6
Annual revenue: $582,541

Top funding sources

Grants: 46%
Corporate and Event Sponsorship: 17%
Private Donors: 13%
Partnership: 11%
Fee for Service: 7%
Individual Donors: 5%
Miscellaneous: 1%

Contact

62 Elm Street, Suite 2
Portland, ME, 04101
(207) 797-7890

37 Park Street
Lewiston, ME, 04240

www.prosperityme.org
www.facebook.com/prosperitymaine
www.twitter.com/ProsperityMaine
www.instagram.com/prosperitymaine

Awards/Accolades

2018 Four A Cause Award Winner

2017 Public Sector Leadership Award to our Executive Director by the Regional Chamber of Commerce

Mission Statement

ProsperityME empowers, through education and counseling, members of refugee and immigrant communities to invest in themselves to build financial stability, careers, businesses and wealth.

Service Locations

Cumberland County — Greater Portland

Androscoggin County — Lewiston/Auburn

York County — Biddeford