Pine Tree Society is pleased to announce that James Belanger has joined the team as the new Finance Director.
Belanger has worked with nonprofit organizations, including Head Start, in leadership positions for most of his career. He grew up in Maine and relishes the opportunity to return to his home state. Belanger is a CPA licensed by the State of Maine.
Pine Tree Society announced that Employment Specialists Michelle Girard-Lynds and Sherri Go have been awarded national certification by the Association of Certified Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE), a national membership organization for trainers and educators who work in the field of employment for people with disabilities. Girard-Lynds and Go work with job seekers in the Career Development Department of Pine Tree Society. Girard-Lynds works out of the Scarborough office and Go is based in Auburn.
Employment Specialists from Pine Tree Society support people from Androscoggin, York, Cumberland or Sagadahoc county in seeking meaningful employment. For more information about Career Development Services for adults, click here. For more information about Career Development Services for teens, click here.
Pine Tree Society recently named Zachary Brandwein and Stephen Butterfield to its Board of Directors.
Brandwein, an associate at Bernstein Shur, received his BA at Occidental College, his MPP at the University of Southern Maine, and his JD at University of Tulsa College of Law.
Butterfield, Emeritus Professor at the University of Maine, received his B.S. from Springfield College, a M.Ed. from Keene State College and his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.
Pine Tree Society helps people in Maine with disabilities lead richer, more socially connected lives. Our Board of Directors sets the vision that serves as a guide for every aspect of Pine Tree Society. While members have diverse expertise and backgrounds, they do have one thing in common: a passion for Pine Tree Society. Our board members are champions, advocates and they are invested in the impact that Pine Tree Society makes in the lives of Maine people with disabilities and their families each and every day.
The Roger R. and Theresa S. Thompson Endowment Fund announces the awarding of $112,000 in grants to six non-profit organizations in New Hampshire and Maine.
Among the beneficiaries, the Trustees of the Trust, Charles Doleac, Kenneth Barrett and Holly Ayes Malloy have approved a grant to the Pine Tree Society of Scarborough ME to help launch a pilot program designed to support the employment of individuals who are Deaf.
The Thompson Fund has awarded grants to the Pine Tree Society since 2000, to support the creation and sustainability of such initiatives as the Pine Tree Camp accessible playground, mental health care capabilities and an autism transition program.
Pine Tree Society President and CEO Noel Sullivan commented, “Pine Tree Society is extremely grateful to the Thompson Fund for generously supporting our goal to help individuals who are Deaf secure meaningful employment. The ongoing support of the Thompson Fund results in lasting impact in the lives of the people we serve, their families and the community as a whole, and we thank them for that.”
In making the announcement, Managing Trustee Charles Doleac commented, “The Roger R. and Theresa S. Thompson Endowment Fund trustees are pleased to recognize the work of the six beneficiaries with this year’s grants. Theresa Thompson, who set up the fund to honor her husband Roger, believed that the best way to build a legacy was not to endow the six local charities she identified but to create an endowment managed by local trustees who could determine each year how best to allocate the fund’s resources to the six and their initiatives that most benefit the community. The trustees of the Fund are directed to help the beneficiaries build on their strengths and to foster collaborative synergies so the six further their own legacies as well as the Thompsons’. The Thompson Endowment Fund is a great model for people who might be thinking about setting up their own charitable entities as it reflects a direct personal connection between the founders and the local, forward-looking projects planned by the organizations whose missions they supported.”
The distributions are not guaranteed and the non-profits named in the Trust must apply each year to be considered for the beneficiary awards that are paid from the income of the Roger R. and Theresa S. Thompson estate trust fund. To learn more about Thompson Fund beneficiaries and prior grant-funded initiatives, please visit ThompsonFund.org and follow the Thompson Fund on Facebook.
When Dysart’s held their annual Breakfast with Santa to benefit Pine Tree Camp, WABI TV 5 and WVII 7/FOX 23, both based in Bangor, were on-hand to cover the event
Families feasted on pancakes and the children had the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa and decorate cookies. All proceeds will be used to send people to Pine Tree Camp.
Pine Tree Society Development Officer, Tyler Cary said, “At Pine Tree Camp, we’ve never turned a camper away due to their inability to pay tuition and we’ve been open for over 70 years and we’ve kept that promise in place, but it’s only possible thanks to businesses like Dysart’s and our supporters.”
Mary Dysart-Hartt of Dysart’s on Broadway said, “We have a very valuable long-term employee whose son has always gone to Pine Tree Camp, so it’s a wonderful cause. We love that they are providing what every child should be able to experience.”
Dysart’s will have another Breakfast with Santa on December 9th from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at their Broadway location in Bangor.
To watch the segments from the December 2nd breakfast, click the links below.
http://www.wabi.tv/content/news/Pancake-Breakfast-Benefits-Pine-Tree-Camp-461529913.html
http://www.foxbangor.com/news/item/22811-breakfast-with-santa
Rich Bothfeld, Au.D., CCC-A, F-AAA has joined Pine Tree Society’s Audiology Department as a Clinical Audiologist. He joins Robin Galleher, MSPA-A, CCC-A, who is the director of the program.
“Rich knows our mission and values and wants to be a part of that. He really cares about his clients and goes the extra mile,” said Galleher.
Galleher has been the Director of Audiology at Pine Tree Society for 16 years and she and Bothfeld have complimentary skills that will expand on the program’s mission.
“He really likes working with kids,” said Galleher. “He has excellent skills in that area and I look forward to teaming up with him on that.”
“Kids add spice to life,” continued Bothfeld. “I enjoy giving young people as much help as I can to guide them on their path. It’s really nice working with a mix of adults and children. It’s fun to see a child in one appointment, then an adult in the next.”
He is particularly glad to be working as a two-audiologist team with Galleher on diagnostic testing with pediatrics and knows that he will continue to hone his skills and be able to help more people through their collaborative efforts.
Bothfeld says there are many reasons he wanted to work at Pine Tree Society.
“I’ve always been impressed with Pine Tree Society’s focus,” he said. “They provide services where needs need to be met. I’m a clinician who will do everything I can to provide the services that an individual needs, so it’s a pleasure for me to be here.”
Bothfeld has been an audiologist for 19 years. Before that, he was a high school German teacher.
“I come from a musical family so I’ve always had an interest in sound,” he said. “After nine years of being a teacher, I decided to go back to school to become a speech language pathologist.”
It wasn’t long before he discovered his true love was audiology and approaching communication from a hearing standpoint became his passion.
For Bothfeld, “Every person provides a new challenge and helping each individual really hinges on counseling the person on how hearing loss is impacting their life. If you can have a person realize that it’s their ears that are not performing well – that it’s not them, it’s their ears — it helps them to observe what’s happening from a more objective standpoint. Nine times out of ten, adults who choose to use hearing aids become advocates for hearing aids.”
As we enter “the season of giving,” people will be making decisions about where their donations can make the most impact. With stories in the media about non-profits that misuse funds, it is easy to understand why people are concerned.
Pine Tree Society’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned the organization another four-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. This is the second consecutive time, and the ninth time overall since 2003 that Pine Tree Society has earned this top distinction.
“We are thrilled to be recognized once again with a four-star rating which demonstrates our strong financial health and governance,” said Noel Sullivan, Pine Tree Society President and CEO. “Earning a perfect score in transparency and accountability shows we’ve worked hard to ensure that our donors can trust that we’re using their donations wisely in our work to transform the lives of Maine people with disabilities and their families each day.”
“It’s more important than ever for donors to be assured that Pine Tree Society will be responsible in utilizing their donations,” said Timothy Kittredge, Pine Tree Society Board Chair. “We are committed to maximizing the impact of every dollar donated to support Maine people with disabilities. This commitment is reflected in the four-star rating from Charity Navigator.”
“Pine Tree Society’s exceptional four-star rating sets it apart from its peers and demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public,” according to Michael Thatcher, President and CEO of Charity Navigator. “Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive the distinction of our four-star rating. Based on its four-star rating, people can trust that their donations are going to a financially responsible and ethical charity when they decide to support Pine Tree Society.”
Pine Tree Society’s rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on www.charitynavigator.org.
Dear Friends,
Discovering abilities together. I have seen those words come to life again and again over the past year. Let me tell you a story…
Ajay first came to Pine Tree Camp in 2007 as an eight-year-old. Spending time with other campers helped Ajay see he’s not the only one with a disability. Knowing he’s not alone gave him the confidence to try new things. Seeing other campers succeed has inspired Ajay to follow his dreams. He was determined to someday go from being a Pine Tree camper to counselor. This year, at 19, Ajay came to camp as a counselor.
“If I hadn’t gone to Pine Tree Camp, I wouldn’t be who I am today. It helped me to see the bigger picture, like what I could do in the future.”
Ajay went beyond discovering his abilities. He has discovered a life of passion and purpose.
We see this again and again, every day throughout Maine…a mother hearing her child say “I love you” for the first time thanks to the use of a computerized device…parents of a child with autism connecting with other families who understand and finally feeling like they are not alone…a young adult with intellectual disabilities earning her first paycheck.
You as our donor, our partner, make this possible. We cannot do it without you. The funding Pine Tree Society receives through reimbursement for services only covers a portion of our costs. Families caring for loved ones with disabilities have fewer and fewer resources to turn to for help. We need your help to fulfill the promise of our mission, a mission that has been in place for more than 80 years.
Your donation will be put to work immediately to impact the lives of Maine children and adults with disabilities and their families. We cannot do it without you. Together, we can transform the lives of Maine children and adults with disabilities. Thank you.
Sincerely,
P.S. Please click here to give your tax deductible donation securely on-line today.
It’s no secret that Pine Tree Society is dedicated to making accessible outdoor recreation available to Maine children and adults with disabilities.
On November 12, The Maine Sunday Telegram ran a front-page article entitled “Vacationland’s Limited Access.” The story focuses on the challenges faced by people with disabilities in accessing the Maine outdoors.
Pine Tree Society is mentioned as a nonprofit organization that makes outdoor recreation possible for people with disabilities. Photos in the story depict the barrier-free nature of Pine Tree Camp illustrating Pine Tree Society’s commitment to providing full access to Maine’s beautiful outdoors and the recreational activities for which our state is famous.
We are glad to see the spotlight on this topic that impacts the people we serve each and every day.
Read the full article here: http://www.pressherald.com/2017/11/12/maine-lags-in-providing-state-park-access-to-people-with-disabilities/