It has been a challenging month for all of us and we are grateful for your partnership and philanthropic support of our incredible Lewiston community.  We are #LewistonStrong.  Along with our excellent committee, we kicked off the 2023 Community Giving Campaign earlier this month. All gifts from Bates Faculty and Staff made through payroll deduction support our three partner organizations in the Lewiston-Auburn community and throughout Maine —

• United Way of Androscoggin County aims to increase the organized capacity of people in Androscoggin and Oxford Counties to care for one another by fighting for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community.
  
• Maine Share supports 40+ progressive Maine nonprofits across the state who make sustainable change to advance social and environmental justice and to uplift arts and culture.
  
• Community Health Charities brings nonprofits, businesses, and communities together around a shared commitment to health and wellbeing by addressing the barriers to good health and equity, and creating resilient communities where everyone can thrive.
  

This year is one of particular urgency and need, and together we aim to raise $50,000 from 250 faculty and staff donors to support our neighbors, friends, and local nonprofits doing essential work in Maine. You can make a gift to the Community Giving Campaign now through December 6, 2023. Gifts are made through payroll deduction via Garnet Gateway during the 2024 calendar year and can be made with a one-time gift or spread over 12 months. There are many designations and charities to choose from within each of the partner organizations.

We will send regular emails, updating you on progress towards our goals and awarding raffle prizes to donors. The United Way has a great incentive drawing for donors who make their gifts by tomorrow, November 17. 

As two lifelong Mainers, we know firsthand just how much your donations mean to our local community. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your consideration and encourage you to reach out with questions.

With gratitude during this season of giving. Happy Thanksgiving,

Erin Brown P’25, ebrown3@bates.edu, x6489 and

Cary Gemmer ’07, cgemmer@bates.edu, x5988

Community Giving Co-chairs

P.S. Attached are slides detailing the campaign and the logistics of making a gift through Garnet Gateway.