PORTLAND, Maine — Aug. 17, 2010 — MaineLine, a non-profit coalition of diverse Maine businesses founded in 2010 to provide a direct response to disasters like the earthquake in Haiti, is hosting its first annual celebrity golf tournament — Do Good with Your Game — on Monday, September 13, 2010, at Nonesuch River Golf Club in Scarborough. All proceeds will directly benefit rebuilding efforts in Haiti. Celebrities involved include local radio and television personalities, business leaders and politicians such as Teddy McKay of WJBQ, Herb Ivy of WBLM, Tim Moore and G.V. Rapp of WHOM, and Dean Scontras, a congressional candidate for Maine’s District 1. A special message from former President George W. Bush and co-founder of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund will be shared with the golfers.
Since February, the coalition has been assessing the needs of multiple aid sectors on the ground in earthquake devastated Haiti with the help of Darcy Pierce, a local international aid expert and a senior partner with Envoy. The coalition has identified helping children and their communities as the primary focus for its efforts in Haiti and plans to build 10 schools/community centers. Each facility will cost on average $50,000 to build. Construction on the first site is scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2010. It will take about nine months to a year to complete all 10 schools.
The first school will be built in Cabaret, a village about one hour north of Port-au-Prince. The small village has grown to a population of 7,500 people as victims leave the hard-hit capital. The village’s pervious school was severely damaged by the earthquake and there are no community or government buildings. The school will accommodate approximately 300 students in grades
one through six.
“There are many wonderful organizations dedicated to delivering catastrophic relief aid but often monies raised either sit waiting clearance to address a particular need or may be redirected to a new relief cause,” said Graham Smith, president of Macdonald Page & Co LLC, a member of MaineLine’s leadership committee. “What makes MaineLine unique is that we want to ensure dollars raised in Maine are targeted for a direct and specific need that will have a definite impact on Haiti and its people. We’re excited to begin building the first of 10 schools/community centers and provide the children and their families a safe and well-constructed place to learn, play and meet as a community.”
To raise funds for this important rebuilding effort, MaineLine has organized its first golf tournament — Do Good with Your Game. For a foursome tournament fees are $500; for an individual $125 and includes 18 holes of golf, a cart, a commemorative shirt, lunch and photo opportunities with celebrities. Additionally, the day’s program includes prizes for “closest to the pin” and “longest drive,” and a free car from Casco Bay Ford for the winner of its sponsored “hole-in-one challenge.” Tournament registration and the silent auction will open at 7:30 a.m. Highlights of the silent auction include: a personalized signed photo of former president George W. Bush; a leather-bound signed edition of “All the Best” by former president George Bush, a signed copy of one of Barbara Bush’s bestselling books “Reflections” or “Memoirs,” an overnight stay from the Inn on Peaks Island and merchandise, signed CDs and four tickets to a show at Merrill Auditorium from comedian Bob Marley. To become a player, download the registration form and mail a check to MaineLine or book online through Pay Pal.
The golf tournament’s exclusive sponsor is Reed & Reed, one of Northern New England’s leading heavy general contractors and a member of MaineLine’s leadership committee. Many other companies have joined the effort to provide support that day including DiMillo’s on the Water, Coca Cola Bottling Company of Northern New England, Shipyard Brewing Company and New England Coffee. Corporate sponsorship packages are available and range from $995 to $2,000. Additional sponsorship opportunities from $50 to $500 still remain as well. The deadline to become a sponsor is August 30, 2010.To learn more about sponsorship opportunities visit http://maineline.org/Sponsorships.pdf.
MaineLine currently consists of almost 40 Maine companies and small businesses. To view a complete list of participating companies, visit http://www.maineline.org/member-companies.php.
MaineLine is actively working to expand coalition membership to increase business participation throughout the state. Membership is open to any Maine company regardless of size and industry. MaineLine will serve as a framework for Maine businesses to respond to future global disasters and could one day be a model for the nation on how businesses in a state can come together to implement a strategic solution to provide forward-thinking planning in advance of a catastrophic situation.
About MaineLine
MaineLine is a coalition of concerned businesses for catastrophe relief and rebuilding assistance. Organized by Preti Flaherty, Unum, Kennebunk Savings Bank, Reed & Reed, CD&M Communications and Mainebiz, MaineLine offers Maine-specific business solutions to this problem by delivering direct, documented relief aid to where it is needed most. By joining together in a coordinated effort and pooling the state’s business resources, Maine companies can make a dramatic and personal impact in relief efforts. For more information, visit www.maineline.org or call (207) 774-7528.
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