Penobscot Bay Ringers Presents Concert Proceeds to BBBSMCM

The Board of Directors of Penobscot Bay Ringers recently presented a check in the amount of $400 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midcoast Maine. The check represented concert donations collected at their October 16^th Bells by the Bay handbell concert.  Shown left to right are: Leigh Smith, Co-Founder and Corresponding Secretary of Penobscot Bay Ringer; Alex Gaeth, Chief Executive Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midcoast Main; and Amy Rollins, President of Penobscot Bay Ringers. Absent from the photo was Debra Hall, Vice President of Penobscot Bay Ringers.

Rockport, Maine -- Penobscot Bay Ringers, Midcoast Maine's first and only community handbell choir, recently presented a check in the amount of $400 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midcoast Maine. The money was collected as a free-will offering at the group’s second annual Bells by the Bay concert, which was held on Sunday, October 16^th at the First Congregational Church of Camden. 

“We thank our audience for being so supportive of our music and our mission,” said Amy Rollins, President of Penobscot Bay Ringers. “We raised a great deal of money for the purchase of our instruments earlier this year, so it was only fitting to pay it forward in with our Bells by the Bay concert this year.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters provides opportunities for children who face adversity in their lives, including those living in single parent or low income homes, or those who struggle academically or socially. Starting something begins with finding a great match between a Big and a Little. “These matches are made possible by the generosity of community donors like Penobscot Bay Ringers,” said Alex Gaeth, Chief Executive Officer for the Midcoast Maine chapter. “This donation will change lives by matching children, ages 5 through 14, with teen or adult role models in one-to-one relationships.” 

Penobscot Bay Ringers will be appearing in Ringing in the Season, a concert featuring four handbell choirs, on Saturday, December 3^rd, at 4:00 pm, at the First Congregational Church of Camden. They will also perform at The Farnsworth Art Museum’s Share the Wonder events on the afternoon of Sunday, December 4^th starting at 3:00 pm. For more information about Penobscot Bay Ringers, call Leigh Smith at 230-6628 or email penobscotbayringers@gmail.com.

2011 Bids for Kids Wreath Auction!

More than 400 wreaths are now on display at 15 locations throughout Knox, Lincoln, Penobscot and Waldo Counties. They are all part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midcoast Maine’s 15^th Annual “Bids for Kids” Wreath Auction which starts on Nov. 23 and continues through Dec. 2. Proceeds from the fundraising auction support the non-profit organization’s youth mentoring program throughout the 4-county area.

“We’ve grown the event significantly this year,” says event coordinator Cathy Hardy. “This is our first year to expand the event into Penobscot County, and we’ve added 80 wreaths in that area, plus we’ve increased the number of wreaths in the Midcoast area as well. We’re particularly excited by the number of new businesses who have decorated wreaths for the first time. We’re also grateful for the help of many new volunteers who have stepped up this year to help with the event,” Hardy says. These include associates from Bank of America, Camden National Bank, Bath Savings Institution, and members of the Midcoast Roller Derby team.

Big and Little matches in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program are also decorating wreaths, as are students from the Riley School who are decorating 10 wreaths as part of their art class. All of the children’s wreaths will be loaded with gift certificates from local businesses which will include dining packages; tickets and passes to local attractions; Chamber of Commerce memberships; golf packages and more, as well as the children’s special handmade ornaments.

Volunteers will pick up the decorated wreaths from businesses and deliver them to Camden National Bank branch offices in Knox, Lincoln, Penobscot and Waldo County, where they will be on display from Nov. 23 to Dec. 1. People can leave silent auction bids on their favorite wreaths up until 4:00 pm on Dec. 1, and will be notified on Dec. 2 if they are the winning bidder. For those who fall in love with a particular wreath and want to purchase it on the spot, they can do so by paying the full value price of the wreath. “By paying the full price, they can take the wreath home with them and put it on their front door that very day,” Hardy says.

More than 80 wreaths valued at $100 or more will be featured in one of three Live Auctions being held at the Mid-Coast Recreation Center in Rockport (Nov. 30 from 5-7 pm); at the Bangor Mall (Dec. 1 from 6-7 pm); and at the Damariscotta River Grill in Damariscotta (Dec. 2 from 5-6 pm). The public is invited to attend all of these Live Auctions and bid on their favorite wreaths. John Bottero from Thomaston Place Auction Galleries is the benefit auctioneer for all three events. Those who can’t make it to the Live Auctions can still leave online bids!

Some of the early wreaths that have come in include: an exciting Red Sox package with two State Street Pavilion Seats donated by James Brannon; an overnight windjammer cruise for 2 aboard the Schooner Isaac Evans; a lobster dinner cruise for 2 on the M/V Rendezvous; a beautiful rocking chair from Franz Furniture (on display at the Rockland branch of Camden National Bank); YMCA and health club memberships; an Eric Hopkins framed watercolor; gift certificates from local stores and restaurants; concert tickets; and many extravagant spa and salon packages.

For more information about the Wreath Auction or if your business would like to be included for next year’s event, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midcoast Maine (593-0380). The Wreath Auction is sponsored by Camden National Bank and all proceeds from the event go to support BBBS youth mentoring services.

High School Students: Become a Mentor!

Click to download our 2011 High School Big Application!

Lincolnville Central School matches—from left to right, Little Brother Jason with his Big Sister Maci, Little Brother Kyle with his Big Brother John, Big Sister Rayne with her Little Sister Anna, Big Sister Lila with her Little Sister Abby.

If you are interested in learning more about this role or would like to set up an in-person interview, please contact Matt Donahue, School-Based Mentoring Manager, at (207) 593-0380 or email matt@bbbsmcm.org.