BELFAST – United Midcoast Charities marked the awarding of $500,000 of grants this year to more than 50 nonprofit organizations in Knox and Waldo counties with a networking breakfast at the Belfast Boathouse September 29. The Breakfast for Champions was sponsored by Allen Insurance and Financial and Bangor Savings Bank.

Representatives of organizations receiving grant funding met each other and heard Pecha Kucha presentations about the work of Habitat for Humanity of Waldo County, MCH Meals on Wheels and Midcoast Habitat for Humanity. The celebratory event included a tribute to UMC's outgoing grants committee chairman, Peter Horch.

"Peter has done so much to help UMC expand our engagement in Waldo County and strengthen our overall grantmaking process," said UMC President John Viehman, in a news release. "Grants are at the heart of everything we do at UMC, and Peter's tireless efforts have truly enriched the process. We are deeply grateful for his service."

Debbie Mitchell, of Belfast, will succeed Horch as chairwoman of the grants committee.

Other board members serving alongside Mitchell and Viehman are Betsy Saltonstall, first Vice President; Jill Lang, second Vice President; John Burgess, Secretary; Tom Rodman, Treasurer; Lori Alexander; Chris Beebe; Sani Fogel; Jay Foster; Leni Gronros; Lucile Hanscom; Tyler Jones; Elinor Klivans; Peter Palermo; Joan Phaup; Eric Waters; and Jamie Weymouth.

UMC Executive Director Megan Williams congratulated the grant recipients and noted the value of bringing nonprofit leaders together for networking and collaboration.

"We are pleased to celebrate the work being accomplished by these nonprofits to make a stronger, more resilient community here in Midcoast Maine,” she  said. “We look forward to supporting their hard work in more ways by providing learning and sharing opportunities in addition to funding."

UMC was founded in 1942 to support local nonprofits, and today continues that tradition through a rigorous application and review process of those requesting funding to supplement their own fundraising efforts.

Grant recipients in this cycle include the following organizations:

Area Interfaith Outreach Food Pantry

Belfast Area Childcare Services

Belfast Public Health Nursing Association

Belfast Soup Kitchen

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine

Broadreach Family & Community Services

Camden Area Christian Food Pantry

Camden District Nursing Association

Care Partners

Coastal Healthcare Alliance

Coastal Opportunities

Come Spring Food Pantry

Cornerspring Montessori School

Expanding Opportunities Camp Forest

Family Planning Association of Maine

The Game Loft

Habitat for Humanity of Waldo County

Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County

Hurricane Island Outward Bound School

Knox Co. Health Clinic

Knox County Homeless Coalition

LifeFlight Foundation

Literacy Volunteers of Waldo County

Maine Health-Care at Home

Make-A-Wish Maine

MCH Inc. - Home to ME

MCH, Inc. – Meals on Wheels

Merryspring Nature Center

Midcoast Habitat for Humanity

Midcoast Outdoor Leadership Initiative

Midcoast Recreation Center

New Hope for Women

OUT Maine

Parent Program of Knox County

Partners for Enrichment

Penobscot Bay YMCA

Penquis C.A.P.

Peopleplace Cooperative Preschool

Restorative Justice Project

Ripple Initiative

Rockland District Nursing Association

Strive, Northern New England

Trekkers, Inc.

UMaine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Tanglewood

University College at Rockland

Vinalhaven Eldercare Services

Waldo Community Action Partners

Waldo County Dental Care

Waldo County YMCA

Waterfall Arts

Waterman's Community Center

Wayfinder Schools.

United Midcoast Charities is a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to identify community needs and addresses them through grantmaking and by bringing other resources to bear. UMC funds agencies that primarily benefit residents of Knox and Waldo counties. More information is available at www.unitedmidcoastcharities.org.