PORTLAND, ME – On Friday, April 26th, Spurwink’s Humanitarian will welcome guests in celebration of Spurwink’s impact—increasing access to critical behavioral health care—and honoring community leaders who make Maine a healthier place to live and work. This year’s Humanitarian Award will be given to Angela Stone, Founder of Maine Needs, and the Corporate Care Award will be awarded to USI. The event is from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm at a new location, UNE Innovation Hall in Portland, ME. This year will highlight Spurwink’s Special Education Day Treatment Programs and will close out the event with an inclusive 80s and 90s dance party with a theme of “Everybody Have Fun Tonight!” Tickets are available for purchase at spurwink.org/humanitarian.
2024 Humanitarian Award: Angela Stone, Founder, Maine Needs
Angela Stone was chosen as the 2024 Humanitarian of the Year in recognition of her advocacy and as a visionary community builder. Maine Needs started with a focus on asylum-seeking mothers; the mission quickly expanded to Maine families, unhoused neighbors, survivors of domestic violence, and people leaving incarceration. The goal was to use social media and the local community to establish a safety net for people who didn’t have one and redistribute quality resources so that people could feel more cared for and have their basic needs met. Maine Needs has become a community-run donation center where caseworkers, street outreach teams, teachers, and nurses can request basic material needs that individuals and families all over Maine need. The safety net is now over 43,000 people, over 3,000 volunteers, two employees, and countless local businesses, schools, churches, and people collecting, making essential care kits, and fundraising for others.
“As the founder of Maine Needs, Angela’s vision of solidarity, not charity, has created a safety net of over 43,000 people helping to support Maine families,” said President & CEO of Spurwink, Eric Meyer. “Through her leadership, she has given hope and provided resources for our community. She has responded to fear with love, creating mutual aid and respect. We are honored to be recognizing Angela as our 2024 Humanitarian of the Year.”
Corporate Care Award: USI
USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program and retirement solutions to large risk management clients, middle market companies, smaller firms and individuals. Headquartered in Valhalla, New York, USI connects together approximately 10,000 industry leading professionals across nearly 200 offices to serve clients’ local, national and international needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage®, an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and expertise, and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom line impact. USI attracts best-in-class industry talent with a long history of deep and continuing investment in our local communities. Through their Give Back program, USI is committed to giving back to local communities and supporting a culture of environmental sustainability.
“USI Insurance Services is proud to accept the 2024 Corporate Care Award from Spurwink,” noted Partner and Executive Vice President of USI, Todd Jacobson. “Recognizing our deep roots in areas that we live and work, we developed the “USI Gives Back” program – an annual investment campaign that involves sharing our time, talent and treasure with communities and business partners like Spurwink. Our associates are passionate about getting involved and creating a positive impact by helping those in need.”
This year’s Humanitarian event theme is “Everybody Have Fun Tonight.” It will spotlight the work of Spurwink’s Special Education Day Treatment Programs. The event includes a reception, awards program, live auction, and inclusive 80s and 90s dance party hosted by DJ Jon after the program.
Sponsors for the Humanitarian Awards include Lead Sponsor Sun Life; Corporate Partner Sponsors, WEX, USI, The Boulos Company, Boulos Asset Management, KeyBank, Martin’s Point Health Care, USI, WEX, HUB International New England, LLC, Wright -Ryan, Gorham Savings Bank, Spectrum Healthcare Partners, Systems Engineering, Bangor Savings Bank, M&T Bank, Northeast Delta Dental, Sheridan Construction, Meritain Health; and In-Kind Sponsors AV Technik, Sea Glass Events, and Transformit.
For more information on this year’s honorees, event, or to purchase tickets, visit spurwink.org/humanitarian, or contact Emily Williams, Director of Development, at 207.821.1211, ext. 2106 or ewilliams@spurwink.org.
About Spurwink
Spurwink is a nationally accredited nonprofit organization that provides a broad range of behavioral health care, substance use disorder services and support services for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, and their families. Spurwink offers specialized programs throughout Maine with a commitment to caring relationships and treatment expertise, grounded in evidence-based, best, and promising practices. For more information, visit www.spurwink.org, or call 207.871.1200.
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Press Contact: Emily Williams, Director of Development | ewilliams@spurwink.org | 207.8871.1211 x2106
