Runners and Walkers Return to Pineland for Superhero 5k

Photos by: Sharyn Peavey Photography

More than 140 superheroes and their sidekicks gathered at Pineland Farms in June for Woodfords’ Superhero 5k and after party hosted by Nu Brewery in New Gloucester. The course was tough but our superheroes were tougher! Top Finishers by category were:

Woodfords’ Fastest Employee: McGyver Poulin
Senior Adult (60+) Male: Paul Mills
Senior Adult (60+) Female: Regina Jackson
Adult Male (18-59): Kevin Normand
Adult Female (18-59): Stacey Joudrie
Youth Male (8-17): Colin de Bree
Youth Female (8-17): Mackenzie Parquette
Child Female (0-8): Mara Zemrak

Combined, our sponsors, racers, volunteers, fundraisers, and donors raised $18,247 for the agency’s programs and services. Long-time Board of Trustees Member and Superhero 5k Superstar, Maureen Zemrak, with the support of her family, friends, and team at Locations Real Estate Group (pictured top left) raised $4,397 bringing their lifetime Superhero 5k fundraising total to $21,000!

Thank you to all who made this event possible. It was great to see you again superheroes!

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Woodfords' Wildcats Compete in Special Olympics

The Wildcats, a team of adult consumers, joined hundreds of fellow Olympians at the 2022 State of Maine Summer Olympics in Orono in mid-June. Events of the day included bocce, track and field events, as well as wheelchair and walking events. Congratulations to all participants for your efforts. Go Wildcats!

Family Fun Day Returns to Maine Wildlife Park

Back by popular demand, Woodfords is excited to announce the return of Family Fun Day! Join us Saturday, August 27, 2022at the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm. Admission is free for Woodfords’ consumers, staff, and their families. Lunch will be provided.

RSVP one of three ways:

By making an online reservation by clicking this button.
By visiting www.woodfords.org/family-fun-day/ and completing the online form.
By calling 207-887-5226 and leaving a message with your name, and the number of people in your party ages 0-2 and 3 and older.

RSVP HERE

KeyBank & the Portland Sea Dogs Team Up to Support Woodfords

Woodfords has been selected as the 2022 KeyBank Assists beneficiary! Each year KeyBank partners with the Portland Sea Dogs through its KeyBank Assists program. For each assist made during a 2022 Sea Dogs home game, KeyBank Assists will donate $10 to the agency for a total donation value of up to $10,000.To date the Sea Dogs have made 407 assists for a total of $4,070 for Woodfords. Thank you KeyBank and the Portland Sea Dogs for making this possible.

Agency Launches Monthly Pathways to Transition Caregiver Group

The Behavioral Health Homes Program has launched a monthly community-building group for parents and caregivers supporting youth and young adults with special needs as they transition to and navigate early adulthood. The Pathways to Transition Parent and Caregiver Group aims to provide caregivers a peer environment to discuss their shared experiences, help solve challenges, and to learn about services and transition-related resources. The group meets via Zoom on the third Thursday of each month at 5:30 pm, and is available to any Woodfords consumer family. Pre-registration is not required.

For more information contact group facilitators Whitney Brown, [email protected] or Jess Parks, [email protected]. Join the next meeting, Thursday, July 21 at 5:30pm. Link: https://woodfords.zoom.us/j/4186762300

Join us for a Night Under the Big Top at the 2022 Auction Gala

Save the Date: Saturday, October 15, 6pm

Come one, come all to the greatest show under one roof. Life has been a circus, so let's enjoy a night together again at Woodfords' annual Auction Gala. We invite you to join the show at the Sheraton Sable Oaks in South Portland, featuring a brand new circus theme. With more than 150 silent and 20 live auction items, you do not want to miss the return of this signature event.

Join 300 donors, supporters, business and community leaders in celebrating the agency’s mission and families. Tickets will go on sale soon. Follow the agency’s website and Facebook page for more details.

Thank you to the sponsors already signed on for this event:

Aerus

Clark Insurance

J.B. Brown & Sons

Lamb, Petersen & Mann Advisory Group

Ameriprise Financial Services

Locations Real Estate Group

Nappi Distributors

Rich Moment: Facilities Department Goes Above and Beyond

Named after Woodfords' Founders, Alan & Katrina Rich, Rich Moments celebrate the dedication of our staff to the agency's mission, and the successes, big and small, of the individuals with whom we work.

On any given day Woodfords’ Facilities Department may be repainting walls, moving cubicles, repairing school equipment, improving a resident’s home, and so much more. This team of four is responsible for the care and operation of all agency facilities across the state. Sometimes, the team is called upon to get creative! From building person sized ‘popsicle stick’ benches for the Westbrook Preschool/SPPS playground to setting up the course on the Pineland campus for the Superhero 5k, Facilities delivers with service, a smile, and a great sense of humor.

Thank you Greg, Don, Drew, and Karl for everything you do for our staff and consumers!

Awards, Grants, Of Note

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has renewed its partnership with Woodfords to provide Maine’s only Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Program using the Child-Focused Recruitment Model to help the state’s longest waiting youth find loving permanent homes.
The Maine Health Access Foundation has awarded a two year $100,000 grant to the agency’s new Psychiatric Primary Care Physician Consultation Pilot Program.
The United Way of Southern Maine has awarded $20,000 to the agency’s Westbrook K-5 Special Purpose Private School Program.

The Sam L. Cohen Foundation has awarded $10,000 to the agency’s Westbrook K-5 Special Purpose Private School Program.
The Wing-Benjamin Charitable Trust Fund has awarded $3,750 to the agency’s Waterville Early Childhood Services and K-5 Special Purpose Private School Program.
The Simmons Foundation has awarded $3,000 to the agency’s Westbrook K-5 Special Purpose Private School Program.
The Town of Windham has awarded $500 to support the agency’s programs that benefit Windham residents.

Employee Spotlight: Recently Recognized Staff

Congratulations to the employees recently recognized as Employee of the Month in their programs. For more information about our programs' Employees of the Month follow us on Facebook!

Agency Events & Update

Maine Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program

Certain Woodfords staff may be eligible for the recently announced Maine Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program. Look for emails from the Human Resources Department or contact [email protected] for more information.

Woodfords Connects is here!

Join the agency’s new staff social clubs and connect with your peers today! Current clubs include Walk it Wednesday, Plant & Garden, Recipe Swap, and Advocacy. Not a member yet? Look for recent emails from [email protected] to learn more about signing up!

Woodfords Family Services is committed to the support and inclusion of people with special needs and their families in Maine communities.

Woodfords Family Services is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), whose program of quality improvement is designed to identify providers that have met high performance standards and have made a commitment to their stakeholders to deliver the very best quality services.