Mount Desert Island Hospital has recognized the Mission as a 2022 Healthcare Partner of the Year. The award recognizes our Covid-19 vaccination clinics and telemedicine programs during the pandemic. In 2021, we administered 928 COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters on seven unbridged islands in addition to its traditional Island Health work done via the Sunbeam, the nonprofit’s 74-foot-long vessel. John Zavodny, Mission President, and Sharon Daley, RN, Director of Island Health, who spearheaded the Mission’s vaccination program with Director of Island Outreach Douglas Cornman, were on hand to accept the award for the Mission.
Zavodny (left) and Daley (right) with Christina Maguire, President/CEO of Mount Desert Island Hospital
Christina Maguire, President/CEO of Mount Desert Island Hospital, says, “The Maine Seacoast Mission has been a dedicated, committed partner in providing healthcare to our outer island populations through telehealth and in-person visits. Their unique service model brings care to island residents who would otherwise not have access to care, and this is vital to their health and wellbeing. Throughout the pandemic, the Maine Seacoast Mission was a faithful partner to MDI Hospital, and we thank them for their dedication, commitment, and service.”
FRENCHBORO, ME – RN Maureen Giffin prepares vaccines as RN and Seacoast Mission’s Director of Island Health Services Sharon Daley administers a vaccine to a Frenchboro resident Rick Turner in the office of the community hall on Friday afternoon. Photo Credit: Erin Clark, The Boston Globe
The Mission started working on a plan to vaccinate the island residents in early 2021. “When vaccinations first became available in January, people on the islands started calling and emailing, asking me if I could vaccinate them,” Sharon recalls. Soon after, Daley and the Mission began working with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to become an official vaccine provider. A little over a month later, on February 25, the Mission started vaccinating people during a clinic on Swan’s Island. Over the next three months, the Mission fully vaccinated 343 people and conducted 20 clinics, traveling by ferry, airplane, mailboat, lobster boat and on the Sunbeam.
Sharon says that that MDI Hospital was invaluable in the Mission’s vaccination efforts, “MDI Hospital made it possible for us to do Covid vaccines on seven islands. It was a huge undertaking and we could never have managed it without the support of MDI Hospital. The pharmacists were busy but always paused to answer my questions and give us support.” She continued, “One islander recently told us how their island felt so cared for during the pandemic. Both the vaccine recipients and the Mission thank MDI Hospital for its contributions to our work.” (Photo Credit: Erin Clark, The Boston Globe)
Families can register their students for EdGE afterschool programs for the 2022-2023 school year. EdGE programs are offered for students in kindergarten through eighth grade at seven schools in Washington County. During the 2021-2022 school year, 399 students attended at least one EdGE afterschool program.
The afterschool programs offer educational, social, and outdoor experiences for students. The students can participate in experiential, creative, thought-provoking activities, and receive homework support. The EdGE program also supports food security and healthy eating habits by providing nutritious snacks.
EdGE Program Director Isaac Marnik says, “Staff are currently preparing for afterschool programming and are excited to start working with students at each of the schools. We look forward to offering a variety of activities and opportunities for students to enjoy.”
Programs are managed by the Mission’s EdGE Site Coordinators and are staffed by school district teachers, outdoor coordinators, artists, college, and high school students.
Registration is open and parents or caregivers of students at these seven schools can register at seacoastmission.org/downeast/edge. For help with registration, please call (207) 546-4466.
We recently welcomed Jennifer (Jenny) Jones as the Interim Downeast Director at our Downeast campus in Cherryfield. Jenny has worked with nonprofits in Downeast Maine for almost a decade, most recently as the Community Resource Representative for Eastern and Northern Maine at the Good Shepherd Food Bank. Through this position at Good Shepherd, Jenny worked directly with Mission Downeast food security program staff in Washington County.
Mission President John Zavodny shares about Jones’s hiring, “We couldn’t be more excited about Jenny joining us. She brings a wealth of leadership training and experience with education, youth development, program evaluation, service programs, and food security. Jenny knows Downeast Maine and her passion for service is contagious.”
“I am excited to be a part of the Washington county community as a representative of Maine Seacoast Mission. This is an organization that has created such deep trust with many,” Jenny says. “From past work experience I couldn’t help but be impressed with the collaborative and creative mindset of Washington counties’ nonprofits, towns, and citizens to strengthen their communities. I decided I wanted to be a part of the incredible work.”
Prior to her position at Good Shepherd, Jenny was the Executive Director of the Bar Harbor Food Pantry in Bar Harbor. At the pantry, Jones grew the organization’s visibility in the community through expanding their social media presence, grant opportunities, news articles, and collaborations with other organizations and businesses. She launched new distribution programs and a satellite produce distribution center. Jenny graduated from College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor and earned her Master’s in Environmental Education from the University of Minnesota.
The Mission celebrated our 2022 Sunbeam Award Gala at the Bar Harbor Club on August 18. This year’s Sunbeam awards were presented to Les Coleman and the Mission’s Downeast school partners, who were both recognized for their work with the Mission’s EdGE programming. This fall marks 20 years since launching the EdGE program in Washington County.
Today, EdGE has grown to be the Mission’s signature youth development program Downeast and serves around 700 students in kindergarten through eighth grade and their families each year through afterschool and leadership programs and summer camps. EdGE programs include outdoor recreation, tutoring, STEM, as well as nourishment, support, and coaching for students and their families through the Mission’s Family Engagement program.
John Zavodny, the President of the Mission, says, “It was such an honor to be in the room with the very leaders who started EdGE, a truly transformational youth development program in Downeast Maine. Seeing the standing ovation for the awardees is a moment I will never forget and a real highlight of my time with the Mission.”
Zavodny welcomed guests to the Bar Harbor Club and introduced Mission Board Member Robert Mancini, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Wyman’s of Maine, a Platinum sponsor of the Gala. Following a video honoring Les, Connie Greaves Bates, the wife of the late Ed Greaves for which the EdGE program is named, introduced Les, and presented him with the Sunbeam Award. Les, who was an early proponent of EdGE programming and a key figure in its development said in his remarks, “When talking with people in the Washington County community where we have seasonally resided for over 50 years, I am often reminded by parents, grandparents, and former EdGE students who are now adults of the positive impact EdGE has had on the lives of many Downeast youth.”
Sunbeam Award Winner Les Coleman (center) with Connie Greaves Bates and Mission President John Zavodny
Zavodny then introduced David Woodside, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, which is another Platinum Sponsor of the Mission. Following a video that highlighted the Mission’s Downeast Partner Schools, Gary DeLong, the Mission’s Executive Director from 1999 to 2010, presented the Sunbeam Award to the principals from Beals Elementary, Cherryfield Elementary, D.W. Merritt Elementary, Harrington Elementary, Jonesport Elementary, Milbridge Elementary, Rose M. Gaffney Elementary, Narraguagus Jr/Sr High School, and Sumner Memorial High School.
Ron Ramsey, superintendent of MSAD 37 who was the principal of Harrington Elementary where EdGE first started, praised the work of EdGE and the Mission in his remarks, “EdGE grows the seeds of success in our students. EdGE provides experiences and opportunities for success that gives our students the confidence to see their future selves being successful. They do this through building trust while constantly challenging and stretching the students comfort zone. EdGE is a perfect complement to our regular school expanding on and pushing past where we regularly go in school.”
Gary DeLong, former Executive Director of the Mission, (far left) and John Zavodny, Mission President, (far right) alongside the Downeast Partner Schools
Zavodny also took a moment to thank Wendy Harrington who has “semi-retired” after twenty years at the Mission. The evening ended with closing remarks from Mission Board Chair Daniel McKay.
The Mission has selected six students from Washington and Hancock Counties to join the Davis Maine Scholarship program. Through a partnership with Andrew Davis and the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, the Davis Maine Scholarship ensures that Downeast first-generation college bound students can complete a four-year undergraduate degree without financial burden. This is the second cohort of Downeast students to receive the scholarship; the first group began their college studies in August.
Coupled with high expectations for high school excellence and college persistence and completion, Davis Maine Scholars receive consistent mentoring and support and a full, four-year scholarship at one of three partner colleges: Clark University (MA), University of New England (ME), and Wheaton College (MA). Partner colleges were selected in part based on their demonstrated commitment to supporting first-generation students including those from rural communities.
Modeled after the highly successful Davis New Mexico Scholarship, Davis Maine Scholarship applicants were assessed on their academic achievement, personal strengths, school and community engagement, and an application process that included essays, recommendations, and an interview. As high school seniors, selected Scholars participate in ongoing programming that includes individual mentoring, cohort workshops, college visits, and guidance with all aspects of their preparation for and eventual transition to college. In addition, this second cohort will benefit from opportunities to learn from the inaugural cohort of Davis Maine Scholars.
Our Class of 2023 Davis Maine Scholars are:
Marissa Colby of Franklin
Sumner Memorial High School
Daughter of Laura and Jonathan Colby
Joseph Dougherty of Jonesport
Jonesport-Beals High School
Son of Michelle Berry and Jeffrey Copp
Laney Oliver of Addison
Narraguagus High School
Daughter of Hilary Oliver and Stephen Oliver
Austin Rusecky of Addison
Narraguagus High School
Son of Hillary Saunders-Rusecky and Philip Rusecky
Antonio Vizcarrondo of Eastport
Shead High School
Son of Christina Vizcarrondo
Tori Webber of Sullivan
Sumner Memorial High School
Daughter of Courtney and Gerry Webber
Speaking about the program’s second cohort, Davis Maine Scholarship Director Christina Griffith said, “With stamina and spirit, these new Scholars inspire. Individually and together, they reflect so eloquently the tenacious strength and hopefulness of Downeast Maine. What an honor it is to know them, learn from them and support them.”
In addition to drawing applicants from Narraguagus High School and Sumner Memorial High School, Washington County students enrolled in Bowdoin Upward Bound were eligible to apply this year. Of the two Bowdoin Upward Bound recipients selected, Program Director Bridget Mullen said, “We’re thrilled that Antonio and Joseph will be able to attend college not only with generous financial support and a wonderful network of services provided by the Davis Maine Scholarship. We cannot wait to see where they go.”
The Downeast community celebrated Wendy Harrington with songs, speeches, and food at the Mission’s Downeast Table of Plenty (DETOP) on Sunday, August 28. Wendy semi-retired from the Mission in early 2022 and transitioned from being the Mission’s Director Downeast Service Program into the position of Scholarship Program Coordinator. Wendy said of the celebration “I was overwhelmed by the kind words, the music, the gifts, and the love coming my way. You created a day that touched my heart and my soul. It made me laugh, cry and left me full of gratitude for having the opportunity to work and play with you and so many other wonderful people.”
Wendy joined the Mission, with her husband Charlie, in 2002 and was instrumental in the creation of EdGE program. In 2007, Wendy became Downeast Services Program Director and began developing programs to support that community including supporting EdGE families. These initiatives including food security programs, housing rehabilitation, and community events on the Downeast campus have become a cornerstone for the Mission’s work. Wendy said previously of her role at the Mission, “My work was, and is, centered on families and community and the belief that children thrive when they have the support of the people around them.”
As the Scholarship Program Coordinator, Wendy will build on the work she started at the Mission 20 years ago. Working directly with students, Wendy provides support to those who need it, facilitating gatherings between some of the 80 scholars who receive funding from the Mission, reaching out to students, and much more.
