2013 Annual Award Recipients

United Way presents these awards to recognize individuals, groups or businesses who have helped identify and take steps toward solutions for significant issues affecting our community. This year we have started a new award call the Community Builder Award to celebrate businesses, non-profits and individuals who exemplify the spirit of giving back to their communities. To find true solutions, we find it often takes someone who is willing to ask the next questions, take the next steps, find the needed resources or create community in new ways.

Linda Levia is an original member of our Success By 6 Impact Council.  She has brought a unique prospective and thorough knowledge of early childhood needs in Androscoggin County to United Way’s assessment and decision making process. She participated in the planning and implementation of the first Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) Summit held in Maine – right here in Auburn.  She has been a strong advocate for devoting more resources for early childhood development.  She is retiring this month from the Auburn School Dept. as an Early Childhood Team Leader.

Dave Abel has been a member of our Success By 6 Impact Council for four years.  As President & General Manager of WMTW-TV/News 8, Dave Able and the station have supported United Way in several ways….each year they provide our annual campaign video as a gift in kind.  Dave also serves on the board of directors for United Way. Typically at each board meeting we have an agency speaker or a topic that we focus on – Dave has utilized his United Way experience and provided broadcast on-air editorials discussing the importance of education, and several on-air editorials advocating for increased resources for early childhood development. He also brings a unique business prospective on early childhood needs to the Success By 6 Council.

As we review 2013, I would be remiss not to mention the Lewiston Fires.  There have been several editorials as we entered the one year anniversary of the destructive fires that left 200 people homeless…including one that stated “scars of arson in Lewiston slowly heal.” One place of healing that many of the victims frequented during those initial scary weeks was Trinity Jubiliee Center – which functions as a soup kitchen, food pantry and community center all in one.  The majority of the people displaced by the fires had a connection to Trinity, either as volunteers or clients.

They also had another connection and her name is Erin Reed.  We the opportunity to work closely with Erin to make sure that the needs of fire victims were met – during that time there was a lot of confusion as to where to go for resources and there was obviously a language barrier for 50% of the fire victims.  Erin was a tireless advocate for the victims of the Lewiston Fires…Portland Press Herald named 10 individuals to be Thankful for in our state last Thanksgiving and Erin was one of the 10 – labeled the caseworker.  It stated that these 10 individuals are known by their neighbors for their generous hearts and for their genuine commitment to improving the community around them. We are lucky to have Erin in our community.

The final recipient of a 2013 Community Builder Award is the Lewiston Fire Department. Fire and police employees are always ready – 24/7.  But, the magnitude of these fires, over a 9 day period, was not expected by anyone. The Lewiston Fire Department and area responders are to be commended for their hard work that continued even after the last fire was out.  No lives were lost and demolition of the blighted buildings offers downtown Lewiston new possibilities.  Representing the Lewiston Fire Department is Joyce Ruby and Chief Paul LeClair.