Have you ever wanted to make a difference in your community but felt like you needed help? Joe knows how much being part of a group can empower an individual, and that's why he's proud to promote the Southern Maine chapter of 100 Women Who Care. 100 Women Who Care Southern Maine is a group of local women who are interested in supporting our communities by contributing to Southern Maine charities together as a group to increase the impact. The organization's mission is to reach out and help the community by finding 100 or more women (the count is currently over 150!) to each contribute $50 four times a year in order to give $20,000+ annually to local charities. All charities and organizations up for consideration must be in the Southern Maine area. The idea is to keep it local and have an impact that can be seen in our communities!

100 Women's next meeting is this Tuesday, May 2nd, at the Italian Heritage Center-- 40 Westland Ave, Portland, ME from 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Registration begins at 5:45, with time for networking, appetizers and a glass of wine before the meeting. Come find out what a great group of generous and thoughtful women can do when they put their minds to it!

Find out more about this local organization here, and please consider joining the movement!

                    Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

One of Joe's favorite elements of the rich, vibrant culture of Portland is the local theater scene, specifically The Portland Stage Company. Portland Stage is a team of professional theater artists, teachers and technicians who have been hand crafting quality theater in Maine since 1974 (the same year Joe opened the doors of his law practice). Beyond the productions that are at its core, Portland Stage supports a vast array of programs designed to educate, develop artists, and promote dialogue. If you're interested in Portland Stage and want to learn more, you should consider attending the Spring Gala Fundraiser-- the Supper Club Soiree, an evening of live music, local food, and fun to benefit Portland Stage. This year's event will be held on Monday, May 1st, at 6pm at the Portland House of Music, and is sure to be a great time. Find more about Portland Stage here and more about the Signature Event here. Joe says "thank you" to this Portland institution, a treasure of our community, and hopes that all Portlanders consider attending this event and a performance!

Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

Most Mainers are probably familiar with the United Way, but did you know just how much the United Way of Greater Portland does to serve our Southern Maine community? Joe was inspired when he visited this organization's website and learned just how tirelessly these folks work to guarantee a quality education for every child, financial stability for every family, and access to healthcare for all.

This week is National Volunteer Week, so if you want to help out a great cause, consider donating your time to United Way of Greater Portland and improving lives by focusing on the building blocks of a stronger community: education, income and health.

Learn more about the United Way of Greater Portland at their website or their Facebook page.

                  Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

Some of Joe's favorite local charities are those that offer assistance to veterans, as he's so grateful for those who put on a uniform and risk their lives to serve our country. Since its inception, the Goodwill Veterans' Fund has assisted nearly 250 veterans in Maine with everything from car repairs including tires, heating fuel and transportation needs. On that note, Joe hopes your schedule is clear on Thursday, April 27th from 6-10pm, when Goodwill Industries of Northern New England is hosting its fifth annual Little Black Dress Event at the Ocean Gateway in Portland to raise funds for Goodwill's Veterans Fund. With hors d'Oeuvres, a fashion show, a live auction, and a silent auction, this event is sure to be both a good time and a worthwhile cause. Find more about the event here. Joe wants to thank Goodwill for the work they do on behalf of veterans, and hopes the event is a great success.

                        Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

Once an avid cyclist himself, Joe is happy to spread the word about the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's Great Maine Bike Swap,  held from 10am-1pm on Sunday, April 23rd at USM's Sullivan Gym. The Bike Swap offers a great way to buy used bicycles at an affordable price.  You also can sell the bikes cluttering your garage or basement and turn them into cash. At the swap, you can choose from hundreds of bikes, including hybrids, road bikes, mountain bikes, children's bikes, recumbents and more. To find more about the Bicycle Coalition and the bike swap, check out this website. Joe hopes the event is a great success and that everyone finds the wheels they're looking for.

Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

Having been a personal injury attorney for over 40 years, Joe has seen too many lives ruined by dangerous driving. To raise awareness about this important issue, Joe holds the Arrive Alive Creative Contest each year for graduating high school seniors throughout Maine. Now in it's 13th year, seniors may enter by submitting a creative project that sends a message to their peers about the dangers of drinking and driving and/or distracted driving. Past entries have included essays, poems, paintings, public service announcements, videos, original songs, t-shirts, board games, drawings and more. The more creative, the better! First place winners receive a new laptop computer, second and third place winners receive a new iPad, and everyone who enters wins fun prizes from the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein. The deadline for this year's contest is Friday May 12th and a complete set of rules and all past winners can be found at ArrriveAliveCreativeContest.com.

Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

Here's a new one to Joe; he's always amazed at how many nonprofit organizations there are that he's never even heard of. Today's message is for one of them: The Maine Hemophilia Alliance of Maine, whose mission is to assist and enhance the quality of life for Maine’s people and families who have a bleeding disorder. This group hosts monthly meetings, which are open to the public, and offers services and support for those who struggle with blood disorders.

This Monday, April 17th, is World Hemophilia Day, when the World Federation of Hemophilia brings people together across the world to support the millions of people, mostly women, affected by bleeding disorders.

Learn more about the Maine Hemophilia Alliance of Maine here, and more about World Hemophilia Day here.

                      Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

Every day, many of our neighbors in the Greater Portland community are faced with tragedy.  It could be a car accident, an unexpected death of a loved one, or a traumatic event that shakes their world.  When events like those happen, the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) volunteers are there. TIP is a program run by Maine Behavioral Healthcare (formerly known as the Community Counseling Center), which develops and provides quality, outcome-based services that enhance the emotional strength and well-being of Maine residents throughout their lives. Find more about the Maine Behavioral Healthcare here, and if you can, try to make it to the Heroes with Heart celebration on Wednesday, April 12th, 2015, 5:30 - 8:30 PM, at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, to celebrate the TIP volunteers, as well as first responders, police officers, firefighters, and hospital personnel, who go above and beyond in helping victims of traumatic events each and every day throughout the year. Through his work at the law firm, Joe sees Mainers facing unbelievable hardships everyday. He extends his heartfelt thanks and admiration to the heroes who help their fellow Portlanders everyday, and hopes the event is a great success.

                    Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.