"WE'RE COMMITTED TO GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY"
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Roses are red, violets are blue, Joe loves poetry, and so should you! April is National Poetry Month-a time to celebrate poets and poetry, the beauty of language, and the richness poetry brings to our community. The Portland Public Library is hosting an event on April 25 from 6:30-8pm called "The Next Generation Poetry Reading". For more information about the PPL and its events, go to this website. Joe wishes all Portlanders a happy National Poetry Month!
Joe wants to spread the word about National Donate Life Month. Every day in April, people across the U.S. make a special effort to celebrate the tremendous generosity of those who have saved lives by becoming organ, tissue, marrow, and blood donors and to encourage more Americans to follow their fine example. Last year alone, organ donors made more than 28,000 transplants possible. Another one million people received cornea and other tissue transplants that helped them recover from trauma, bone damage, spinal injuries, burns, hearing impairment and vision loss. Unfortunately, thousands die every year waiting for a donor organ that never comes, but you have the power to change that. Find more information at organdonor.gov.
If you're a Portlander, you know how strong the sense of community in this town is. Joe appreciates the organizations that foster this community and empower our youth, including the folks at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, whose mission is to inspire and enable all young people, particularly those who need it most, to realize their full potential as responsible, productive and caring citizens. On Friday April 1st (not April 4th, contrary to the photo below!), the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine are hosting their 34th Annual Spring for the Kids Auction at BGC's Portland Clubhouse on Cumberland Ave. Find more about the event here. Your support helps children and teens reach their full potential as individuals, students and citizens. The Clubs thank you for your support, and Joe thanks the Clubs for their important work.
When Joe reflects on the blessings that have enabled him to succeed, he can't help but think of the education he received as a young child. As a lawyer, the ability to read and write is crucial for Joe, and he wishes that all children could receive the same education he did. This is why he's thrilled to promote the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, a nonprofit organization with a goal to improve the lives of Americans through learning. Find more about this important organization at its website, www.givetoread.org. Joe hopes you consider lending a hand to this organization, because every child and family deserves an equal opportunity to learn to read.
In his work as a personal injury attorney, Joe has seen thousands of injured victims who come to him for help. While his clients are victims of accidents, Joe knows of another type of victim that doesn't always have the same legal recourse, which is why Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine (SARSSM) is such an important resource. SARSSM began advocating for victims of sexual assault more than 40 years ago. Today, numerous professionally trained male and female Crisis & Support Line advocates answer calls 24-hours a day, 365-days a year. Advocates respond to calls from victim/survivors, family members, friends, significant others, and professionals working with those impacted by sexual violence. Volunteer advocates provide information, referrals, advocacy, and support to individuals reporting incidents of sexual assault. SARSSM continues to emphasize education and community involvement to end sexual violence. On Sunday, April 3, 2016 from 1-4 PM at the South Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks, SARSSM will be hosting the Annual Chocolate Lovers' Fling. This special gala event, featuring table service, multiple courses of chocolate tasting, and a silent auction is the largest annual fundraiser for Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine.
Talented local chocolatiers, from York and Cumberland counties, will showcase their creativity and serve their ultimate chocolate confections. Chocolatiers compete for awards, including the prized People's Choice award. All attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the judging process, and will receive expert guidance in chocolate appreciation. Attendees can also look forward to meeting the chocolatiers and placing bids in a silent auction featuring jewelry, art, getaways, and of course, chocolate.
Find more about the organization here, and about the event here. Joe hopes the event is a success but that you don't eat too much chocolate!
Ever since Joe's days as a young DJ (true story), he's had a soft spot in his heart for student-run radio stations; fortunately, Portland is home to such a station. WMPG, 90.9/104.1, empowers University of Southern Maine students and community members to create diverse, innovative, high quality media, foster the exchange of ideas, and celebrate the many cultures of USM and surrounding communities for broadcast to the world. As we all know, it takes charitable donations from Portlanders like you to make such an operation possible. WMPG's Spring Begathon is currently taking place, so be sure to donate here. The WMPG volunteers and managers will be asking their listener-supporters for donations totaling $50,000 to meet the station's operations budget. For WMPG volunteers and listeners, the week of Begathon is a 7-day celebration of the unique opportunities that community radio offers. "Regular people, with and without previous media experience, come to WMPG to learn how to make radio that is important to them," explains WMPG Program Director Lisa Bunker. "We teach them the skills and responsibilities of how to do it, and then the music that is played and the topics that are discussed are completely up to them." Find more about WMPG at its official website. Joe hopes you chip in to WMPG and help support this important asset to the Portland community!
As the descendant of immigrants who needed to learn English upon coming to America, Joe has a soft spot in his heart for all immigrants' pursuit of the American Dream. That's why he's spreading the word about The Multilingual and Multicultural Center's Rock Around the World event. MLMC is a local organization whose mission is to ensure equal access to educational opportunities for English Language Learners. Today, MLMC is a multi-faceted organization overseeing the language acquisition of the Portland Public School's English Language Learners in grades K-12. The Rock Around the World Party is an international dance party with tasty food and dancing, and will be held tonight at the Italian Heritage Center. Find more about this organization here, and more about the event here. Joe hopes it's a great event and offers his thanks to the MLMC for the great work they do!
