Riley Bodkin received the first annual Girls Who Grant scholarship. Applicants were asked to write a one-page essay on the following: What have you done and what WOULD you do to build a stronger community in Sanford? Riley and her mother Frances Dyer Bodkin joined the monthly GWG event where Riley read her winning essay.

Riley was a member of Key Club and the Environmental Club at Sanford High School. It was through these clubs that she was able to give back to the community.  “In order to alter this city into a modern, booming community, people must work tirelessly through community service.  It is our job, as young people, to make our mark on this city, just as past generations did.”

In the fall she will go to a four year school to study to be a Speech-Language Pathologist. “In this career, I would help rehabilitate stroke patients, help people overcome swallowing and breathing issues, as well as help children with speech and language related learning deficiencies. It would be my goal to work at the speech practice Springvale, a village within Sanford, to continue my journey of bettering Sanford in every way possible.”

GWG wishes Riley a bright future and will be looking for her to “make her mark” on our community when she returns. Congratulations Riley!!

Camp Kita  is a non-profit summer bereavement camp specifically for children that have experienced the suicide of a loved one.  The funds will be used to support a camper at their week long retreat created to give children a safe place to grieve and begin the process of healing.

We donated funds directly to the guidance counselors of Sanford High School to use at their discretion.  There are students that arrive back to school in the fall needing new shoes and warm jackets.  Our amazing, local guidance counselors always find a way to help their students any way they can!

Our second grant was made on behalf of a member that had recently used the services of the Barbara Bush wing at Maine Medical Center.  Sanford, as a community, has always been a huge supporter of the Maine Children’s Cancer Program and we were proud to be able to contribute to the pediatric unit as well.

Our first grant was given to a local grassroots non-profit Caring Unlimited .  Funds were used towards a new garden-to-table program at their emergency shelter, which will give the residents an opportunity to grow, harvest and cook their own food.  Studies have shown that gardening is very therapeutic for victims of trauma and abuse.  We were proud to be able to help an amazing organization working to strengthen and empower survivors of domestic violence.