Penquis News

TD Charitable Foundation Supports Financial Well-being

Feb. 5, 2024 –Bangor, Maine– The TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, recently donated $20,000 to Penquis as part of the foundation’s commitment to giving back to the community. Penquis is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting Maine families in becoming healthy, safe, connected, and financially secure.The funds from the TD Charitable Foundation will support Penquis’ Financial Capability Program, which offers six-to-eight-week classes and one-to-one financial coaching to help individuals maximize their income, manage finances, and increase assets. The program will help 150 to 200 individuals improve their financial well-being through goal setting, budgeting, saving, credit building, bank services and community resources.“We are very thankful to receive this grant from TD Charitable Foundation,” said Jennifer Giosia, Housing and Energy Services Director for Penquis. “This funding will allow us to help more Mainers not only meet basic needs and increase financial stability but also help build financial security.”This contribution supports TD’s longstanding commitment to community enrichment through TD’s corporate citizenship platform, The TD Ready Commitment. The TD Ready Commitment actively promotes inclusivity, economic vitality, environmental well-being, and health, enabling people of all backgrounds to succeed in a rapidly changing world.“Penquis’ proactive commitment to financial coaching is an important step in improving financial health for all Mainers,” said Sheryl McQuade, Regional President, Metro New England, TD Bank. “TD is dedicated to supporting organizations, that share our focus to improve financial literacy across communities. Penquis’ work investing in income stability and creating solutions for building security is driving meaningful change throughout the region.”About the TD Charitable Foundation  The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, one of the 10 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has distributed over $300 million through donations to local nonprofits from Maine to Florida footprint and Michigan. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation is available at  https://www.td.com/us/en/about-us/communities/ready-commitment/funding-opportunitiesAbout the TD Ready CommitmentTD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. Under the TD Ready Commitment and its four key, interconnected drivers of: Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities, and Better Health; we are targeting a total of $1 billion by 2030 in community giving to help support initiatives that focus on these drivers. Through the TD Ready Commitment, TD aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident – not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit www.td.com/tdreadycommitment.###

Share this...

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin

$3.3 Million to Support Innovative 3D Printed Housing Solution 

BANGOR, Maine (January 24, 2023) – Penquis is receiving $3.3 million to support a project that may transform housing construction methods in Maine and across the nation while addressing the state’s housing crisis. 

“Our state is facing a housing crisis that will take ingenuity and creative thinking to solve. Thankfully, that’s exactly what we’re seeing in this collaborative partnership with Penquis, the University of Maine and MaineHousing. By scaling up UMaine’s pioneering BioHome3D technology for use in the greater Bangor area, we are taking a positive step forward in building more housing and in supporting our economy,” says Gov. Janet Mills. “I am proud to see our support through the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan and our most recent budget continue to yield progress, and I look forward to seeing how innovation like this can help us deliver safe places for Maine people to live. I thank Penquis, the University of Maine and MaineHousing for their collaboration, our congressional delegation for their work to provide funding, and the KeyBank Foundation for its generous support.” 

“New solutions are needed to address the housing affordability crisis in Maine,” says Jason Bird, director of housing development for Penquis, noting that Maine has an estimated shortage of 20,000 to 25,000 affordable rental units. “One of the greatest challenges is the cost and slow pace of housing construction. This project is investigating ways to create units more quickly and inexpensively, as well as more sustainably.” 

The project, using UMaine’s BioHome3D technology, is a collaborative effort involving Penquis, the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center and MaineHousing. New materials and methods developed by the University of Maine will be used to create a first-in-the-nation bio-based 3D-printed neighborhood. The neighborhood will be located in the Greater Bangor area and consist of nine homes that will provide housing for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness.  

Share this...

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 26, 2024

Penquis Receives Transportation Services Grant from Maine Community Foundation

Support provided by the Maine Charity Foundation Fund

BANGOR, Maine – Penquis C.A.P., Inc. (Penquis) was awarded $5,000 from the Maine Charity Foundation Fund of the Maine Community Foundation. The grant is being used to support transportation at no cost for adults aged 60+ in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties who need rides for any purpose, including medical appointments, grocery shopping, and socialization.

According to AARP, 77% of older adults want to age in place, a practice shown to have health, emotional, and cost benefits. This can be especially difficult in rural Maine, where transportation is necessary to access services but transportation options are limited and can be costly. In Piscataquis and Penobscot counties, adults aged 60 and older account for 35.9% and 25.8% of residents, respectively, according to the Census. For many of those older adults, having accessible and affordable transportation is necessary for them to continue to live independently. Penquis Transportation Services is using the grant funds to continue its crucial support in providing transportation assistance to older adults in these counties.

“We thank the Maine Community Foundation and the Maine Charity Foundation Fund for helping to support accessible transportation for older adults, including those who live in rural areas,” said Penquis Transportation Services Director Steven Richard. “Many older adults live alone, and, without affordable transportation options, they may not be able to access needed services. This fund will help in breaking down financial barriers that prevent access to transportation and, in turn, support greater access to healthcare, socialization, and other needs. Penquis Transportation’s continued reach throughout the rural service area will promote better health outcomes and help elder Mainers remain in their homes longer.”

Penquis Transportation Services is the Maine DOT Regional Transportation Provider for Penobscot and Piscataquis counties and the MaineCare Non-emergency Medical Transportation Broker for Penobscot, Piscataquis, Kennebec, and Somerset counties. Penquis’ transportation service area is primarily rural, covering nearly 7400 square miles.

For more information about transportation services provided by Penquis, visit www.penquis.org or call 207-973-3695.

Share this...

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin