Bob Dunfey, volunteer race director for the Gorham Savings Bank Maine Marathon, and Steve deCastro, president and CEO of Gorham Savings Bank, title sponsor since 2010, announced today that Percival Baxter Foundation, Maine Paws for Veterans, Maine Senior Games, Riding to the Top, Saltwater Classroom, and Strong Girls United are the primary race beneficiaries for 2024. Details about the beneficiaries are as follows.

Percival Baxter Foundation

The Percival Baxter Foundation for Maine’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing children aims to benefit, support and enhance programs and services for children with hearing loss in Maine, their families, and provide professional development training for professionals with whom they work.

Maine Paws for Veterans

Maine Paws for Veterans matches qualified dogs with veterans living with military-related Post-Traumatic Stress. In this unique program, pairs progress through service dog training together, enriching both lives while building peer relationships.

Maine Senior Games

Maine Senior Games is an organization that promotes healthy, active lifestyles among adults 45 and over through competitive sports events. Offering a wide range of athletic activities, from track and field to swimming and pickleball, the games encourage seniors to maintain physical fitness, engage in social interaction, and celebrate the joy of sport at any age.

Riding to the Top

Riding to the Top focuses on therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted activities for children and adults with disabilities in Maine. By facilitating meaningful connections between people and horses, the organization aims to improve physical, emotional, and social well-being, offering participants a unique and empowering therapeutic experience.

Saltwater Classroom

Saltwater Classroom fosters an ethic of ocean stewardship in young students, as well as learners of all ages, through hands-on ocean education, tech-integration, and global collaboration.

Strong Girls United

Strong Girls United empowers young girls to be strong, confident, and resilient through sports, mentorship, and mental health programming. Their curriculum and programs are intentionally designed based on this principle and guided by their motto: strong bodies, kind hearts, and unstoppable minds.

“The marathon has become one of New England’s most enduring running events, and it’s only fitting that the volunteers, who selflessly organize this event, choose organizations that contribute to a thriving community where every individual has the opportunity to grow and contribute meaningfully,” said deCastro. “They are a force for good, just as we strive to be, in the communities they serve.”

“Last year we raised over $645,000 for charities including $75,000 for the victims and families of the Lewiston mass shooting,” said Dunfey. “Since 1997, this effort has enabled us to contribute over $7 million to deserving causes. Moreover, the marathon weekend significantly benefits the local economy, generating an economic impact exceeding $1.3 million. We value the substantial support of our esteemed partner, Gorham Savings Bank, who help make our efforts possible.”

Marathon beneficiaries not only receive funds from registration fees but also contribute by rallying volunteers for various tasks, from managing water stations to cleanup, during race weekend. The 100% volunteer-run race relies on more than 900 volunteers, the vast majority of whom are sourced from nonprofit partners.

The race takes place on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 7:45am in Portland. Visit MaineMarathon.com to register to run.