Leaders and Luminaries
58
Nonprofit board directors recognized since 2011.
$220,000
Awarded to Maine nonprofits
since 2011.
$20,000
Awarded in 2022.
Through our Leaders & Luminaries Awards, we aim to shine a light on nonprofit board members who bring a new level of leadership to their role and are paving the way in board service and volunteerism. Since 2011, Camden National Bank has celebrated and recognized 58 of these board members—often unsung community heroes— who exhibit exemplary leadership skills, execute strong strategic and financial plans, and have a passion for their organization’s long-term growth.
2023 Nominations are now closed.
Congratulations to our 2022 Leaders & Luminaries Award Winners!
Recognized with $5,000 grants for each respective nonprofit.
Amy Ford, Treasurer of the Board, Portland Community Squash (Portland, ME):

Portland Community Squash (PCS) aims to build an accessible community center that holistically supports and unites its members. They envision a community with enough social and human capital to overcome ever-changing societal challenges and prosper. Ford acts as the PCS board Treasurer and helped design the Campaign for 100 Scholarships for their after-school program, which provides $250,000 in financial aid each year to students. Ford also led an effort on the PCS board to recruit board members that accurately reflect PCS’s community. Through this effort, PCS has recruited five new board members over the last two years who represent various immigrant communities that PCS serves through its junior and family programs including Iraq, Burundi, Somalia, and Sudan.
Timothy Griffin, Board Chair, Dempsey Center for Quality Cancer Care (Lewiston, ME):

The mission of The Dempsey Center is to make life better for people managing the impact of cancer. Their core focus is on meeting clients where they are and offering care and community that supports them in every part of their journey. During his time on the board, Griffin has partnered with the Dempsey Center’s leadership teams to design multiple scale strategies, build organizational capacity for growth, and manage their endowment in turbulent economic times. He has helped identify diverse revenue generation strategies and supported the Dempsey Center team in diversifying their fundraising efforts to broaden their reach and stewardship capacity. Griffin has recruited more than 10 individuals to the Dempsey Center Board and Committees, and led the multi-year recruitment for the new Dempsey Center president and chief executive officer.
Kylie Hinkley, Trustee, Treasurer of the Board of Trustees, Peabody Memorial Library (Jonesport, ME):

The Peabody Memorial Library’s mission is to provide services, cultural activities, technology education, and to act as a social resource to improve the quality of life in their area. Hinkley began volunteering at Peabody Memorial Library in 2003 at the age of six as a Girl Scout. Over the years, her role as a volunteer grew substantially and in 2012, at the age of 15, Hinkley was asked by the Board of Trustees to join them as a Trustee; she was then nominated and elected as the Treasurer for the Board of Trustees in 2019. In her tenure, Hinkley has established a Teen Advisory Group to increase the involvement of younger patrons and leads vital fundraisers to support the libraries community operations and programming. She was also instrumental in the creation of an endowment for the library, which now provides a quarter of the libraries operating expenses.
Lissa Widoff, Treasurer of the Board, Waldo County Bounty (Belfast, ME):

Waldo County Bounty (WCB) works to ensure that everyone has access to fresh, nutritious food by collaborating with local farmers, organizations, and community members towards an equitable food system. Widoff has used her four decades of work in environmental policy, health, and conservation to co-found Waldo County Bounty. She led the organization through the process of becoming a registered nonprofit, and established WCB’s governance structure, while growing their relationship with their fiscal sponsors. Widoff led the WCB team through establishing bylaws and policies, and guiding board members into leadership roles based on their individual strengths. At various stages, Widoff has been vital to founding, envisioning, incorporating, and sustaining Waldo County Bounty.
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AWARDS INFORMATION & CRITERIA
- Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations or groups that demonstrate tax-exempt status under the internal Revenue Service Code Section 501(c)3.
- The nominee must be currently serving on the board of directors and not employed by the organization.
- The nonprofit organization must be located and operating in the state of Maine and New Hampshire. If an organization is part of a larger national nonprofit, then the nominee must be from the Maine or New Hampshire branch of the organization.
- Camden National Bank employees are not eligible to nominate or be nominated.
- Previous award recipients are not eligible to participate for the following five years.
- Only one nomination accepted per organization.
- The size, age, budget and mission of the organization are not material in consideration for this award.
- In reviewing applications, the selection committee will take into account the funds, staff and volunteers available to the organization, as well as how effectively it has allocated those resources to fulfill its mission. The committee will also consider whether appropriate term-limits have been put in place and a sustainable leadership plan established.
- The selection committee is dedicated to making sure the awardees reflect our values of fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in our communities.
- No prior or current relationship with Camden National Bank will be considered or is necessary to receive this award.
- All information submitted will be confidential.
- Two executives of Camden National Bank
- Three other independent volunteers who are active in Maine’s nonprofit community
- Four (4) nonprofit organizations will each receive $5,000 grants on behalf of their awardees.
- Each awardee and organization will be recognized on Camden National Bank’s website, social media, and marketing materials
- Leaders & Luminaries awards are made possible by Camden National Bank, through The Bank of Maine Foundation. In October 2015, Camden National Bank acquired The Bank of Maine in order to better serve customers through a wider range of financial products and services while still remaining an important member of the communities we serve.
- Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations or groups that demonstrate tax-exempt status under the internal Revenue Service Code Section 501(c)3.
- The nominee must be currently serving on the board of directors and not employed by the organization.
- The nonprofit organization must be located and operating in the state of Maine and New Hampshire. If an organization is part of a larger national nonprofit, then the nominee must be from the Maine or New Hampshire branch of the organization.
- Camden National Bank employees are not eligible to nominate or be nominated.
- Previous award recipients are not eligible to participate for the following five years.
- Only one nomination accepted per organization.
- The size, age, budget and mission of the organization are not material in consideration for this award.
- In reviewing applications, the selection committee will take into account the funds, staff and volunteers available to the organization, as well as how effectively it has allocated those resources to fulfill its mission. The committee will also consider whether appropriate term-limits have been put in place and a sustainable leadership plan established.
- The selection committee is dedicated to making sure the awardees reflect our values of fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in our communities.
- No prior or current relationship with Camden National Bank will be considered or is necessary to receive this award.
- All information submitted will be confidential.
- Two executives of Camden National Bank
- Three other independent volunteers who are active in Maine’s nonprofit community
- Four (4) nonprofit organizations will each receive $5,000 grants on behalf of their awardees.
- Each awardee and organization will be recognized on Camden National Bank’s website, social media, and marketing materials
- Leaders & Luminaries awards are made possible by Camden National Bank, through The Bank of Maine Foundation. In October 2015, Camden National Bank acquired The Bank of Maine in order to better serve customers through a wider range of financial products and services while still remaining an important member of the communities we serve.