Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Employees Award More Than $19,000 in Donations Collected in Q1 2024 to Nine Nonprofit Organizations

Bar Harbor, Maine (June 11, 2024) - Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees recently presented more than $19,000 in donations collected through the Bank’s employee-driven charitable giving program, Casual for a Cause, to nine nonprofit organizations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The recipients of the donations for Q1 2024 are: Bangor Land Trust, Down East Community Hospital, Friends of Baxter State Park, The Lamb House, and Sebasticook Regional Land Trust in Maine; Cornucopia Project and NH Audubon in New Hampshire; and Brandon Area Toy Project and Randolph Community Preschool in Vermont.

Employees participating in Casual for a Cause dress casually on Fridays in exchange for a bi-weekly payroll deduction made to a pool of funds collected each quarter. The employees then vote on which nonprofits will receive the funds. The program has distributed more than $311,000 of employee donations since it began in 2018.

“Our employees care about the communities we call home, and Casual for a Cause gives them the opportunity to pool together their own money to make thoughtful and impactful donations each quarter,” said Jack Frost, VP Director of Community Giving at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. “I am honored to work with such caring colleagues and grateful to Bar Harbor Bank & Trust for supporting an employee giving program that has facilitated donations to more than 125 nonprofit organizations over the last six years.”

Recipients of Q1 2024 Donations

Maine

Bangor Land Trust is a community-based, non-profit land trust helping protect special landscapes and natural resources in the Bangor region, maintaining public access to trails, and providing education programming for all ages. The organization owns and conserves over 1,000 acres of land with public access. Learn more about Bangor Land Trust at www.bangorlandtrust.org.

“Bangor Land Trust is incredibly grateful for everyone at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust for their generous support,” said Robert Ostrowski, Executive Director of Bangor Land Trust. “This amazing gift from a fellow Maine organization allows us to continue offering nature programming to kids and adults and to conserve land for everyone’s benefit.”

Down East Community Hospital is a 25-bed acute care facility that offers state-of-the-art technology and specialty services in a small rural hospital. The hospital provides inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical, and emergency services to residents living in Washington County, Maine. Learn more about Down East Community Hospital at www.dech.org.

“Thank you to the staff at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust for including us in their generous giving program,” said Steve Lail, President & CEO of Down East Community Hospital. “Having a local business give in such a generous way and show support for our mission to improve the health of those in Washington County is uplifting, and we thank them wholeheartedly.”

Friends of Baxter State Park is a nonprofit organization that strives to inspire passion for the park's wild character in the spirit of its founder, Governor Percival Baxter. The organization promotes exemplary use, natural resource stewardship, and a healthy Katahdin region to ensure the park forever remains a refuge. Learn more about Friends of Baxter State Park at www.friendsofbaxter.org.

“Our programs provide leadership and career opportunities for Maine youth, advocacy and public outreach, and engagement with local and native communities,” said Aaron Megquier, Executive Director of Friends of Baxter State Park. “We have been a vital and trusted partner to the Park for over two decades.”

The Lamb House is a secure and comfortable single-family dwelling intended to accommodate entire families that have been forced to leave their homes by fire or natural disaster. The organization serves residents from Southwestern Washington County and Eastern Hancock County, Maine. Learn more about the Lamb House at thelambhouse.org.

“The Lamb House is extremely grateful for the generosity of Bar Harbor bank employees,” said Sara Williams, President of the Board of Directors for The Lamb House. “Housing is a critical and limited resource in this region, and every contribution makes a big difference!”

Sebasticook Regional Land Trust is a membership-supported conservation association working to conserve and restore the lands and waters of the Sebasticook River Watershed in Central Maine. The association manages more than 2,200 acres for public recreation, wildlife, forestry, and agriculture. Learn more about Sebasticook Regional Land Trust at www.sebasticookrlt.org.

“The Sebasticook Regional Land Trust is honored to receive this generous donation from the employees of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust,” said Cheryl Daigle, Executive Director of Sebasticook Regional Land Trust. “As we work together with community partners, we will use these funds to support nature education and enhance access to working woodlands and wildlands throughout the Sebasticook River watershed. We greatly appreciate the value bank employees place on the importance of protecting lands and rural values within our local communities.”

New Hampshire

Cornucopia Project develops programs to promote environmental sustainability, food security, and community resilience in the Monadnock Region. The organization provides garden education to nine elementary schools, offers youth cooking classes, and operates an educational farm that supplies produce to families, restaurants, food pantries, community suppers, and schools. Learn more about Cornucopia Project at cornucopiaproject.org.

“We are incredibly grateful for Bar Harbor Bank & Trust's generous donation in support of our agriculture-based nutrition education program for children of all ages,” said Lauren Judd, Executive Director of Cornucopia Project. “This funding allows us to continue our mission of planting seeds for a lifetime of healthy eating through garden, kitchen and farm education. Thank you to the employees of BHBT for your belief in our work and dedication to creating a brighter and healthier future for all.”

NH Audubon is an independent statewide membership organization whose mission is to protect New Hampshire’s natural environment for wildlife and people. The organization provides environmental education programs, conservation research and wildlife monitoring, and protection of nearly 10,000 acres of wildlife habitat in 40 sanctuaries. Learn more about NH Audubon at www.nhaudubon.org.

“We were so pleased and grateful to receive a donation from Bar Harbor Wealth Management,” said Doug Bechtel, President of NH Audubon. “These funds will bolster our programs and impact as we reach more people and connect them with our natural environment.”

Vermont

Brandon Area Toy Project is a 100% volunteer organization dedicated to improving opportunities for kids in Brandon, Leicester, Whiting, Goshen, and Sudbury, Vermont. The organization brings people from all economic backgrounds together to build a community through events, activities, and support from the Coat project, Backpack Giveaway, holiday gifts, and more. Learn more about Brandon Area Toy Project at www.brandonareatoyproject.com.

“The Brandon Area Toy Project is a local charity run completely by funding, so the amazingly generous donation by Bar Harbor Bank & Trust knocked us off our feet,” said Collen Wright, Director of Brandon Area Toy Project. “You have no idea how this will positively impact the kids of the Brandon area. Thank you!”

Randolph Community Preschool is a licensed and nonprofit preschool center offering education experience and kindergarten readiness programs. The center has been serving the needs of families with young children since 1968.

“We are so grateful to the employees of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust for supporting our early childhood program and investing in some of our youngest learners in the community,” said Rachel Drury, Director of Randolph Community Preschool. “We believe that children learn best through active exploration in a fun and engaging environment. Outside play is an essential component to an early childhood education! Your generous donations will be utilized to improve upon our outdoor learning space.”

Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSE American: BHB) is the parent company of its wholly owned subsidiary, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. Operating over 50 locations across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is headquartered in Bar Harbor, Maine and has more than $4 billion in assets. As a leading Northern New England community bank, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust offers a full range of personal and business banking services, as well as wealth management services through its subsidiary Bar Harbor Wealth Management. For more information about Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, visit www.barharbor.bank or call 888-853-7100. Member FDIC.

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