Professional Logging Contractors of Maine raises record $59,439 at first-ever Online Log A Load for Maine Kids Auction Oct. 16
MILFORD – The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine held its annual Log A Load for Maine Kids Auction as a virtual event for the first time on Friday, Oct. 16, raising a record $59,439 for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals in Maine.
The evening auction was live streamed by a WABI-TV crew from the Randall Madden Trucking, Inc. garage in Milford, ME, with brief presentations, live interviews, and auctioneer Scott Hanington leading the show in his usual fun and energetic fashion. It drew participants from across Maine and beyond.
Results exceeded expectations, setting a new record for funds raised in the annual auction despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the online nature of the event. Last year’s auction raised $51, 866.
“It is frankly amazing that in the most difficult year Maine’s logging industry has ever faced, and despite the challenges of holding the auction online, PLC members, supporters, friends and families have rallied to raise a new record amount for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals,” PLC Executive Director Dana Doran, said. “This group should be very proud of this accomplishment.”
The PLC partners with the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital (BBCH) and Northern Light Health Foundation for its annual Log A Load fund drive. BBCH in Portland and Northern Light’s Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor are Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
The PLC’s Annual Meeting each spring traditionally includes a Log A Load Auction that starts the fund drive for the year. This year, due to the pandemic, the PLC was forced to postpone the meeting and auction until the fall, holding both online.
The PLC and the Northern Light Health Foundation (formerly Eastern Maine Health Systems Foundation) have partnered in the Log A Load fund-raising effort since 1996. Donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all in support of the mission to save and improve the lives of as many children in Maine as possible. Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor includes a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that has received support for years from the PLC’s Log A Load efforts. More than $1.3 million have been raised by the PLC since efforts began.
The South Carolina Forestry Association started the Log A Load for Kids program in 1988. Originally, the concept was for loggers, wood-supplying businesses, and other industry supporters in various states including Maine to donate the value of a load of logs to their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Nationally, Log A Load for Kids is a leader in CMN Hospitals’ fundraising, raising more than $2 million annually through golf tournaments, fishing events, dinners, truckloads of log donations and other events.
For more information, please visit www.logaload.org.