Susan L. Curtis Foundation Named Beneficiary for This Year's TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K

Camp Susan Curtis is an educational summer camp dedicated to empowering Maine youth and breaking the cycle of poverty

PORTLAND, Maine - TD Banknorth announced that it has chosen the Susan L. Curtis Foundation as the beneficiary of this year’s TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race.

Camp Susan Curtis, located on Trout Lake in Stoneham, is a summer camp dedicated to improving the lives of economically disadvantaged Maine children ages 8-18. The foundation provides traditional camping experiences interwoven with a leadership development and life skills curriculum.

Year-round curricula include retreats, venture out programs, arts and follow-up programs which help contribute to a 96 percent return rate for the 650 Maine children who attend tuition-free. The Susan L. Curtis Foundation offers strengths-based outdoor education experiences which build kids in poverty into tomorrow’s leaders.

“We were very impressed and quite moved, frankly, by how the Susan L. Curtis Foundation changes the lives of these children,” said Larry Wold, president of TD Banknorth in Maine. “Camp Susan Curtis sets young people on a path to reach their dreams. We are pleased to be able to shine a light on this organization through the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon this year.”

TD Banknorth, through the TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation, will provide a cash donation of $30,000 to the Susan L. Curtis Foundation. The non-profit organization also will benefit from fundraising activities and publicity through its association with one of Maine’s premiere sporting events.

The TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race is set for Saturday, August 2 along the picturesque shores of Maine’s rocky coastline in Cape Elizabeth.
This year will be the 11th running of the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon, which has established itself as one of the most popular events on the U.S. road race circuit, drawing a field of 5,500 runners from throughout the region and the world to the small coastal community in Maine. As many as 10,000 spectators line the course to cheer the runners, and more than 800 volunteers help ensure a smooth operation.

Charitable giving is central to the mission of the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon. Each year, title sponsor TD Banknorth chooses a different charitable organization benefiting Maine youth. The Susan L. Curtis Foundation joins a select group that includes STRIVE, the 2007 beneficiary, as well as Camp Sunshine, Kids First, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Riding to the Top and others.

“We are honored to be chosen as the 2008 beneficiary by TD Banknorth and to have the opportunity to be a part of this fantastic event,” said Alan Cartwright, the Executive Director at the Susan L. Curtis Foundation. “We believe strongly that providing underprivileged children with a safe, nurturing and unconditionally supportive summer camp experience is a critical element in their education and will help give them a hand up in life.”

Founded in 1971, the Susan L. Curtis Foundation is named for the daughter of former Maine Gov. Kenneth M. Curtis and Pauline B. Curtis after Susan’s death from cystic fibrosis. The camp opened in 1974. Since then, more than 13,000 children have attended Camp Susan Curtis from every county in Maine.

The goal is to provide a positive experience and environment that many economically disadvantaged children need to gain self-esteem, a sense of belonging and achievement.

The camp program focuses on confidence building, personal responsibility, communication skills, anger management and the ability to cope with, and relate to, peers and adults. The Susan Curtis Foundation provides a Leadership Development program which often leads to the campers becoming cabin counselors. Studies show teens that complete the training program graduate from high school and attend college in much greater numbers than the statewide average of Maine students.

Newly offered are programs for the arts at Lovell, Maine on Kezar Lake. The Hewnoaks Arts Education Center is operated in conjunction with the University of Maine, Orono.

For more information about the Susan L. Curtis Foundation or Camp Susan Curtis, visit www.susancurtisfoundation.org.

Online registration for the 2008 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon is set to begin March 15. Those who want to participate should keep in mind that registering online is the only way to sign up for the race this year. The race is expected to fill up soon after registration gets underway. For more information, visit www.beach2beacon.org.

The race begins near the Crescent Beach entrance on Route 77 and ends at the historic Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park. More than $ 55,000 in prize money is awarded to the top finishers and place winners in the various categories for men and women. The event also features a children's 1K race with 500 kids participating.

TD Banknorth is the title sponsor of the race founded by Joan Benoit Samuelson, the Olympic gold medalist from Cape Elizabeth who also serves as a spokesperson for TD Banknorth during the year to promote the race and the bank’s giving programs, which benefit Maine youth with sponsorship programs and charitable gifts. For more information on TD Banknorth, visit www.tdbanknorth.com.

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