Maine authors Chris Van Dusen, Cynthia Lord, Juliese Padgett, Lynn Plourde, Earl Smith, and Maine Humorist Gary Crocker will be reading their work and sharing their creativity during an online fundraising celebration benefitting Maine Children’s Home on Thursday, June 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. 

The online and live-streamed event will conclude a month-long fundraiser called There’s No Place Like Home, which includes an online raffle from May 10 to June 14 and a silent auction from May 26 to June 14. While the evening with the Maine authors on June 17 will be streamed live to Facebook and YouTube, those who register early for the live event are entered to win a door prize of $100+ in value. 

The idea to incorporate Maine authors in the fundraising event was inspired by young author and adoptee Juliese Padgett, who wrote The Newest Flower about her adoption experience when she was seven-years-old. Padgett, now sixteen, wrote this book “to teach all children to love one another no matter what type of flower [they] are,” and to raise money for the Family Adoption Program at Maine Children’s Home. 

“We are very excited about the strong community support for the essential programs and services of the Maine Children's Home,” said the executive director of Maine Children’s Home, in a news release. “Although we aren't able to gather in-person this year, much planning and research has gone into aligning these unique, fun and engaging activities that will grow support for our services. This is the major fundraising event for the Maine Children's Home for 2021.” 

All proceeds from the three-part There’s No Place Like Home fundraiser will support all the programs of Maine Children's Home. Details about the month-long fundraiser and evening with Maine authors can be found at MaineChildrensHome.org/NoPlaceLikeHome.

About Maine Children’s Home 

Maine Children’s Home (MCH) is a 501(c)(3) organization that offers programs for building and strengthening families and their children, instilling hope for the future and a better quality of life. Founded in 1899, the Waterville-based organization has evolved with the changing needs of families and children, and supports more than 3,000 people each year through the following programs and services: 

Family Adoption Program: Providing a lifetime of services for birth parents and adoptive families 

Family Counseling Center: Guiding toward hope, healing, and wholeness 

Teen Parent Education Program: Helping teen parents build a foundation for their future 

Connected Families Project: Offering powerful, accessible tools to help strengthen families 

Christmas Program: Sharing joy and winter warmth with kids and families 

Summer camp connections: Supporting Maine Summer Camp Experiences 

More information about MCH’s programs and its history can be found at MaineChildrensHome.org.