MIDCOAST — The Maine Lobster Festival recently presented $500 to local youth basketball organization MidCoast Elite and $2,500 to Simonton Corner Community Association.

MidCoast Elite offers basketball programs and competition opportunities to more than 40 kids in grades four through nine in Midcoast Maine. 

“MidCoast Elite allows local kids to participate in a high level of basketball throughout the state of Maine and New England without the high costs of similar basketball programs in the state, according to a news release.

This is a year-round basketball program, and the goal is to end the spring season by attending the Disney Classic AAU Basketball tournament and the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida. 

Simonton Corner Community Association brings the people of Rockport together through activities that foster education, entertainment, and charity. The donation will be used to purchase a temporary heater.

About the Maine Lobster Festival

Five days of fun and feasting on the coast of Maine, the Maine Lobster Festival attracts thousands of people to the Midcoast region and has a long tradition of giving back to the local community, according to the Festival. In recent years, the festival committee has given more than $500,000 to organizations such as Midcoast Regional Child Development Services, Trekkers, Meals on Wheels, and many others.

The 2020 festival will be July 29 to Aug. 2. For more information about the Maine Lobster Festival, visit the website at www.mainelobsterfestival.com, “like” it on Facebook, and follow it on Twitter at @MELobsterFest.