KidsPeace FCCP in Maine receives grant for enrichment activities
KidsPeace’s Foster Care and Community Programs (FCCP) in Maine has received a $5,000 grant from Portside Real Estate Group to fund after-school and peer engagement enrichment activities for children served in their programs.
Extracurricular activities such as sports, music, or special-interest clubs help youth feel a sense of belonging and empower them to make choices. These activities teach youth to set goals, build self-esteem and increase opportunities for peer interaction and positive social relationships.
However, many kids in foster care or whose families are receiving supportive social services cannot participate due to financial hardship or other barriers. KidsPeace officials say the grant will allow it to offer such opportunities to the 250 children served through its South Portland office.
“We’re so grateful to Portside Real Estate Group for their generosity to help our kids,” said Denise Card, KidsPeace FCCP Maine state manager. “Thanks to this grant, children in our care will be able to enjoy the benefits of participating in extracurricular activities — engaging with other youth, improving their social skills, and getting the chance to just be kids!”
The grant is part of the “1% Back to Maine” effort by Portside, a boutique full-service real estate brokerage serving clients in Maine and Seacoast New Hampshire. “1% Back to Maine” funds support programming of local nonprofits that address systemic Maine problems – including education, generational poverty and affordable housing, substance abuse, limited access to medical care, and food insecurity.
KidsPeace FCCP in Maine delivers a range of services, including therapeutic foster care for youth with exceptional needs; an in-home treatment program for children and families; outpatient counseling for both youth and adults; and targeted case management of community-based services for families of children on the autism spectrum or with behavioral health or developmental needs.
