By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — MMG Insurance, with the support of its employees, business partners and the local community, donated more than $30,000 recently to the United Way of Aroostook.
The money was raised through the annual MMG Charity Golf Tournament through registration fees and donations from businesses and individuals.
“This was our 20th year hosting the golf tournament, and since its inception, we’ve always donated the money to the United Way of Aroostook,” said Larry Shaw, president and CEO of MMG Insurance. “We wanted to get involved in a group that spread money throughout The County and gave back on a broad basis, and we felt the United Way was a great organization to get involved with.”
Shaw said the tournament, which was held Sept. 7 at the Aroostook Valley Country Club in Fort Fairfield, was the most successful event so far. This year’s total was $30,195, the largest to date by more than $2,300.
“We attribute it to so many people coming back year after year after year, and upping what they want to give to the tournament,” he said, noting that a number of employees are involved in the fundraising and behind-the-scenes organization of the event. “There’s a lot of work that goes on in the background to make this happen. I appreciate all of our employees who help out. They do a lot of work and help make it the successful event that it is.
“Starting out 20 years ago the intent was to make it a fun tournament,” said Shaw. “We wanted to make it one that individuals would want to come play and enjoy themselves, and give back to the community at the same time. It’s really grown into a tournament that people look forward to each year and they come back and support it.”
While some of the 144 golfers were MMG employees, Shaw said the company is able to draw participants in from its extended business relationships.
“The uniqueness of our event is that we bring in people involved in our business across New England,” he said. “They come up and make a weekend of it, and it’s really the difference in driving the numbers up. We have people participate from Portland, Boston and Pennsylvania. A lot of the support comes from vendors; lawyers, adjusting firms and others that we do business with.”
Wanda Guiggey, campaign chair of the United Way of Aroostook, said she was thrilled with the donation.
“This money goes into our general campaign, and we will use that to fund the approximately 20 social service agencies that we help throughout the year,” she said. “This means a lot to the people of Aroostook County and the United Way of Aroostook that we’re able to help so many people with that money.
“The MMG Charity Golf Tournament is really our kickoff as it starts our fund-raising campaign for the year,” said Guiggey, “so we’re off to a great start. I used to play in the tournament, but I haven’t for the last few years, but I have family that plays in it. I go over to support them, and it’s a great, fun event.”
To date, the Charity Golf Tournament has raised more than $388,000 for the United Way of Aroostook.
“For the tournament to be in its 20th year and to have that commitment from one organization is truly an amazing feat,” said Guiggey. “We’re very pleased and happy, and we thank MMG from the bottom of our hearts.”
