AUGUSTA — Molina Medicaid Solutions of Maine recently recognized three local heroes at its 5th annual Community Champions Awards ceremony at the Governor Hill Mansion. Each winners received a $1,000 grant to give to a deserving nonprofit of their choice, according to a news release form Molina.
“Recognizing the individuals who are committed to doing great work in our community is one of the best parts of my job,” Peter Gray, executive account director for Molina Medicaid Solutions in Maine, said in the release. “We are honored to celebrate these every day heroes and the positive impact they have made on thousands of people.”
The award honorees are:
• Cathleen O’Donnell, of The Center for Grieving Children, has spent more than 2,000 hours since 2004 facilitating groups at Portland’s Center for Grieving Children, making a difference in the lives of hundreds of kids and their families as they safely express feelings about death and loss.
One in seven children experiences the death of a parent or sibling and children who do not receive grief support are at greater risk for anxiety, depression, conduct disorders and even suicide. Cathleen is there for these children, making a direct positive impact in their lives.
O’Donnell will donate her grant back to the Center for Grieving Children.
• Marie Clark-Colman, of In-A-Pinch Non-Food Pantry, co-founded the pantry in 1996 with the late Charlotte Bourgeaul. Since then, she has worked countless hours to ensure that lower-income families have access to personal care and cleaning supplies.
She shares Molina’s goal of addressing and improving healthy living conditions for the individuals in need.
Her involvement with the community extends to helping with “Back-to-School Backpacks,” clothing drives and giveaways, ‘Toys for Tots,’ holiday food baskets, distributing mittens and hats for children and much more.
Clark-Colman also sits on the board of Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center and Camp Laughing Loon.
She plans to donate her grant back to In-A-Pinch Non Food Pantry.
• Cathy Lafleche, of Eastern Area Agency on Aging, volunteers for the Agency’s on Aging’s nutrition program. She volunteers for the EAAA seven hours per week and delivers Meals on Wheels to eight clients every Tuesday, driving more than 70 miles.
On the last Monday of each month, she manages the Patten Community Café and takes care of the deliveries for 10 of the senior food bank clients. She is also active in the local clothing bank — collecting, washing and mending donations.
She drives a local gentleman to his monthly cancer care appointment and a woman to her weekly doctor appointments. One of the people she helps regularly, Roseanne G., called her a “God send” for not only taking her to appointments, but often helping out with grocery shopping and meal preparation.
She will donate her grant back to the Eastern Area Agency on Aging.
Established to honor the memory of Dr. Molina, the Community Champions program spotlights the good deeds of everyday heroes in their communities. The Molina Healthcare Community Champions Awards event was first held in Sacramento in 2006, according to the release.
For more information, visit molinahealthcare.com.
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