Grant From Maine Community Foundation

OHI RECEIVES NEARLY $6K GRANT FROM MAINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION


By Rich Romero

Resource Developer


OHI, Hermon – OHI received a $5,740 grant Monday from the Penobscot Valley Health Association Fund of the Maine Community Foundation to establish an accredited Clubhouse International Clubhouse.


“This grant will allow us to pursue our goal of expanding our services to a larger population of adults with disabilities,” said Bonnie-Jean Brooks, OHI president and chief executive officer. “More importantly, this provides OHI an opportunity to assist people with mental illness to become meaningfully employed. Our ultimate goal, directly aligned with Clubhouse International, is to help these adults obtain sustainable employment without the need of disability income.”


Clubhouses demonstrate that people with mental illness can and do lead normal, productive lives. Clubhouses provide members with opportunities to build long-term relationships that, in turn, support them in obtaining employment, education and housing. They are community centers that offer members: a work-ordered day in which the talents and abilities of members are recognized and utilized within the Clubhouse; participation in consensus-based decision making regarding all important matters relating to the running of the Clubhouse; opportunities to obtain paid employment in mainstream businesses and industries through a Clubhouse-created, multi-tiered employment program.


PVHA grants support grassroots organizations and start-up projects focused on strengthening the health and welfare of the greater Bangor community. It was established in 1906 through a number of bequests to help people with tuberculosis in the greater Bangor area. For many years, the association made charitable contributions to both treat and research the disease. After newer drugs and methods of treating tuberculosis were developed, the association turned its charitable interests to more general health and welfare projects in the greater Bangor area. In 1996, the association moved its endowment and became a component fund of the Maine Community Foundation.

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