Together, we're making a difference

Photo ©Emily Kindness

Kate and I were struck recently by how far we’ve come with Tom’s of Maine since we founded it in 1970, and how much we’ve been able to accomplish on the strength of an idea: that our company could be financially successful while behaving in a socially responsible and environmentally sensitive manner.

We’ve found that our consumers care about their community and the natural world, and want the companies they buy from and the products those companies make to reflect these values. Like us, you believe in the power of individual effort, and you volunteer your time and your money to help make a difference.

Community involvement is woven tightly into the fabric of this company—we’re called Tom’s of MAINE for a reason! With your help—10% of our pretax profits are given to charitable organizations around the United States—we’re helping to preserve the legendary beauty of northern Maine. In 1998, Tom’s of Maine donated $500,000 (to be paid out over five years) to The Nature Conservancy to help purchase and preserve 185,000 acres along the undeveloped St. John River. In 2003, Tom’s gave $150,000 (and I helped co-chair) The Nature Conservancy’s Katahdin Forest Project, a 241,000-acre conservation initiative. And in 2006, we gave $100,000 to The Trust for Public Land to help purchase and preserve Katahdin Lake and 4,000 acres of forest and lakes with views of Mt. Katahdin. Those donations, together with what Kate and I have given personally, add up to nearly $1 million dollars to protect Maine’s natural beauty.

How you can help

We’d like to encourage you to learn more about these and other efforts to help preserve the majesty of the Mt. Katahdin region.

• The Nature Conservancy continues to focus on preserving the wild beauty of the Kathadin region for recreation and wildlife.
• The Trust for Public Land's Katahdin Lake Campaign also aims to preserve and maintain the integrity of the wild lakes and forests around Mt. Katahdin for public enjoyment.
• Mt. Katahdin is in Baxter State Park, a magnificent preserve conceived of by former governor Percival Baxter and given to the state of Maine in 1931.
• Learn a little more about the history and cultural significance of Katahdin.

We hope you’ll join us in preserving the integrity of our natural environment, whether near or far!

Tom and Kate Chappell
Cofounders, Tom's of Maine