VOTE FOR YOUR STATE IN THE TOM'S OF MAINE "50 STATES FOR GOOD"™ PROGRAM AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY 'GOODNESS' PROJECTS ACROSS THE NATION

Non-profits with Most Votes to Share $150,000 in Funding

Kennebunk, Maine – September 10, 2012

Non-profits with Most Votes to Share $150,000 in Funding

KENNEBUNK, Maine, September 10, 2012 – There’s good stuff happening across the country!  New trees planted in the wake of Hurricane Ike in Texas. Fresh produce for the elderly and homebound in North Carolina. These important initiatives – winners of last year’s Tom’s of Maine’s “50 States for Good” program – brought lasting, positive change to the communities they serve and became a reality because the public got involved to help them secure the funds.

Starting today, voting is live for the Tom’s of Maine fourth annual “50 States for Good” program.  For the first time, one non-profit finalist from every state and Washington DC is represented with a total of $150,000 in funding available for grassroots projects that support healthy, human and environmental goodness. The organization with the most votes will receive $50,000 while five runners-up will receive $20,000 each to complete their project.  The public can vote at www.facebook.com/tomsofmaine through October 9. 

The finalists were chosen by a judging panel of passionate leaders in the nonprofit community including star of “The Vampire Diaries” and non-profit founder Ian Somerhalder, Laura Burge of the social action network Care2, nonprofit/philanthropic strategist, author and Huffington Post columnist Lisa M. Dietlin and Sam Davidson, president of Cool People Care.

“We’re always inspired by the level of creativity and commitment from local non-profits who tirelessly seek to address their community’s needs,” said Susan Dewhirst, goodness programs manager at Tom’s of Maine. “But, they can’t do it without the public’s help. Today, voting for your state’s finalist and rallying friends, family and co-workers to do the same not only elevates their cause but is a simple way you can help them extend the impact of their work.”

Listed by state, here are this year’s “50 States for Good” finalists:

Alabama

Disaster and Victim Services International

Daphne, AL

Alaska

Alaska Federation for Community Self Reliance

Fairbanks, AK

Arizona

Yuma Community Food Bank

Yuma, AZ

Arkansas

Genoa Central Parent Teacher Organization

Genoa, AR

California

Community Outreach Center of the Valley

Murrieta, CA

Colorado

Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

Golden, CO

Connecticut

Knox Parks, Inc.

Hartford, CT

Delaware

Junior League of Wilmington, DE

Wilmington, DE

District of Columbia

DC Scores

Washington D.C.

Florida

Southern Eco Restoration Projects, Inc.

Pensacola, FL

Georgia

NEXT Steps Youth Entrepreneur Program

Atlanta, GA

Hawaii

Sust ' aina ble Molokai

Kaunakakai, HI

Idaho

Garden Valley Communications, Inc.

Garden Valley, ID

Illinois

Team Rubicon

Inglewood, IL

Indiana

College Mentors for Kids, Inc.

Indianapolis, IN

Iowa

Northeast Iowa Food Bank

Waterloo, IA

Kansas

Reach Out and Read Kansas City

Kansas City, KS

Kentucky

Middlesboro Bell County Public Library

Middlesboro, KY

Louisiana

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana

Baton Rouge, LA

Maine

Aid For Kids

Houlton, ME

Maryland

Baltimore Reads, Inc.

Baltimore, MD

Massachusetts

Community Harvest Project

North Grafton, MA

Michigan

People of Palmer Park

Detroit, MI

Minnesota

Great River Greening

Saint Paul, MN

Mississippi

Lovepacks

Oxford, MS

Missouri

National Council of Jewish Women-St. Louis Section

St Louis, MO

Montana

Glacier Institute

Kalispell, MT

Nebraska

inCOMMON Community Development

Omaha, NE

Nevada

ESL In-Home Program of Northern Nevada

Carson City, NV

New Hampshire

Global Awareness Local Action (G.A.L.A.)

Wolfeboro, NH

New Jersey

One Simple Wish

Trenton, NJ

New Mexico

La Semilla Food Center

Anthony, NM

New York

National Council of Jewish Women-New York Section

New York, NY

North Carolina

Brown Bag Ministry

Apex, NC

North Dakota

FARRMS

Medina, ND

Ohio

Community Food Initiatives

Athens, OH

Oklahoma

A Third Place Community Foundation

Turley, OK

Oregon

Community Outreach, Inc

Corvallis, OR

Pennsylvania

Cradles to Crayons

West Conshohocken, PA

Rhode Island

Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale

Peace Dale, RI

South Carolina

Southern Sustainable Resources

Charleston, SC

South Dakota

Rural Learning Center

Howard, SD

Tennessee

GrowMemphis

Memphis, TN

Texas

Central Texas Resource Conservation and
Development Council, Inc.

Taylor, TX

Utah

Adopt A Native Elder Program

Park City, UT

Vermont

Community of Vermont Elders

Montpelier, VT

Virginia

Western Virginia Foundation for the Arts and Sciences

Roanoke, VA

Washington

ReUse Works

Bellingham, WA

West Virginia

Friends of Deckers Creek

Dellslow, WV

Wisconsin

Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin

Madison, WI

Wyoming

University of Wyoming Extension Service/Big Horn County 4-H

Greybull, WY

The "50 States for Good" initiative invited qualifying 501(c)3 organizations in every state with an operating budget under $2 million to apply. Applications were narrowed down to 51 finalists by an independent panel of judges based on the organization’s use of community volunteers (50%) and positive impact on the community (50%).

To read more about your state’s finalist or to discover the good work going on in communities around the country, visit www.facebook.com/tomsofmaine. Voting is now open and visitors can cast one vote per day for their non-profit choice. Winners will be announced in November.

Tom’s of Maine is a longtime supporter of community involvement programs including those focused on clean waterways and greater access to affordable dental care, among many others. Since its inception, the company has donated 10% of its profits back to the community.

About Tom's of Maine 
Tom's of Maine is a leading natural products company focused on oral and personal care. TOMs sells high quality toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, deodorant, bar soap, and body wash products. The company has a long-standing commitment to supporting people, communities and the living planet. For over 40 years, Tom's of Maine has sponsored hundreds of nonprofit efforts by giving 10% of its profits back to organizations that support human and environmental goodness and by encouraging employees to use 5% (12 days) of employee time to volunteer. Tom's of Maine employees regularly contribute suggestions for improving the company's high sustainability standards. And their ideas, from wind power to ways to improve recycled and recyclable packaging options, are critical to the company's sensitive way of doing business. Tom's of Maine enjoys partnering with its consumers, vendors and community organizations to support lasting, positive change that is good for people and the planet .Visit us online at http://www.tomsofmaine.com/or at https://www.facebook.com/tomsofmaine.

If you need any additional information about Tom's of Maine, please contact Susan Dewhirst, Media and Public Relations Leader. The best way to reach Susan is by email at sdewhirst@tomsofmaine.com. She can also be reached by phone at 207-467-2406.

For all other questions comments, please contact our Consumer Dialogue Department by email or at 800-367-8667.