On November 8, The Chase Home held the 8th Annual Wine & Chocolate Tasting Presented by LeMay Family Goodworks and Hosted by Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club. Raising more than $150,000 to support services provided by The Chase Home, the event exceeded all expectations, according to Board of Director Ben Lindberg, who chaired the event. “We are amazed at how the night came together and extremely thankful for the role Michelle LeMay of LeMay Family Goodworks played in helping raise so much more than we could have dreamed,” he said.
According to Executive Director Meme Wheeler, the event underscores critical needs in the community. These needs, she explained, have increased due to lingering effects from the pandemic and inflation. “These are complex times that demand complex solutions,” she noted. “When kids and their families reach a point where they need our services, our job is to help them stabilize, heal trauma, and attain permanency in their lives.”
Founded in 1877, The Chase Home in Portsmouth provides prevention, early intervention, residential, and community-based programs to at-risk youth, all of whom are involved with DHHS or the Juvenile Justice System. Some youth are served in the community while others live at The Chase Home.
This year’s event was highlighted by the participation of a current teen resident of The Chase Home who spoke about her experiences and the help she has received. “I am not sure there was a dry eye in the house,” said Wheeler. “This annual event is so important, because it is about the only time of the year the public can hear directly from one of our residents. She was courageous to share her story.”
Bill MacDonald, ambassador at The Chase Home, agreed and said her story and those like hers is what inspires him to continue his advocacy. “Kids deserve the best life possible, and that is exactly what Chase Home provides every day,” he said. “It was terrific to see so many step up to support our mission.”
In addition to LeMay Family Goodworks, other major event sponsors include Northeast Credit Union, Service Credit Union, Kennebunk Savings, Partners Bank, WIN Waste Innovations, and Brian Gibb.