Giving Back to the Community As a Hannaford's Lighthouses On Parade sponsor, you'll have the opportunity to highlight your commitment to the unique lighthouse heritage of Maine. While participating in one of the largest, high-profile events our community has ever seen. And, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that your support will help provide significant funding to area not-for-profit organizations. In fall of 2003, the community will be invited to a live lighthouse auction and 100% of the proceeds will provide a beacon of hope to local charities: 50% will go to the bidder's charity of choice (any qualified 501(c)3) 50% will be divided equally among the following organizations: Maine Center on Deafness Maine Center on Deafness (MCD) addresses the problems that deaf and hard-of-hearing people encounter on a daily basis due to discrimination, ignorance, or lack of available services, with the goal of equal opportunities and involvement in their communities for all of these individuals. MCD has been instrumental in making specialized telecommunications equipment available to more than 100,000 Maine residents, as well as in the development of the statewide Maine Telecommunications Relay Service. A primary focus of MCD has been civil rights advocacy on behalf of deaf and hard-of-hearing people. The organization has a long list of accomplishments, which includes achieving state compensation for students for prior serious abuses at the Baxter School. Signing for the deaf and hard-of-hearing will be provided at all Hannaford's Lighthouses On Parade events. The Senator George J. Mitchell Scholarship Research Institute The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute was established with the conviction that each young person in Maine has the potential to achieve great things, if given the opportunity. The Mitchell Institute strives to offer Maine youth a fair chance to reach as far and as high as their individual talents and willingness allow by providing an annual scholarship award to a graduating senior from each of Maine's public high schools. The scholarship support is for students planning to enter their first year of college. The Mitchell Institute is equally committed to discerning, through qualitative and quantitative research, ways to advance the higher education aspirations of Maine students with the goal of developing and supporting programs that will remove obstacles to achieving a college degree. The goal of the Mitchell Institute is to foster a new generation of informed, insightful and committed citizenry. Cancer Community Center The Cancer Community Center helps individuals touched by cancer to enhance their health and well being by providing support groups led by trained facilitators, a one-on-one peer support program, exercise programs, stress management programs, a resource library and educational workshops. The Center helps individuals live as normally and as fully as possible after a cancer diagnosis, and explore every avenue that might lead to a better quality of life. The Center offers a place where people can be with others who are living with cancer, find community through shared experiences and provide the hope and belief that recovery is possible; in many cases, that belief makes all the difference. Today, the Center serves all adults living with cancer, their families and their friends without referral and at no cost. American Lighthouse Foundation In May 2003, Out Front Productions will release the coffee table book "Lighthouses On Parade" featuring all of the decorated lighthouses participating in the Hannaford's Lighthouses On Parade project. The American Lighthouse Foundation will provide ongoing background and historical information for the project and will receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book.