February Common Cents: Wabanaki Benefit Foundation
Wabanaki Benefit Foundation is a newly formed organization fostering Wabanaki empowerment and financial growth. Through the foundation, members of the Wabanaki community receive support for business, the arts, and more.
We are proud to support them as they begin on this impactful journey and hope you will too!
Here’s some information about February’s group!
Background
Wabanaki Benefit Foundation was born out of the process and fundraising to support the creation of the new Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument’s Tekαkαpimək Contact Station. Upon receipt of $1 million added by donors’ request as part of the Monumental Welcome fundraising campaign, the Tekαkαpimək Wabanaki Advisory Board decided to create a 501(c)(3) public charity, Wabanaki Benefit Foundation. We are growing a community foundation that addresses the needs and opportunities of Wabanaki people. This will allow significant financial resources to return, creating intergenerational wealth to be stewarded and disbursed by Wabanaki people.
Values at the core of WBF are:
- Wicuhkemtultinen “we help one another”
- Mutual respect for one another’s values
- Honesty
- Responsibility to the People
- Mutual caring for one another
- Ensuring benefit for those beyond us in the future generations
As a neutral intra-tribal party, WBF has the opportunity to nurture ideas, relationships and community wealth. WBF can respond and support ideas that arise organically from within our communities. We can attract financial assets and funding partners from Maine, regionally and nationally. We can move much more quickly from concept to implementation than governmental and non-Wabanaki funding allows. WBF leads with a Wabanaki worldview where culture, land, language, health, and art are interdependent and integrated. WBF will be a partner to individuals, other Wabanaki programs, initiatives, small businesses and Tribes, as well as the philanthropists who seek to support us.
Board of Directors:
Richard Silliboy, President (Mi’kmaq)
Newell Lewey, Secretary (Passamaquoddy – Sipayik)
Nick Francis, Treasurer (Penobscot)
Donald Soctomah (Passamaquoddy – Motahkomikuk)
Isaac St. John (Maliseet)
Theresa Cochran (Mi’kmaq)
Jennifer Neptune (Penobscot)
Gary Stern (non-native)
Every shopper may ’round-up’ their purchases at the Co-op to donate to our monthly recipient. 100% of all donations received through Common Cents go to each month’s group.
Be sure to round up your purchase at the register and help this wonderful cause!
Everyone is welcome to shop at the Co-op; it is our mission and our pleasure to bring locally-sourced, reasonably priced, organic, and natural products to all.
Owned by you. Food for all.
