Annual Report

Finding solutions to poverty and improving the lives 2014 of people with low income in

Maine Equal Justice Partners Names New A Message from MEJP’s Executive Director New Executive Director I am honored to become Maine Equal Justice Partners’ next executive director. Maine Equal Justice has made a significant difference in the lives of thousands of Maine people as a result of its advocacy in the courts, legislature and administrative agencies, and I’m excited to be part of continuing that important work. Recently, MEJP had conversations with hundreds of people across the state, old and young, in small towns and big cities, and from all Robyn Merrill political persuasions. The common message was resounding – we need to build routes to From the press release, opportunities that are open to everyone and an December 4, 2014 economy where every person and every family has After a national search, Maine Equal the chance to succeed. The economy has been slow Justice Partners has chosen Robyn to recover from the recession and too many people Merrill as its new executive director. are struggling to make ends meet. Not everyone “Robyn has a real passion and energy who wants a job can find a job, and many jobs for MEJP’s mission of protecting that are available simply don’t pay enough to get the rights of Mainers with low by. These systemic problems demand systemic income and providing pathways of opportunity to help people overcome solutions. poverty”, said Charles Dingman, president of MEJP’s board of I look forward to working with MEJP’s dedicated directors. “With her experience both as a lawyer and a social worker, and and skilled staff and board as well as policymakers deep knowledge of our organization, and all of you to increase opportunity in our state. she brings a unique combination of Together we can craft reforms so that people who skills to this important position.” work hard are able to support their families and … Merrill follows Sara Gagné-Holmes, our safety net adequately supports those who truly who has joined the John T. Gorman need it. Foundation as a senior program associate. Robyn Merrill, Esq.

December 2014 Thank you November 2013 - October 2014 Maine Equal Justice is deeply grateful to our many supporters who make it possible for us to do the work we do. We thank the Maine Bar Foundation, the Maine Civil Legal Services Fund Commission and the Campaign for Justice, which provide core support to MEJP, as well as the foundations, businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals that have made a commitment to justice through their generosity to our organization.

Legal Services Funders Nardi Appraisal Service Eileen Coyne and Chaitanya York Maine Bar Foundation Opportunity Alliance Jeanine Crockett and Joan Maine Civil Legal Services Fund Penquis Mansigian Muskie Fund for Legal Services Pew –Matching Gifts Program Marc and Sung Cryer Campaign for Justice Preble Street Resource Center Thomas and Beverly Daggett Roki Associates, Inc. Jay and Margo Davis Foundations/Funders Resources for Organizing Social Joel Davis and Sarah Shed Change Steven Davis and Suzanne Astolfi AARP Schramm Health Partners/Optumas Bill and Linda Deetjen Center on Budget and Policy Unum –Matching Gifts Program In Honor of Robyn Merrill Priorities Verrill Dana Luisa Deprez Community Catalyst Western Maine Community Action Vinnie and Cheryl DiCara Elias Foundation York County Community Action Holly Dominie Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Corporation Jeanne Dorland Helen and George Ladd Charitable Neria Douglass Corporation Faith-Based Organizations Jane Driscoll John T Gorman Foundation Lewiston Friends Meeting Benjamin Dudley and Lynn Davey Maine Health Access Foundation Helen and John Ellis MaineShare MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger Susan Emmerling Maine Community Foundation/ Jonathan Falk and Laura Levenson Broad Reach Fund Individuals David Farmer and Erin Macey St. Paul Foundation Irv Faunce and Jan Collins The Bingham Program Nancy Audet Judy Feinstein Pat Averill Businesses and Nonprofit Leigh Baker Nancy Gilbert and Jane Fritz Organizations E Jeff Barnes Tim and Lila Gagné APS Healthcare and John Hoyt In Honor of Mona and Asher Assurant Foundation –Matching T. Christopher and Katherine Beach Gagné Gifts Program Pamela and Bruce Bell Holly Gartmayer-Deyoung Bangor Savings Bank Ed and Ruth Benedikt Mary Geer CEI, Inc. Bernard Berube Melva Geores Every Child Matters Education Stephen Bien Larry and Patricia Gilbert Fund Nancy Birkhimer Eleanor Goldberg and Malcolm JD’A Consulting, Inc. Emily and Jerry Bley Burson Kennebec Behavioral Health Laura Blutstein and Charles Duncan Lisa and Leon Gorman Kennebec Valley Community Action Daniel and Sue Bonior Lani Graham Program Jen Bonnet and Ben McAlexander Gerry Gross Law Offices Of Joe Bornstein Laura Boyett Alice Haines Le Garage Restaurant Sue Bradford Megan Hannan Legal Services for the Elderly Emily and Norman Breitner Thomas Harnett and Lisa Maine Association of Area Agencies Margrethe and William Brown Copenhaver on Aging Suzanne Brunner and Janet May Laura Harper Maine Association of Nonprofits Chris and Diane Bryan Jody Harris Maine Center for Economic Policy Robert Burgess Elizabeth Hart and Chris Coulling Maine Community Health Options Sandra Butler Julie Hayes and Norm Duphily Maine Medical Association Kathy and Steve Carey In Honor of Bob Hayes and Chris Maine Primary Care Association Kevin and Catherine Carey Rusnov Maine Initiatives Judith Chamberlain Mary Henderson Maine Street Solutions Dennis Chinoy and Katherine Kates Phil and Ruth Hicks Terry Cole and Sally Daniels

December 2014 Michael Hillard Judy Reidt-Parker Jon and Erica Humphrey Priscilla and Michael Rice In Honor of Kathy Moore Patricia Riley In Honor of Sara Bruce and Sandy Hunter Debra Rothenberg Gagné-Holmes’ Gale Johnsen Andrew and Nina Roth-Wells Leadership James and Nancy Jurdak Estelle and Murray Rubinstein Paul Kando and Beth McPherson Elizabeth Ruff Miles and Jennifer Archer Barbara Kates and Solomon In Memory of Muriel Wilson Beverly Baker Goldman Kerry Sack Claire Berkowitz Arthur Keenan Craig Saddlemire Sandra Butler Karen Keim Paul Saucier and Myrna Koonce Judith Chamberlain Marty and Mark Kelley Karen Saum Cathy Coffman Thomas Kelly Jill and Ed Saxby Jerrol Crouter Renate Klein and Bob Milardo Hilary Schneider Steven Davis Dan and Caitlin Koehler Linda Schumacher John and Susan LaCasse Michael Seitzinger Carla Dickstein Lynne Lamstein and Sandra Haggard Deborah and Syd Sewall Charles Dingman Ellen Lee Susan Shell Shelley and Tom Doak David Legere and Mary Griffith Margo Simmons Jane Driscoll Joan Leitzer and Kenneth Spirer Janet Simpson Nancy Fritz and Jane Victoria Leuteman and Douglas Judith B Solomon Gilbert Robinson Mark Solomon Rita Furlow Hildie Lipson In Honor of Lila and Tim Gagné Laura Harper Rachel Lowe Susan Sparaco Brenda Harvey Jean MacRae and Farahad Dastoor Christopher and Eunice St. John Mary Henderson Dennis Marble Jan Stallmeyer Claire Hersom Lydia Marden Sarah Standiford and Jeff Fetterer Lucky and Toby Hollander Don and Jean Mason Mitchell and Martha Stein Will and Marguerite Thomas McAdam Elizabeth Stickney Holmes Robert McAfee Gust and Jan Stringos John T. Gorman Dale McCormick Sally Sutton and Charles Haeuser Foundation Francis and Susan McGinty Michael Tarpinian Le Garage Restaurant Penny McGovern Debra and Michael Taylor Rachel Lowe Powers and Ellen McGuire Dan and Meredith Tipton John and Andrea McCall James McKenna Wellington (Clough) Toppan Mary McPherson and Jon Alex McPhedran Eliza Townsend LeVeen Mary McPherson and Jon LeVeen Sharon Treat Maine Bar Foundation Janet Mead Nancy Tucker Yvonne Mickles Larinda Meade In Honor of Ana Hicks Kathy Moore Judson Merrill Romaine Turyn Stephanie Merrill and Patricia Ender Kathryn Vezina and Douglas Moore Tina Nadeau Dan Meyer and Wendy Flaschner Robert Walker John Pelletier Lisa and Roy Miller Peter and Mary Walsh Gerald and Charlene Ed Miller Nancy Wanderer Petrucelli Kathy Moore Janie Waterhouse Patricia Riley Vernon Moore In Honor of Caring Unlimited Staff Susan Roche Richard O’Meara Lee Webb Linda Sanborn Daniel Oppenheim and Layne David White Jill and Ed Saxby Gregory Virginia Williams Nancy Schiff-Slater Barbara and David Page Barbara Winterson and Steve Ellen Schneiter Frederic Pease Shannon Diana Scully David and Anna Perkins Paula Wood Mitchell and Martha Stein Ilze Petersons and Doug Allen Micca and Ben Wootten Michael Tarpinian Lisa Pohlmann Betty and Conrad Wurtz Eliza Townsend Kandyce Powell Shawn and Rita Yardley Sharon Treat Anne and Dale Rand Donna Yellen Donna Yellen Lori and William Real Jeffrey Young Ala Reid

December 2014 What people are saying about MEJP BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014 I received valuable information, support and guidance from Charles F. Dingman, Esq. MEJP. The process was daunting at times, at least it seemed President that way to me. However, with the support of Mr. Comart Rev. Jill Job Saxby, Esq. and his team, the case has since been resolved and things Vice-President have been working out well. No words can possibly represent Jerrol A. Crouter, Esq. my gratitude! Treasurer ‘Pleased in Penobscot’ Tina Nadeau, Esq. Secretary Thank you again for taking the time to present about Beverly Baker MaineCare to our staff last week. The information you Judith Chamberlain, MD shared was incredibly helpful and you were so patient in how you explained such a complicated system to all of us. Steven Davis, Esq. Jane Driscoll Rochelle, Portland Claire Hersom We are grateful that we can turn to MEJP for reliable Rachel Lowe publications and up-to-date information regarding changes Yvonne Mickles to the MaineCare program as well as the implementation of Kathy Moore, PhD. the ACA. John Pelletier, Esq. Sally M. Wagley, Esq., Winthrop Trish Riley Michael Saxl, Esq. Crystal was super helpful, very knowledgeable, and cares Michael Tarpinian about the work she does. She is such a gift to case managers. Sharon A. Treat, Esq. Dawn, Case Manager who works with at-risk teens

STAFF Financial Report January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013 Crystal Bond Paralegal/Organizer Revenues Expenses Assets and Liabilities Jack Comart, Esq. Foundation Grants 572,053 Program 725,165 Assets 595,685 Litigation Director (cash and real property) Deborah Curtis Administration 92,737 Maine Civil Legal Associate Director Services Fund 119,707 Liabilities 27,109 Fundraising 43,205 Christine Hastedt Donations 126,503 Net Assets 568,535 Public Policy Director Robyn Merrill, Esq. Interest/other 14,885 Executive Director Chris Rusnov M.A.I.N. Liaison Jennifer Sanborn Office Manager Ann Woloson Policy Analyst

Total 833,148 Total 861,107 Total surplus (deficit) (27,576)

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Maine Equal Justice Partners 126 Sewall Street, Augusta, Maine 04330-6822 www.maineshare.org (207) 626-7058 Toll Free: (866) 626-7059 www.mejp.org