Please join us for the 10th annual Cape and Islands United Way "Best Night of the Year" (TM) at Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee on Sunday, June 29, 2008. This year's event will feature the usual array of top shelf restaurants and wine purveyors, along with a great silent and live auction. Also expect some surprises throughout the evening leading up to the best fireworks display ever. Confirmed restaurants include: Old Yarmouth Inn, Siena, Wianno Grille, Orleans Inn, Mad Platter, Wild Goose Tavern, Ocean House, Willowbend Country Club, Barnstable Restaurant and Tavern, Oliver's Restaurant, Polar Cave Ice Cream Parlor, Pate's Restaurant, Zammer Hospitality Institute/Cape Cod Community College, Five Bays Bistro, Nantucket Wild Gourmet & Smokehouse, Chef Paul's Truffles, Twenty Eight Atlantic, Bleu, 606 Congress. Shown is this year's Elizabeth Mumford original for the live auction. For more information and to reserve tickets please call our office at (508) 775-4746

The Cape and Islands United Way has announced that the Maas family of Orleans will be the recipients of the 2008 Cape and Islands United Way Citizens of the Year award. The Maas family, owners and operators of the Orleans Waterfront Inn, are longtime community and business advocates, and human services champions. Richard Brothers, president of the Cape and Islands United Way said, "the Board of Directors and our entire organization are honored to announce the Maas family as recipients of our 2008 Citizen of the Year award. Ed Maas and his family have consistently given of their time, energy and expertise to the Cape and Islands United Way with a generosity and humanity beyond all expectations. Ed himself is an individual who does not know the meaning of the word no. We are truly grateful, and the entire Cape and Islands is fortunate to have the Maas's as part of our "family"." Past recipients of the Cape and Islands United Way Citizen of the Year award include: former Dean of Cape Cod Community College and current charitable advocate Dick Sullivan; longtime philanthropist, the late Townsend Horner; founder of Cape Cod Charitable Funraisers Bill Murphy; founder and president of Shepley Wood Products and current leading philanthropist Tony Shepley; owners and operators of Cooke's Seafood, Jim and Frances Haidas; leading seasonal resident philanthropists Helene and Grant Wilson; and former owners and operators of the Christmas Tree Shoppes and leading major philanthropists Doreen and Chuck Bilzekian.

I am the Cape and Islands United Way because for me this is the most comprehensive way to help the Cape and Islands community. I can help raise funds through the sale of artwork, and be assured that money raised is being directed wisely towards local organizations aiding the community in a wide variety of ways.

Last month more than 40 volunteers spent a day helping to "makeover" Gosnold's Miller House in Woods Hole. Volunteers joined with residents of the residential addiction treatment center to do comprehensive yard clean up and planting as well as inside painting and repair. Many thanks go out to all volunteers, residents and Shepley Wood Products for a substantial building materials donation.

This gift from the Citizens Bank Foundation, coupled with over $15,000 in employee giving, is evidence of how strong the Citizen Bank support and commitment is on the Cape and Islands. Taken together, this generosity might fund an entire program by itself. The entire Board of Directors offers its sincerest thanks to all those affiliated with Citizen Bank and the Citizens Bank Foundation.

Sand Dollar leadership donors are invited to a great day of golf at the spectacular Cape Cod National Golf Club in Brewster on Friday, September 26, 2008. Plan to reserve your foursome and fill it with a few new Sand Dollar leadership donors. Please contact the office at (508) 775-4746 for more information. And thank you for your leadership and support of the Cape and Islands United Way.