The Rising Tide program is one of several programs designed to make it easy for local businesses to pay their 'civic rent' and make our community a better place to do business. We continue to approach well-know 'brands' on Cape Cod to let them become a part of this program. Each participant pledges a specific amount for a specific business event. The locally owned Midas Muffler shops donate $1 for each oil change. The Bank of Cape Cod donates a specific amount for each new account opened. Deb Schilling of RE/MAX classic has pledged a payment for each house closing. So far we have over a dozen businesses and there is no limit. If you know of a business that would like to be part of this program, please contact our offices at (508) 775-4746. Thank you.

This week the inaugural Success to Significance Seasonal Residents Reception will be held at the Downtown Harvard Club of Boston on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 6:00pm. Chaired by John V. Murphy and Doreen Bilezikian, the event is intended to make aware and inform seasonal residents of the year-round human services needs here on the Cape and Islands; and engage them in finding solutions. One of those solutions might be, for example, if you spend 25% of your time here, why not spend 25% of your philanthropy here as well? For more information please call Rich Brothers at (508) 775-4746.

This year's Community Care Day, chaired by Larry Squire and Ken Borden, mobilized hundreds of volunteers from various businesses to spend a day at human service providers across the Cape, helping them with any number of clean up, painting, organizing and other projects. Shown here are Bank of America employees who spent the day at the Boy's and Girl's Club in Mashpee. Many thanks go out to all who participated this year.

More than 50 golfers enjoyed a bright and brisk early Fall day at the Cape Cod National Golf Club in Brewster few weeks ago. Shown here is this year's winning foursome of Eric Roberts, Dick Fairbanks, Ed Seidman, and John Curley. Many thanks go out to this year's repeat sponsor BackOffice Associates.

The Cape and Islands United Way was honored by the Hyannis Chamber of Commerce at this year's annual meeting and dinner. Fund-raising chair Ron Reed accepted the award on behalf of the board, staff and volunteers who are the backbone of the Cape and Islands United Way

As most of you know we recently lost our good friend, colleague and supporter Bill Wendell. Having been in the corporate relocation cycle for many years, Bill often said, once he "landed" on Cape Cod it became the one place he and Ellen really felt part of the community. And now the community feels that part we lost. The Cape and Islands United Way offers the sincerest of thanks and condolences to the Wendell family.