207-688-8195 Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast

LINCOLN – The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine raised $71,547 at the 21st Annual Log A Load for Maine Kids Golf Tournament Friday, Sept. 15th at JATO Highlands Golf Course.

The tournament, which benefits Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospitals in Maine, is the PLC’s largest annual fund-raiser for charity.

Combined with money raised at the PLC’s annual meeting in May, the tournament’s success means PLC has raised more than $115,000 for CMN hospitals in 2017.

“We continue to be impressed by the generosity of those who make this tournament a success every year,” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the PLC, said. “After 21 years of raising money to support the Log-A-Load for Kids program, and during what may be the most challenging time for loggers in the history of their occupation, this result and the funds raised at our annual meeting truly shows how strong compassion for Maine kids is throughout the logging and forest products industry no matter what challenges they are faced with.”

The PLC has been the sponsor of the Log A Load program in Maine since 1996. To date, The PLC and the Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (EMHS) Foundation have raised approximately $900,000 for children in Maine. Donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all in support of the mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. EMHS is a CMN hospital.

Additional sponsors for the tournament included American Forest Management (AFM); Nortrax/John Deere; BBC Land, LLC; Cross Insurance, and American Loggers Fire Suppression.

Participants in the tournament enjoyed spectacular weather conditions at the scenic golf course, which includes views of Mt. Katahdin. The event concluded with a barbecue and awards ceremony.

Tickets to the 2017 tournament sold out and many individuals and organizations donated items, services, and gift certificates for the Log A Load for Kids auction and a raffle. Forty teams competed in the tournament.

The South Carolina Forestry Association started the Log A Load for Kids program in 1988. Originally, the concept was for loggers, wood-supplying businesses, and other industry supporters in various states including Maine to donate the value of a load of logs to their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Today, Log A Load funds impact more than 60 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across North America. Hospitals utilize the funds based on what they need the most. Funds are often used to purchase lifesaving equipment, support therapy programs and provide charitable care.

Nationally, Log A Load for Kids has raised more than $46 million dollars over the last 28 years, and the program is a national leader in CMN fundraising. For more information, please visit www.logaload.org.

Maine’s loggers are a vital part of the state’s forest products sector, which is worth an estimated $8.5 billion annually. The industry contributed an estimated $882 million to the state economy in 2014.

Founded in 1995 with a handful of members who were concerned about the future of the industry, the PLC has grown steadily to become a statewide trade association which provides independent logging contractors a voice in the rapidly changing forest products industry. Board membership consists of only loggers, making it an organization that is run by loggers on behalf of loggers. PLC members are responsible for 75 percent of the timber that is harvested from Maine’s forests annually.

Learn more about the PLC at www.maineloggers.com.