BIDDEFORD — For CRI-SIL Silicone Technologies CEO and founder Mark Stevens, running a successful business not only means making a profit, but giving back to the community.

The Biddeford business owner donated $20,000 this year to Mary’s Walk, and for the second year in a row, will be a presenting sponsor.

Started in 1999, Mary’s Walk began as a small group of friends and family gathering to remember Mary Kerry Libby, a longtime Saco resident and avid walker, who died of Burkitt’s lymphoma. This Sunday, the annual walk and the accompanying Kerrymen 5K are expected to bring 4,000 people to Saco, according to organizers.

The walk raises money for the Maine Cancer Foundation, providing funding for cancer research, education and patient support programs in Maine.

Stevens, a Kennebunk resident, said he will be participating in the walk on Sunday in Saco, and some of his staff will be participating in the walk and the run. CRI-SIL has donated to Mary’s Walk for several years, last year becoming the first presenting sponsor with a gift of $15,000.

Stevens said he’s known Mary’s Walk founder Gene Libby, both professionally and personally for many years, and remembered the difficult time Libby went through when his wife, Mary Kerry Libby, died.

Stevens said he and CRI-SIL President Michael Hirschy are very careful about where their money goes. He said they like that the Maine Cancer Foundation has low administrative costs, allowing more money to go directly to research and other programs.

Stevens said his company supports other community organizations and charitable endeavors including Make-A-Wish and the Kennebunk Free Library. Staff volunteer every year in the community during United Way’s Day of Caring, and the company sponsors a local family in need every Christmas.

When Stevens founded the company 20 years ago, he wanted to become the best in the field, as he was competing with large corporations like Dow Corning, and he wanted CRI-SIL to become a place where people were happy and enjoyed coming to work. One of the important components of being a responsible business is doing goodwill, he said.

“I think all businesses should help others,” said Stevens. “We’re focused on people and what’s going on around us.”

Registration for Mary’s Walk and the Kerrymen 5K race will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Thornton Academy gymnasium. Gov. Paul LePage will speak at the gym at 11:20 a.m., prior to the start of the race and walk. The race will begin at noon, and the walk at 12:15 p.m.

For more information, go to www.maryswalk.org.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.