United Way of Mid Coast Maine, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, kicked off its fall campaign Tuesday with a theme of “60 Years and Counting!”

United Way, in announcing the $1.85 million fundraising drive, has already received $370,105 in donations — bringing it to 20 percent of its goal. School Administrative District 75 employees raised more than $14,000, while Regional School Unit 1 employees contributed $12,655. Corporate gifts are increasing from L.L. Bean, FHC and Riley Insurance, and there are early employee campaigns taking place at UPS, Target, Walmart and local school systems.

“We are so grateful for the early supporters, board members and campaign fundraisers,” said United Way board chairwoman Connie Jones of Lincoln Health. “They built the firm foundation for United Way that has made it possible for us to continue to meet changing needs and support the people of Midcoast Maine. We are a caring community, and this character has been shaped by those who came before us.”

Jones said the organization’s 60th anniversary is coinciding with a demographic shift, in which many of United Way’s longtime, generous donors have recently retired or are retiring, she said.

“We know we need to bring in new, younger donors and more leadership donors,” said campaign chairman Rick Bohan of L.L. Bean. “We are very excited to announce that a number of generous donors have agreed to offer a special match for all new and increased giving.

“It’s a match of $60,000 for our 60th anniversary,” he said. New donations, and increases from current donors, will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $60,000 campaign-wide.

“This is a great opportunity for a donor to double their impact,” said Bohan.

Jones spoke more about that impact. The organization launched its diaper initiative two years ago, not only to raise awareness, but also to organize support groups to hold diaper drives. United Way has raised the equivalent of more than 115,000 diapers since 2014.

“Our United Way has a strategic focus to help all Midcoast babies have the best start in life,” she said. “And with diapers costing close to $1,000 per year per child, many parents simply don’t make enough money to afford enough diapers to keep their babies clean, dry and healthy. That’s very stressful for babies and their parents.”

Providing diapers is just one way the community can support parents in their challenging role. United Way is now part of a national network allowing it to provide diapers at two-thirds the normal cost.

The United Way partners with 13 agencies, who work every day to help people have a home, to teach them to read, to provide health care, to support survivors of domestic violence, to allow young people at risk to have good mentors and positive activities, and to call on isolated seniors and get them out and interacting — and so much more.

One of the families who have benefited from services provided by United Way attended the kick-off and appeared in this year’s campaign video.

Brooke Cotter of Damariscotta said her family learned about Coastal Kids in Damariscotta from a parent resource center in their town. The organization has helped her youngest daughter and connected her with other services. Her now 7-year-old daughter was born when Cotter was only four months pregnant and has had a difficult time communicating as a result of being born so early.

“It’s unbelievable,” she said, as they have tapped into services they never could have afforded.

“They were coming into our home and educating us first on how to speak with her; to learn what the right thing to do is,” she said. “I can’t even stress how thankful we are.”

The United Way programs have welcomed them with open arms, providing physical and speech and occupational therapy, “everything,” she said.

“She couldn’t speak at all,” Cotter said of her daughter, and would get very frustrated. Now her once timid and shy daughter is confident and able to communicate with friends at school.

“To see her now and the things that all of these programs have done is just, oh!” she said. “Now she’s on top of the world.”

dmoore@timesrecord.com

The goal

• UNITED WAY, in announcing the $1.85 million fundraising drive, has already received $370,105 in donations — bringing it to 20 percent of its goal.