Vote For Your State In The Tom's Of Maine "50 States For Good"™ Program And Support Community 'Goodness' Projects Across The Nation

Non-profits with Most Votes to Share $150,000 in Funding

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Sep 10, 2012, 01:00 ET

KENNEBUNK, Maine, Sept. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- There's good stuff happening across the country! New trees planted in the wake of Hurricane Ike in Texas. Fresh produce for the elderly and homebound in North Carolina. These important initiatives – winners of last year's Tom's of Maine's "50 States for Good" program – brought lasting, positive change to the communities they serve and became a reality because the public got involved to help them secure the funds.

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Starting today, voting is live for the Tom's of Maine fourth annual "50 States for Good" program. For the first time, one non-profit finalist from every state and Washington DC is represented with a total of $150,000 in funding available for grassroots projects that support healthy, human and environmental goodness. The organization with the most votes will receive $50,000 while five runners-up will receive $20,000 each to complete their project. The public can vote at www.facebook.com/tomsofmaine through October 9.

The finalists were chosen by a judging panel of passionate leaders in the nonprofit community including star of "The Vampire Diaries" and non-profit founder Ian Somerhalder, Laura Burge of the social action network Care2, nonprofit/philanthropic strategist, author and Huffington Post columnist Lisa M. Dietlin and Sam Davidson, president of Cool People Care.

"We're always inspired by the level of creativity and commitment from local non-profits who tirelessly seek to address their community's needs," said Susan Dewhirst, goodness programs manager at Tom's of Maine. "But, they can't do it without the public's help. Today, voting for your state's finalist and rallying friends, family and co-workers to do the same not only elevates their cause but is a simple way you can help them extend the impact of their work."

Listed by state, here are this year's "50 States for Good" finalists:

Alabama	Disaster and Victim Services International	Daphne, AL
Alaska	Alaska Federation for Community Self Reliance	Fairbanks, AK
Arizona	Yuma Community Food Bank	Yuma, AZ
Arkansas	Genoa Central Parent Teacher Organization	Genoa, AR
California	Community Outreach Center of the Valley	Murrieta, CA
Colorado	Colorado Fourteeners Initiative	Golden, CO
Connecticut	Knox Parks, Inc.	Hartford, CT
Delaware	Junior League of Wilmington, DE	Wilmington, DE
District of Columbia	DC Scores	Washington D.C.
Florida	Southern Eco Restoration Projects, Inc.	Pensacola, FL
Georgia	NEXT Steps Youth Entrepreneur Program	Atlanta, GA
Hawaii	Sust 'aina ble Molokai	Kaunakakai, HI
Idaho	Garden Valley Communications, Inc.	Garden Valley, ID
Illinois	Team Rubicon	Inglewood, IL
Indiana	College Mentors for Kids, Inc.	Indianapolis, IN
Iowa	Northeast Iowa Food Bank	Waterloo, IA
Kansas	Reach Out and Read Kansas City	Kansas City, KS
Kentucky	Middlesboro Bell County Public Library	Middlesboro, KY
Louisiana	Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana	Baton Rouge, LA
Maine	Aid For Kids	Houlton, ME
Maryland	Baltimore Reads, Inc.	Baltimore, MD
Massachusetts	Community Harvest Project	North Grafton, MA
Michigan	People of Palmer Park	Detroit, MI
Minnesota	Great River Greening	Saint Paul, MN
Mississippi	Lovepacks	Oxford, MS
Missouri	National Council of Jewish Women-St. Louis Section	St Louis, MO
Montana	Glacier Institute	Kalispell, MT
Nebraska	inCOMMON Community Development	Omaha, NE
Nevada	ESL In-Home Program of Northern Nevada	Carson City, NV
New Hampshire	Global Awareness Local Action (G.A.L.A.)	Wolfeboro, NH
New Jersey	One Simple Wish	Trenton, NJ
New Mexico	La Semilla Food Center	Anthony, NM
New York	National Council of Jewish Women-New York Section	New York, NY
North Carolina	Brown Bag Ministry	Apex, NC
North Dakota	FARRMS	Medina, ND
Ohio	Community Food Initiatives	Athens, OH
Oklahoma	A Third Place Community Foundation	Turley, OK
Oregon	Community Outreach, Inc	Corvallis, OR
Pennsylvania	Cradles to Crayons	West Conshohocken, PA
Rhode Island	Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale	Peace Dale, RI
South Carolina	Southern Sustainable Resources	Charleston, SC
South Dakota	Rural Learning Center	Howard, SD
Tennessee	GrowMemphis	Memphis, TN
Texas	Central Texas Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc.	Taylor, TX
Utah	Adopt A Native Elder Program	Park City, UT
Vermont	Community of Vermont Elders	Montpelier, VT
Virginia	Western Virginia Foundation for the Arts and Sciences	Roanoke, VA
Washington	ReUse Works	Bellingham, WA
West Virginia	Friends of Deckers Creek	Dellslow, WV
Wisconsin	Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin	Madison, WI
Wyoming	University of Wyoming Extension Service/Big Horn County 4-H	Greybull, WY

The "50 States for Good" initiative invited qualifying 501(c)3 organizations in every state with an operating budget under $2 million to apply. Applications were narrowed down to 51 finalists by an independent panel of judges based on the organization's use of community volunteers (50%) and positive impact on the community (50%).

To read more about your state's finalist or to discover the good work going on in communities around the country, visit www.facebook.com/tomsofmaine. Voting is now open and visitors can cast one vote per day for their non-profit choice. Winners will be announced in November.

Tom's of Maine is a longtime supporter of community involvement programs including those focused on clean waterways and greater access to affordable dental care, among many others. Since its inception, the company has donated 10% of its profits back to the community.

About Tom's of Maine
Tom's of Maine is a leading natural products company focused on oral and personal care. TOMs sells high quality toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, deodorant, bar soap, and body wash products. The company has a long-standing commitment to supporting people, communities and the living planet. For over 40 years, Tom's of Maine has sponsored hundreds of nonprofit efforts by giving 10% of its profits back to organizations that support human and environmental goodness and by encouraging employees to use 5% (12 days) of employee time to volunteer. Tom's of Maine employees regularly contribute suggestions for improving the company's high sustainability standards. And their ideas, from wind power to ways to improve recycled and recyclable packaging options, are critical to the company's sensitive way of doing business. Tom's of Maine enjoys partnering with its consumers, vendors and community organizations to support lasting, positive change that is good for people and the planet.Visit us online at http://www.tomsofmaine.com/ or at http://www.facebook.com/TomsofMaine.