Applications for the Courageous Steps Scholarship Fund are now closed for 2016. Thank you to all Old Town High School seniors who applied for the scholarship. The name(s) will be finalized on Thursday June 9th at the Old Town High School Awards Night. 

"The future of the scholarship fund looks bright", said founder Connor Archer. "I am excited to read all the applications for the scholarship." 

Next year, Archer hopes to expand his scholarship to students at Orono High School, along with other schools in the region. He hopes to adjust the rules to the scholarship fund, to better meet other school's standards. 

He will release those standards in June. 

Saturday March 26, 2016
To: Courageous Steps donors
From: Connor Jacob Archer

As you know, the Courageous Steps Project is growing at faster rates every day locally, and nationally. The project is continuing to find ways to respond to the growth. 

One of these ways is switching over to non-profit status officially. Since 2015, I have been figuring out ways to complete this transition as smooth as possible. The project won't become officially non-profit until January 2017, but the transition of accounts from Old Town High School will begin in June of 2016 after donations are given out to the local organizations, from the 3rd annual Courageous Steps Walk-Run event. However, this process could be completed sooner, depending on the situation that I am in during May. 

This non-profit status will give the Courageous Steps Project more opportunities for support from businesses, private donors, and the community in general. I also believe that this will open up more doors for support from other organizations to complete projects. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at: [email protected]. 

I hope to have more answers in the coming weeks about this switch.

        With Appreciation, 

        Connor Jacob Archer
        Founder of The Courageous Steps Project
        [email protected]
        www.thecourageousstepsproject.org
        Find Us On Facebook

The Courageous Steps Project is working on preparing for it's busy time of year. Usually this busy time occurs from May-September. 

It all starts off with our walk-run in May. For three years now, the walk-run has generated over $10,000. This year, the project has already surpassed it's sponsorships from last year, and is now focusing on donations & registrations for the events to make this year's fundraiser "the best yet". 

In June, founder Connor Archer, will be presenting donations to many local organizations that help young children with challenges, and hopefully unified basketball programs in Brewer, Orono & Hampden. Also in June, Archer will be awarding his second class of scholarship(s) to graduating Old Town High School seniors. At the Green House Nursery School, Archer will hope to continue his exterior portion of the project, by installing a storage shed in the playground, and possibly installing new playground equipment. This will be a project that runs through the summer. Archer will also continue to complete his technology expansion project at the school, and maintain the gardens. 

Throughout the rest of the summer, Archer will be focusing on the 3rd annual Courageous Steps Back to School Drive, and coming up with new projects for the Courageous Steps Project to take on. 

If you have any questions, please email Connor Archer at: [email protected]. 

The Courageous Steps Project's annual walk-run event, has had a substantial impact on the project's development, according to Archer. "The walk-run established the foundation of the project, and now is known as our biggest fundraiser of the year". 

So far the year, Archer has secured more sponsors than any other year, and he is still trying to get more businesses to join on to support the Courageous Steps Project. Other donations have been trickling in slowly, along with registration forms. Now he is shifting his focus on getting people to come that day, getting people to donate, and preparing the walk-run's silent auction, another big money maker for the project. 

"The next couple of months will be time consuming, but i'm looking forward to seeing it all come together on the 22nd" said Archer, who will be in attendance on the 22nd for the fundraiser itself. 

Archer hopes to donate proceeds to local programs that help young children with challenges, and new donations this year, include Unified Basketball programs in the Bangor area. But in order to support ALL of these programs, we need your help. 

Please send your donation, or registration form to: P.O. Box 1, Stillwater, ME 04489. However, make the check out to Old Town High School with Courageous Steps in the memo. All registration forms & donation forms are under the walk-run page of our website. Just go under fundraisers, and find Courageous Steps Walk-Run fundraiser. 

On Tuesday March 22nd, founder Connor Archer hosted a Courageous Steps benefit dinner at the Old Town Governor's Restaurant. 

Many people came out for the benefit dinner, and tons of donations came in to support future Courageous Steps endeavors for this coming year. 

For donations, the project raised $283.52. That doesn't count the 10% of meal proceeds that have to be added into the final total. That total will be finalized, and revealed soon. 

Many people also took donation forms for this coming spring's walk-run event, along with registration forms for this year's event. 

Connor would like to thank Staples again for donating a banner to the benefit dinner, and he would also like to thank Dave Paul from Wights Sporting Goods for making t-shirts for the benefit dinner, which will also be used for the walk-run this spring!

If you missed the dinner, and you would like to donate to support Courageous Steps endeavors, please contact Connor Archer at: [email protected]. 

The Courageous Steps Project will be having registration forms, and donation forms available at these locations: 

Machias Savings Bank in Bangor on Hammond Street

Camden National Bank in Orono on Main Street

Old Town Recreation Center

There will be more locations added in April. Registration Forms & Donation Forms will be available at Camden National Bank through April, along with other forms and information about the Courageous Steps Project. 

The Courageous Steps Project is aiming to raise more than $6,300, and with that said, it was crucial to get other businesses to join the Courageous Steps Sponsor Team. This year, so far, we have 9 new sponsors for this year's fundraiser, with many more expected to join the team. Hopefully we can do the same with general donations & registration numbers. 

Here is an updated list of sponsors for this year's fundraiser: 

Machias Savings Bank - Platinum
Darlings - Silver
People’s United Bank - Silver
Carpenter Associates - Silver
Penobscot County Federal Credit Union - Silver 
Bangor Federal Credit Union - Bronze 
Dairy Queen - Bronze
Maine Savings Federal Credit Union - Bronze
Penobscot Ice Arena/Penobscot Cleaning Services - Bronze
Sullivan’s Automotive - Bronze 
JC Autobody - Bronze 
University Credit Union - Bronze 
Noonan Chiropractic - Bronze 
Mahan’s Redemption Center - Bronze 
Veazie Veterinary Clinic - Bronze 
Sandra A. Morin Accountant - Bronze 
Dave’s Service Center - Bronze
John T. Cyr & Sons Inc. - Bronze
Fort View Dental - Bronze 
Brewer Federal Credit Union - Honorable Mention 
Van Syckle Kia - Honorable Mention 
Owen J. Folsom Inc. - Honorable Mention 
Hardy Orthodontics - Honorable Mention 
Marquis Heating - Honorable Mention
Morin Fuel - Honorable Mention 
Northeast Periodontal Associates - Honorable Mention 
Sweet Frog - Honorable Mention 
Jacksons Automotive, Inc. - Honorable Mention
Skip’s Auto Repair - Honorable Mention 

The Courageous Steps Project has lots coming up for this month. In the past two months, the Courageous Steps Project has donated technology items to the Green House Nursery School for their technology expansion project, began raising money for the 3rd annual Courageous Steps Walk-Run, and much more. 

This month, the Courageous Steps Project's Connor Archer, will be hosting a benefit dinner on Tuesday March 22nd at the Old Town Governor's Restaurant from 4pm to 8pm. 10% of proceeds from all meals in that time frame, will go to support Courageous Steps endeavors. 

Also in March, we will have a table at the Camden National Bank in Orono, advertising the Courageous Steps Project to those in the local community. In March, founder Connor Archer will be at the bank on select days, to answer any questions about the Courageous Steps Project. Please stay tuned  to find out those days in the coming weeks. 

Our biggest push, will be the 3rd annual Courageous Steps Walk-Run fundraiser, being held on Sunday May 22nd at Old Town High School's Victory Field. All proceeds will go to local programs that help young children with challenges. 

As always, there will be more that comes up throughout the month of March. If you have any questions, please contact Connor Archer at: [email protected].