Tomorrow morning, I will be taking the Courageous Steps Project to Washington D.C. for a four day conference, in recognition of the Prudential Spirit of Community Award that was awarded to me in February by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. 

For four days, I will be recognized for my work as the founder of the Courageous Steps Project. I am also taking this opportunity to let a whole other audience know about the project, and maybe even get some possible donations. The main goal is to spread the word about the project to a national audience. 

I will be very busy in Washington D.C., so I won't be able to respond as often as I usually do. Please still email me at: [email protected], and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible. 

I reported that this year's fundraiser has doubled sponsors for the 3rd annual Courageous Steps Walk-Run event on Sunday May 22nd, from last year's fundraiser. 

The amazing thing about this year, is that the actual sponsor total is getting closer and closer to the overall fundraiser total from last year. 

What does this mean? This means that the stakes are high to crush last year's fundraising amount. This also means, trying to continue finding more businesses to sponsor this year's event, gain donations from supporters in the community, and more importantly, get people at the walk-run event. 

You can find all the registration & donation forms on the walk-run fundraiser page under fundraisers. If you have any questions, please contact me at: [email protected]. 

Throughout the month of March and April, I was approached by Orono Middle School student teacher Sam Hilt. She got a student involved, and worked together to put together Orono Middle School's 'One Word' Challenge production. 

Orono Middle School is the fourth school to get involved with the 'One Word' Challenge, a project in conjunction with the basic 'One Word' Project. 

The video is on my website under the 'One Word' Challenge page, and you can also search Orono Middle School 'One Word' Challenge on google. 

What's next for the 'One Word' Challenge? Well, I'm hoping to get at least one more school involved before the end of the 2015-2016 school year. After that, their may be a couple of organizations that want to get involved and create their own 'One Word' Challenge. 

The project will continue through 2016, into 2017, and most likely carry through 2019. As always, please stay tuned as I continue to make future plans for the project. 

Hi everyone! It has been important to me, as the founder of the Courageous Steps Project, to be able to have a role in every bit of the project. 

Over the past year, i've tried to have other people contribute to our website posts, to see where it would go. 

After much consideration, I decided to take back the control of this page, to make sure that everything that is advertised on our website, is fully under control. I already manage the rest of the website, so the change will not be very noticeable at all. 

The Courageous Steps Project's founder Connor Archer announced on Tuesday that the walk-run now has 40 sponsors, with still over a month left to go until the actual fundraiser. "Usually the month before, is the busiest time of the fundraiser planning process" said Archer. 

Archer has solidified silent auction supporters as well, with that to come this month, and into May. 

Archer's next goal is to reach 50 sponsors. "There is still over a month left until the actual fundraiser, so I suspect seeing the sponsor list grow rapidly. This is after all now the biggest proceeds of the project's annual fundraiser". 

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The students and staff at Orono Middle School will be completing a Courageous Steps 'One Word' Challenge this April. They started the project in March, and they have nearly gotten almost the entire school of around 150 students involved, along with staff at the school. 

Orono Middle School will be the fourth school to complete the Courageous Steps Project's 'One Word' Challenge. 

We are hoping that the neighboring Asa Adams Elementary School in Orono will participate in this challenge as our main focus for a 'One Word' Challenge in May. This will give us our fifth, and final 'One Word' challenge of the fiscal school year, as we will carry this project forward into the 2016-2017 school year. 

"I think the idea of a Courageous Steps 'One Word' Challenge is a great way to carry the original 'One Word' Project forward. I can see this project continuing for the next 2 to 3 years if not longer". 

Orono Middle School's 'One Word' Challenge will be completed by the end of April, and will be on our youtube channel & 'One Word' Challenge pages when released. 

The 'One Word' Challenge is open to any school in the Eastern Maine region currently, or any school in the state of Maine who wants to create their own video, and post it on youtube under their channel. 

Our three current videos are located under this link: 'One Word' Challenge

If you are interested, please contact Connor Archer at: [email protected] with the name of your school. 

The Courageous Steps Project is continuing to have sponsors coming on board to support the 3rd annual Courageous Steps Walk-Run event. 

"I'm hoping to continue to get businesses to support the cause, in hopes to surpass the total overall fundraiser amount from last year. This would lead to big momentum going into the actual fundraiser on Sunday May 22nd" said founder Connor Archer. 

Here is a list of sponsors as of Friday April 8th. Right now, the project is close to surpassing the sponsorship goal by almost $2,000, but we need your help to do so. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Connor Archer at: connor.archer@thecourageousstepsproject, to find out details on where to send your donation. You can also visit the walk-run page to find the walk-run sponsorships form, along with other forms associated with this year's  walk-run fundraiser. 

SPONSORS (UPDATED ON FRIDAY APRIL 8th, 2016)

Machias Savings Bank - Platinum 

Juniper Ridge Landfall - Gold 

Old Town-Orono Kiwanis - Gold 

Darlings - Silver 

ABM Mechanical Inc. - Silver 
People’s United Bank - Silver 

Carpenter Associates - Silver 

Sargent Corporation - Silver 

Penobscot County Federal Credit Union - Silver 
Maine Alternative Comfort - Silver 

Eye Center Northeast - Bronze

Varney Buick GMC - Bronze 
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 

Stillwater Environmental Engineering, Inc. - Honorable Mention 

Gaetani Eye Care Associates - Honorable Mention 

James W. Sewall Company - Honorable Mention 

Today, the Courageous Steps Project released the final total from the benefit dinner hosted on Tuesday March 22nd. 

The final total was $473.52 raised from this past month's benefit dinner. 

"I hope to do continue to host these benefit dinners throughout the year. Governor's has been great to me, and great to the project" said Archer. 

Archer hopes to host one or two more benefit dinners this year for the project. "The funds from this past dinner, almost cover one scholarship to a high school senior. It's amazing how much a few hundred can do for someone else" added Archer. 

April is here, which means the Courageous Steps is less than 2 months away until it's 3rd annual Courageous Steps Walk-Run. 

Many businesses have sponsored this year's event, with more to come in April, and the beginning of May.  "The Step System for Businesses has really had an effect on donations from businesses for the Courageous Steps Project" said founder Connor Archer. "I believe that this will become huge within a couple years for the project" added Archer. 

April will be mainly a planning month for the walk-run. Archer hopes to advertise the project, and the walk-run fundraiser down in D.C. for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, where he hopes to get donations from people who feel the same way he does about helping others with challenges. 

Besides getting donations, Archer's goal is to get more people at the fundraiser, including athletic teams around the area. Archer will be going around to schools, or sending information to schools about this year's walk-run event. "I believe this will help encourage teams to be at the event, and will increase overall fundraiser numbers" said Archer confidently. 

Archer has also revealed that the school or business that brings the most group of students, will win a prize, that will be determined soon. This will provide an incentive for bringing many people to the fundraiser. 

If you have any questions about the walk-run, or need registration forms, visit the walk-run page under the fundraisers tab. You can also email Connor Archer at: [email protected].