RUMFORD — While attending last month’s 2011 Fraternal Order of Eagles International Convention in Orlando, Fla., Fred Allen was pleasantly surprised.
The Rumford Falls Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 1248, of which Allen is president, won the convention’s grand prize for hosting the best Child Advocacy Day in May.
“It gave me great pleasure — as I was the chairman for this event — to hear that Rumford Falls, Maine, was this year’s winner,” Allen said by email on Thursday.
“For this feat, we were awarded a nice plaque, along with a $3,000 check that will benefit our local youth.”
Set up with help from the local health, police, fire and youth groups to promote better welfare for children, the 3rd annual Mountain Valley Kids Fest drew a huge crowd. Participants also learned about the Eagles.
Additionally, Regional School Unit 10 staff helped provide area children with free bicycle helmets to help promote safe riding. Children were measured and fitted with proper helmets to ensure the safest riding possible.
Rumford police uploaded participating children’s identification into a national database and gave bicycle safety presentations.
Additionally, members of the Greater Rumford Community Center conducted athletic demonstrations.
Allen scheduled a meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Eagles aerie “for the folks that participated in this event so they can have a say in how we can best use these funds for our youth.”
“This meeting is open to anyone that is interested in the needs and welfare for our kids and would like some input in how we can help them,” Allen said early Tuesday afternoon in Rumford.
“As for how we spend the $3,000, it was not the Rumford Eagles that won the award, but the groups that participated in the 2011 Child Advocacy Day, and I would like for them to have a say on how they would like to use it for the kids.”
Among the participating groups were the GRCC, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, the Mexico Police Explorers, Rumford police and fire departments, Community Concepts and the RSU 10 wellness team.
The Jimmy Durante Children’s Fund provided the $3,000 grant.
Allen said the Eagles are already preparing for next year’s event “and how we can make it even better.”
The Child Advocacy Day is a community event, so people with ideas or those who would like to participate are encouraged to attend.
For more information, contact Allen at 739-9798 or visit www.rumfordeagles.foe.com.
-
- Rumford Falls Fraternal Order of Eagles President Fred Allen displays the award that the aerie won at last month’s 2011 Fraternal Order of Eagles International Convention for its Child Advocacy Day in May.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.