MEET THE ORGANIZATIONS YOUR REGISTRATIONS AND DONATIONS WILL SUPPORT
All proceeds of this event will be donated to NAMI Maine and Shalom House. Through the generous support of our sponsors, all event costs have been covered. 100% of all registrations and donations will be donated to these two non-profits (not including the $5 pickleballbrackets fee).
For more than 40 years, NAMI Maine has been the statewide voice for individuals and families affected by mental health challenges. As the Maine affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, we work to ensure that every person—no matter where they live or what they face—has access to support, understanding, and pathways to recovery. Through education, advocacy, and connection, NAMI Maine builds stronger communities where mental health is recognized, valued, and supported as a vital part of overall wellness.
What They Do
NAMI Maine (National Alliance on Mental Illness – Maine Chapter) provides hope, support, and education to anyone affected by mental health challenges. We empower individuals and families through free programs, peer and family support, crisis intervention, and public education that builds understanding and reduces stigma. From training teachers and first responders to supporting parents and youth, NAMI Maine ensures that help and healing are available across every corner of our state.
Impact
Each year, NAMI Maine reaches tens of thousands of Mainers through direct services, training, and advocacy. Thousands of youth and adults participate in suicide prevention and mental health education programs that save lives and foster resilience. Hundreds of volunteers and peer leaders deliver community-based support groups, the Maine Warm Line provides thousands of calls of comfort, and statewide advocacy continues to improve access to care and strengthen Maine’s mental health system.
Why This Matters
Mental illness touches one in five Mainers, yet stigma and isolation remain powerful barriers to recovery. NAMI Maine stands beside individuals and families so no one walks this journey alone. By building understanding, strengthening services, and advocating for change, NAMI Maine creates a more compassionate, informed, and connected Maine—where mental health is valued as an essential part of overall well-being.
Shalom House, Inc. (based in Portland, Maine) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to offer hope for adults living with severe mental illness by providing an array of community-based mental health services and a choice of quality housing that helps people lead stable and fulfilling lives in the community.
What They Do
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They provide affordable, decent housing options for adults with serious and persistent mental illness. These include group homes, transitional housing, and independent apartments.
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They administer housing subsidy programs (for example through federal and state rental assistance) for individuals with low income and psychiatric disability.
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They offer community‐based mental health services aimed at helping clients live independently in the community, including case-management, daily living skills supports, rehabilitative services, and an art program for recovery.
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They emphasize community integration, dignity, choice, and individualized planning — focusing not just on treatment but on enabling people to regain meaningful lives and independence.
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They also engage in advocacy: fighting for the needs, safety, and rights of people with mental illness and housing challenges.
Impact
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Since its founding in 1972 (originally a single halfway house) the organization has grown significantly, expanding from 15 beds to multiple housing sites and full service programs.
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They serve hundreds of people annually in Cumberland and York Counties (Maine) who face serious mental illness and housing instability.
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By providing stable housing and wraparound support, Shalom House helps reduce the stress of homelessness, hunger, and isolation — all of which can be major barriers to recovery and community participation.
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Their programs support the transition from institutional settings (mental hospitals), shelters or group homes into more independent living, thereby promoting autonomy.
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The art programs and other community integration services help reduce stigma, foster self-esteem and social connection for people who have often been marginalized.
Why This Matters
People with serious mental illness often face multiple overlapping challenges: lack of safe housing, unemployment or under-employment, social isolation, difficulty navigating systems, and stigma. Shalom House’s model addresses both housing and supportive services — a combination that tends to improve the chances of stable recovery and community inclusion. By focusing on dignity, choice, and integration rather than just “institutional care,” they aim to shift the paradigm toward enabling full citizenship for people with psychiatric disabilities.