Keeper Fund: Year Two

Keeper Fund: Year Two

2019 marked the second year of our Keeper Fund, which steadily grows year over year.  We spread our dollars across a variety of projects, primarily in Maine’s coastal communities but also in our shack communities across the country. In 2019, we donated $22,130 to an array of coastal projects to support the mission of the Keeper Fund - keeping our coastal waterways healthy and strengthening  economic opportunities for fishing communities. We also expanded our reach through a fundraising partnership with our friends at Allagash Brewing, jointly donating $1 to The Keeper Fund for every Allagash White sold at Luke's in 2019, resulting in $10,000 raised. 

A few of the 2019 projects we got down and dirty with (literally!) included:

  • A Keeper Fund Award of $1,000 to the Cranberry Isles Fishermen’s Co-op in recognition of their initiative to become the first fishermen’s co-op to install a solar array and switch to 100% renewable energy.

  • A partnership with the Island Institute to research the ability of seaweed aquaculture to remediate ocean acidification.  

  • Casco Bay Clean up with Friends of Casco Bay prior to the opening of our flagship shack in Portland to clean up the shore around Portland’s Back Cove, a popular running, biking and walking trail.

  • 4th Annual Tenants Harbor Fisherman’s Co-op clean up where we donated $1,500 with our generous partners at Bank of America as well as lobster and crab rolls for volunteers who spent the day cleaning up Matinicus Island, a remote fishing island in Penobscot Bay.

  • United by Blue clean-ups - One in Philadelphia where we helped removed 7,469 lbs of trash from the Delaware River and one in DC, where we removed 976 lb of trash from Rock Creek Park and donated lobster rolls for our fellow volunteers.

  • “Just for the Halibut” events in support of the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association - In collaboration with Primo’s Chef Melissa Kelly and Union’s Chef Josh Berry of the Press Hotel, we hosted two ticketed events at our seasonal shack in Tenants Harbor in June and raised 4,200 for the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association.

 

Stay tuned for more exciting projects with the Keeper Fund in 2020!