The Eleanor Clare Paye Memorial Playground

Recently Saco was awarded a grant from two national non-profits (Kaboom! and Let's Play) to rebuild the playground at Young School, one of two elementary schools in town. The Parks Committee from the Parks and Recreation Department then being raising private funding as well for the project.

Elle loved playgrounds. She enjoyed both the one at Fairfield and at Young. So when this project came to the Fund's attention, we decided to make a generous donation to the project.

In response, the Parks Committee unanimously voted to name the new playground after Elle.

The playground, which is located in a city park on North Street, will officially be known as "The Eleanor Clare Paye Memorial Playground,” after the Saco Playground Committee received “a generous donation” from the Eleanor Clare Paye Charitable Fund, [John] Sherman said this week.

“This is a great way to honor a special little girl who bravely fought against cancer,” he added.

To say we are appreciative of this would be a massive understatement. It is a remarkable gesture. And we are extremely thankful to the Parks Committee for their decision to remember Elle in this manner.

We will continue to update you on the progress of The Eleanor Clare Paye Memorial Playground in the months ahead.

Great Pictures for a Great Cause

Nadra Photography in Scarborough, ME is holding May Flowers 2012 on May 19th and 20th. This is a chance for you to not only have some beautiful photos taken, but to help the Fund as well.

Here are the details:

For $100 you will receive a 30 minute portrait session, along with an 8x10 print of your favorite image (a $155 total value)! Sessions will be held on Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20 at our Scarborough studio. Beautiful portraits for everyone: families, children, couples, individuals and pets. We will have fresh flower props and bubbles... you bring the smiles!

50% of all the proceeds from this weekend will be donated by Nadra Photography to the Fund.

This is an incredibly generous and kind gesture and we cannot express our thanks enough. So if you are going to be in or around Scarborough that weekend, we encourage you to take part.

Our Achievements in 2011

As 2012 begins, we are pleased with the donations the Fund was able to make in 2011. In less than six months we were able to:

• Hand out $1500 in scholarships to dance students at Steppin' Out Dance Studio in Saco, ME. This was the dance studio where Elle danced for almost four years. It was very dear to her and her family, and this relationship is one we hope to continue for many years to come.
• Donate over $300 to the Fairfield Elementary School in Saco, ME for the purchase of books for the school library. This is where Elle attended Kindergarten. The books will contain nameplates recognizing Elle and the Fund.
• Donate $1000 to the Maine Children's Cancer Program in Scarborough, ME. This is the program where Elle received her treatment. Her ability to live the life of a young girl with minimal restrictions while battling cancer was due in large part to the tireless efforts of the doctors and staff at MCCP. This is the first of what we hope will be regular donations from the Fund to MCCP.

These donations were possible due to the generosity of all of you. And it is because of you we will be able to do more in 2012.

If you would like to make a donation, you can find the information on how to do so here.

$1000 Donated to Maine Children's Cancer Program

On Friday, November 18, the Fund donated $1000 to the Maine Children's Cancer Program (MCCP) at their offices in Scarborough, ME. This is the first donation the Fund has made to MCCP.

This particular donation will go towards buying items that make the time pediatric cancer patients spend getting treatment more tolerable. It will focus on toys and arts and crafts products (crayons, paints, paper). These were some of Elle's most favorite things to do while she received treatment. And we want to make sure that other children have that same opportunity.

This is first of what we hope are regular donations to MCCP by the Fund. Their treatment of Elle was first-class. She was able to live the life of a young girl with minimal restrictions right up to the time of her passing. Considering the seriousness of her cancer, that is nothing short of remarkable. And it was made possible by the doctors and staff at MCCP.

Books Bought For Fairfield Elementary School

The Fund recently donated $300 to the Fairfield Elementary School in Saco for the purchase of books for their library.

Elle loved reading and being read to. So buying more books for the library was something we really wanted to accomplish. The books will have a nameplate recognizing Elle and the Fund. Hopefully, this can become a regular event.

As always, these gifts are possible because of your support for the Fund. And we thank you for your generosity in helping us keep Elle's spirit of love and kindness alive.

Over $1100 Raised For Power of Elle!

And all this began with the efforts of one woman; Jennifer Skinsacos. Jennifer is a bartender at Ken's Place, a seafood restaurant in Scarborough, ME. Jennifer offered to donate all her tips from 4-8 PM on Thursday, September 8, to the Fund. That expanded to the whole staff making the same commitment. And then to the owner, Dave Wilcox, making a very generous personal donation.

There were other examples of generosity as well. This is from the Facebook event page, written by Jennifer:

"Thank you to the Carriage House Spa and Salon for the gift certificate as well as personal contributions from the owners and staff. Thank you to Minott's Flowers for the beautiful arrangement of white roses that represented Elle all night on the bar. And thank you to Emily and Beth for putting the gold ribbons together... many people asked for the them and were so proud to wear them! I will be wearing mine all month (September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month)!"

Emily and Beth are Elle's aunt and mother.

This was an amazing example of personal generosity from so many different people. It is also representative of how Elle's life and memory still live on in all of us.

Thank you again to everyone involved for your generosity and kindness.

Bright Light Scholarship Winners and the Eleanor Clare Paye "Heart of Dance" Recipient

On June 4, Steppin Out Dance Studio had their annual summer recital at the Merrill Auditorium in Portland. Ellie participated in this recital three times, the last two times while battling cancer. The Power of Elle worked with Steppin Out to do something in Ellie's memory, a lasting tribute to her love of dance.

The result of this effort was two-fold: the Bright Light Scholarships and the annual Eleanor Clare Paye "Heart of Dance" award, which is given to a dancer who continues to dance despite physical adversity.

Power of Elle is proud to announce the winners of both the Bright Light Scholarships and the "Heart of Dance" award. First, the scholarship winners. These were awarded to students pursuing post-secondary education.

• Adrianna Schultz: $100
  
• Kaitlyn Lecount: $100
  
• Vanessa Trempe: $100
  
• Marielle Petrin: $100
  
• Christine Rousselle: $100
  
• Lauren Ledoux: $500
  
• Tricia Evangelista: $500
  

The winner of the "Heart of Dance" award was Delia Binette. She not only was awarded a trophy, but a dance jacket and a gift card.

The ability of the Power of Elle to do this with Steppin Out was due largely to the generosity of people who have donated to the Fund. Through their giving and kindness, we are able to ensure that the life and love that Ellie possessed will continue to be remembered.