Sweetser News & Events

Sweetser Announces Third Annual Pendleton Award Winners

Posted on 11/01/2005 at 08:44 am

Champions of mental healthcare in Maine were honored October 6 in Brunswick with the third annual Pendleton Awards. Named for the late Irene and Carlton Pendleton, the awards were presented at the annual meeting for Sweetser. Sweetser is a mental and behavioral health care organization that provides services from Kittery to Belfast.

Awards were given for three categories: public service, community service and community partners. Accompanying the award was a gift of $500 to the recipient's charity of choice.

Irene and Carlton Pendleton were long-time residents of Saco. Committed to community service, children and family, they became house parents for a children's treatment home at Sweetser in their retirement.

The Pendleton's raised three children of their own, who each went on to pursue careers in public service and education. Eslie Parquette was a school teacher for many years and is now the Director of Educational Services for Sweetser. Carl Pendleton was a teacher, principal, and now serves as the President & CEO for Sweetser. Craig Pendleton is the Coordinating Director of the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance and a life long commercial fisherman.

Receiving the award for public service was Congressman Tom Allen. Congressman Allen was recognized both for his leadership and support of the commercial fishing families of Maine and the communities to which they are directly interconnected and for his fight against budget cuts that would directly impact Maine's children and the support services required to help build better lives for Maine families. Congressman Allen designated his award donation to the Maine Fisherman's Forum scholarship fund. This award will be given to a child of a fishing family who is entering their sophomore year of college. The Maine Fishermen's Forum brings together fishermen, academic researchers, resource managers and government leaders to address issues facing the fishing industry.

The award for community service was given to Harrison and Barbara Holman. The Holman's were recognized for their support of education through numerous scholarship funds at colleges and universities throughout New England and for their very generous support of Sweetser. Their support is responsible for the Prudence Holman Memorial Music Fund at The School at Sweetser and Sweetser's children's crisis unit at the corner of St. John and Commercial streets in Portland. The Holman's designated their award to Xavier College in New Orleans.

The community partner award was given to Dr. Conner Moore, a Saco pediatrician who has devoted more than 36 years to caring for the children of southern Maine. Well known in the communities he serves, Dr. Moore is the school physician for the Saco and Biddeford school systems and was the 2004 recipient of the Southern Maine Medical Center's 'Caregiver of the Year' award. He is also the founder of Jessie's Gift Foundation, an organization devoted to helping children and families with chronic illness. Dr. Moore designated his award donation to the Women and Infant Services program at Southern Maine Medical Center.

With a history dating back to 1828, Sweetser is Maine's most comprehensive behavioral and mental health organization dedicated to serving children, adults and families. Sweetser offers services that address emotional disturbances, mental illness, behavioral disorders and learning disabilities through an array of educational programs, preventive services, community-support services and residential homes.

Contact: Heather Chandler, Assistant Director of Communications, 294-4430