Smiles for Sweetser Comedy Show – Oct 24th

Thank you to everyone who made our first Smiles for Sweetser Comedy Show a huge success! We hope we made you smile. 🙂 Check out our upcoming community events here

Get ready for a night of non-stop laughs at our Smiles for Sweetser Comedy Show!
Catch four of New England’s best comedians—Will Noonan (Named Boston’s Best Comedian), Rob Steen (Featured on Late Show), Amy Tee, and local Gabriel Perez—all on one stage!
  • When: Friday, October 24th (Doors 6:30 PM)
  • Where: Italian Heritage Center, Portland
  • Why: Every ticket helps Sweetser provide vital mental health care and resources to Maine families!
This is an 18+ event. Don’t miss out on an incredible evening of comedy with a meaningful impact!

Every laugh helps bring hope and healing to those in need. Don’t miss this unforgettable night of comedy and community!

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW: https://sweetser.ejoinme.org/2025SmilesforSweetser 

MEET THE COMEDIANS

Will Noonan

Will was named “Boston’s Best Comedian” by The Improper Bostonian magazine, is sometimes known as “The Honda Guy” for his job as spokesman in Honda commercials on TV and radio all over New England, and as well as for his fan-favorite role in the Netflix movie The Sleepover. He is well known for his internet presence.

Rob Steen

Rob has been doing comedy for 25 years. He began as a street performer at the age of 12 in Boston MA. Using his juggling and improv skills he decided to try Stand-Up! Since then he has kept a full calendar of over 350 shows per year! Rob has also been featured on several TV shows including The Late Show with Dave Letterman where he was a frequent guest. Rob is very high energy and will bring the whole audience together as a group with his unique style of crowd participation. His act is a mix of situations & observations that he has been in for the past 21 years of being an entertainer. Rob has been compared to Robin Williams due to his fast paced delivery & quick wit. Rob is great at working the crowd and making every show different. It is no wonder he is one of the most requested comedians in the Northeast. Rob will keep you on your toes and laughing non-stop.

Amy Tee

 Armed with boyish charm and razor-sharp wit, Amy Tee has a talent for turning life’s messiest moments into comedic gold. Whether she’s riffing on bipolar disorder, recovery, or everyday absurdities, her humor is honest, disarming, and deeply human. She’s been featured by NAMI and other mental health organizations, using her act as both entertainment and advocacy. Specializing in breaking down stigmas around mental health, Amy doesn’t just perform—she connects, challenges, and heals through laughter.

Gabriel Perez

Gabriel Perez was raised in Chicago and moved to Maine at 24 after backpacking around the world. He would’ve been a dancer if his Broadway parents pushed him harder, but, without structure, arrived at comedy. He’s performed for three years, hosted for Bob Marley, and runs Final Bistro Productions and Flip Flops Comedy Club in Old Orchard Beach.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW: https://sweetser.ejoinme.org/2025SmilesforSweetser 

Definitive Brewing Company Bingo Night – Oct 15th

Thank you for joining us! Click here for more upcoming events. 

Enjoy a fun night of Bingo, draft brews, and delicious bites for a great cause!

On October 15th, Definitive Brewing is teaming up with Sweetser to host a fun-filled Bingo Night for mental health. During the evening, 20% of all draft sales will go to supporting Sweetser’s vital mental health services. Stop by Sweetser’s resource table for swag giveaways and information about how you can support mental wellness in your community.

Maine Beer Company Community Pizza Night for Sweetser – Oct 8th

Thank you for supporting mental health in our communities. 🙂 For more community events, click here
Join us Wednesday, October 8th for our Community Pizza Night hosted by Maine Beer Company in Freeport. From 4:00-8:00 PM, 20% of all food sales go to supporting Sweetser’s critical mission. Stop in for a slice for mental health. Located at 525 US Route 1, Freeport, ME.

33rd Auction & Gala Brings in Record $380,000 for Mental Health

Thank you so much for the support from our over 600 attendees, corporate partners, item donors, and supporters, who made this our biggest auction and gala in the 33-year history of our event.

Together, over $400,000 was raised to fuel hope for youth and their families most in need of mental health services! Shout out to our energetic hosts Lee Goldberg and Lori Voornas, the always fun DJ Brandon Aull, amazing band Plush with Julia Gagnon, longtime auctioneer Bill Zafirson, delicious food by Blue Elephant Catering, decadent desserts by both European Bakery and Nothing Bundt Cakes, tech by Headlight Audio Visual, setup by One Stop Event Rentals, all at an amazing venue at Brick South.

We appreciate our hardworking Auction Committee, led by Chair Erin Collins, Board of Directors, led by Chair Jessica Demers, and our Development Committee, led by Chair Greg Prince, who all help our team with organizing this event and our fundraising efforts. Our Sweetser PR & Advancement team includes Justin Chenette, Jodie Hansen, Sara Towle, Bryan Roche, and Liz Smith. It’s truly a team effort to pull this off!

Thank you to our presenting sponsors Maine Community Bank and CMP for their ongoing support of our mission. Hope to see you all next year!

A huge shout-out to our incredible sponsors: 

Maine Community Bank
Central Maine Power
UNUM
CGI Business Solutions
Dr. Army Yasko/Holistic Health International
NEWS CENTER Maine
SMRT Architects & Engineers
Paquin & Carroll Insurance
R.M. Davis, Inc.
Systems Engineering
Sanford ME Elks Lodge #1470
Vinegar Hill Music Theatre
Tapley Insurance
The Viewpoint Hotel
Anchor Real Estate
Casco Bay Insurance Agency
Clark Insurance
Genoa HealthCare
Haven’s Candies
HM Payson
Kennebunk Savings Bank
Lebel & Harriman
Little Snoring Cottage
Northeast Delta Dental
Oxford Casino Hotel
PM Construction Company
Preble Lodge #143 (Masons, Sanford)
Saco & Biddeford Savings
Shoreline Construction
Sysco Northern New England
Tyler Technologies
Aroma Joe’s
Bangor Savings Bank
Binnie Media
The Breakwater Group at Morgan Stanley
Coldwell Banker Realty
Freeport Oyster Bar
GoodNylund Wealth Management
InterMed
Jim Godbout Plumbing & Heating
LCI Flooring Inc
MaineBiz
Martin’s Point Health Care
McGarry Law Offices
Northern Shore Enterprises Inc. – Geico
Novel Iron Works
One Stop Event Rentals
PC Construction
Stephen Carr Property Services
Street Dining
Throttle Car Club
TruChoice Federal Credit Union

In The News: WGME Segment on Brunswick’s New Intensive Outpatient Program

 

Sweetser was featured on WGME’s Spotlight on ME:

Sweetser’s Chief Communications Officer, Justin Chenette, spoke to WGME’s Adrienne Stein for a segment about Sweetser’s new Substance Use Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at the Brunswick Hope & Healing Center as we close out National Recovery Month.

TV Segment: Professional Development for Caregivers

Conversations about mental health often focus on the general public, but it’s equally important to consider the well‑being of the professionals who provide that care. Sweetser’s Training Director, Jayne Pelletier sits down with WMTW’s Meghan Torjussen to reminds us that caregivers can only support others effectively when they prioritize their own mental health.

Watch the segment below:

Many workshops are available individually or as part of a series—and several can be taken online. To explore Sweetser’s full catalog of professional development opportunities and register, visit Sweetser.org/training.

OPTIONS Team at Recovery Rallies

Sweetser’s OPTIONS team and fellow Sweetser staff attended the Lakes Region Recovery Center 5th Annual Recovery Rally earlier this month to connect individuals to resources and care.

BRIDGTON

Pictured from left to right:

  • Marissa Smith (Manager of Intentional Peer Support & Training)
  • David Cameron-Rosenfield (Manager of SupportME Peer Center)
  • Carolyn Hall (Crisis Intervention Specialist)
  • Manny Reis (OPTIONS Team – Recovery Coach)

LEWISTON

Sweetser’s Kennebec County OPTIONS team as well as our Oxford County Mobile Crisis team were represented at the Lewiston Recovery Rally.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our tables to say hello to our teams!

Learn more about our OPTIONS initiative: OPTIONS Initiative at Sweetser

Brunswick Brickyard Hollow to serve up some hope

Thank you so much for joining us! For more community fundraisers in support of mental health, click here

Brickyard Hollow in Brunswick is serving up some hope to support Sweetser!
Join us Tuesday Sept 23rd anytime between 5-9PM as a portion of proceeds from sales at Brickyard Hollow 149 Maine St in Brunswick will be donated to Sweetser.

Rockport Mini Golf Event a Hole-in-One

Thank you Golfer’s Crossing Mini Golf & Ice Cream in Rockport for hosting a day to give back to mental health and help fuel our mission! Our staff enjoyed connecting with community members and of course some tasty ice cream.

Staff included Rockland team members Pauline Miller, Paige Mason, and Gina Martin along with Chief Program Officer Kristie Worster and Community Relations Intern Tyler Jordan.