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Cruise Industry Foundation supports trio of Maine nonprofit groups

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Presented with checks aboard Serenade of the Seas were, from left, Kris Koerber, director of Youthlinks; Sherry Cobb, president of the AIO Food Pantry board; and Don Carpenter, executive director, Trekkers (Photo: Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce)
The Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation (CICF), CruiseMaineUSA and The Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce partnered to support a trio of mid-coast Maine nonprofit organizations: Trekkers, Youthlinks/Broadreach Family & Community Services and the AIO Food Pantry.

These organizations focus on engaging youth and feeding families in the area.

In conjunction the Oct. 4 inaugural visit of Royal Caribbean International's Serenade of the Seas to Rockland Harbor, the CICF presented each of the three organizations with a $2,500 donation. Representatives of the nonprofits were present for a ceremony on board the ship.

In addition, representatives from Sen. Angus King's office, the City of Rockland, Rockland Main Street, the Town of Camden and the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce presented Serenade of the Seas Capt. Krzysztof Gabriel Szynkarczuk with a key to the city of Rockland, among other welcome gifts.

'The cruise industry desires to support important programs in local communities that they visit,' according to Amy Powers, director of CruiseMaineUSA.

The cruise industry's direct spending in Maine was reported in excess of $46.2m in 2013. This generated more than 747 jobs with wages totaling $25.5m in income for Maine workers.