Attorney General Janet T. Mills Announces Grants Are Available to Assist Mental Health Organizations

December 4, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2009

Attorney General Janet T. Mills Announces Grants Are Available to Assist Mental Health Organizations

Contact: Kate Simmons Phone: 626-8577

AUGUSTA - Attorney General Janet T. Mills announced today that she will accept grant proposals to assist her in distributing $68,900 awarded to the state as part of a 2008 settlement with the Gentle Wind Project.

In August of 2008, the Office of the Attorney General settled its claims against the Gentle Wind Project. As part of the settlement, the Office was awarded $138,981.81 to be distributed by the Attorney General "at his sole discretion" to a non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to assist people with mental health disabilities.

Over half of the settlement funds were distributed in 2008 to seven Maine mental health organizations, leaving approximately $68,900 remaining to be distributed. Attorney General Mills is now accepting grant proposals from innovative organizations that will use these funds to assist Maine people with mental illnesses.

The Attorney General is seeking organizations with proven track records who will continue to improve the support available to people with mental illnesses. To be eligible to submit a proposal, an organization must be a Maine public benefit corporation in good standing with the Secretary of State, be registered as a charitable organization with the Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation and be classified as a 501 (c)(3) public charity by the Internal Revenue Service. Grants cannot be made to individuals or to support candidates for political office. Grants cannot be used to influence legislation of any kind or to support sectarian or religious purposes.

To be considered, proposals must include:

? A clear statement of the need or problem to be addressed.

? The grant request amount

? A work plan and timeline for the project

? How your organization will determine if the project was successful

? Project and organization budget

? A list of the board of directors and officers

? An audited financial statement for the prior year (or the IRS 990 Report, if the organization did not have an independent financial audit).

Grant proposals will be accepted until January 15, 2010, and should be sent to Assistant Attorney General Linda Conti, 6 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.

-end-