KINGFIELD – In appreciation for its key support of the 2010 Kingfield POPS concert, the POPS Board recently presented framed posters to the event’s top three sponsors – Camden National Bank (CNB), Poland Spring, and Valley Gas & Oil.
CNB has been the POPS’ lead sponsor since the first Kingfield POPS concert in 2002 according to POPS President Donald Tranten. “We never could have got the event off the ground or sustained it over the past nine years without the Camden National Bank’s foundational support,” he said. “They really are at the heart of community support for the concert.” Tranten noted that since the POPS’ inception, one or more CNB staff members have always served on the Board.
Chris DeMerchant, CNB Vice President and Commercial Banking Officer, said that Camden National Bank has been pleased to support the Kingfield POPS. “We see it as a wise investment in the community,” he explained. “The POPS fills an important niche. Not only has the concert become a beloved community tradition, it also provides unique music enrichment programs for young people in the schools, and perhaps most importantly, Kingfield POPS is a catalyst for community economic development. By creating a focal point for summer tourism, the concert and arts festival bring visitors to the area who then patronize other businesses.”
Kingfield’s Valley Gas and Oil Company has supported the POPS since 2006. According to POPS President Donald Tranten, “Bob Luce (the owner of Valley Gas) has been one of the POPS’ biggest fans and his business has stepped up to the plate to show its appreciation for what the POPS brings to the community. Having a local independent business such as Valley Gas support the POPS is a vote of confidence, and it sends a strong message.”
When Poland Spring set up shop in Kingfield in 2007, they immediately came on board as a POPS sponsor. “Poland Spring’s support gave the POPS a big boost,” said Tranten. “Although they were new to the community, Poland Spring jumped right in and has been a loyal and enthusiastic POPS supporter ever since,” he added.
“Our major sponsors lead the way and help the POPS keep its foundation strong,” said Tranten. He explained that in addition to those large gifts, “hundreds of individuals and businesses — donors, in-kind donors, individual contributors and volunteers — contribute to making the POPS a success each year. We are grateful to each of them. Arts and music improve the quality of life for everyone, residents and visitors alike and in doing so, they can also drive community economic development and make the area a more desirable place to visit and to live,” said Tranten.
