CUMBERLAND — Norway Savings Bank is pleased to announce the recipient of the annual Patricia Weigel Pay It Forward Award is Homeless Animal Rescue Team of Maine.
HART of Maine has served as a safe haven for surrendered, abandoned, injured and abused cats since 1997. The organization’s mission is to provide refuge, comfort and comprehensive medical attention for all cats in need and to find appropriate community placements for them. The organization also supports individuals who can no longer care for their cats, ensuring every feline is loved and safe. HART is powered primarily by dedicated volunteers and the generosity of donors.
As part of the award HART of Maine received $10,000, a gift that was shared, along with true gratitude for the organization’s work, during a special visit by Norway Savings Bank representatives.
The Patricia Weigel Pay It Forward Award was created in December 2021 to honor then-CEO, Pat Weigel, who was dedicated to making a positive community impact during her long career in banking. Through a voting process, NSB’s team members chose HART of Maine as the winner from over 80 organizations receiving volunteer support from employees.
“I love that the employees are such a big part of the award,” said Weigel. “It’s very humbling since the bank set this up at my retirement a few years ago. It’s really very meaningful to know these dollars will be going to help such incredible places around the state like HART of Maine.”
Katie Deshaies, commercial loan officer at NSB, is a regular volunteer at the Cumberland-based organization, making it eligible for the award.
“I’m so excited that the NSB team selected HART of Maine for the award!,” said Deshaies. “They were about $10,000 from their fundraising goal and this literally provided the final push. It’s amazing. Every dollar really makes a difference in providing compassionate care and loving homes to many cats.”
“This was so wonderful to hear! We’re so thankful for Katie’s commitment to volunteering here and earning us a nomination,” said Janine Giustina, development committee co-chair at HART of Maine. “We truly appreciate this.”
“NSB’s philanthropy sustains our mission, enabling us to provide refuge, comfort, and comprehensive medical attention for the hundreds of cats we’re able to house each year before they find their forever homes,” said Jessie Butler, a member of the HART of Maine Finance Committee. “We’re so thankful for NSB being our teammate in the effort to care for these innocent animals and ultimately connect them with families in our community.”
In honor of NSB’s 160th anniversary in 2026, a new tradition has been established where the two other award finalists (Preble Street and Ronald McDonald House of Maine this year) will each receive $3,000 in gratitude, adding up to $16,000.
The four previous winners of the annual Patricia Weigel Pay It Forward Award were Maine Veterans’ Homes, the Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine, Safe Voices and the Maine Children’s Cancer Program at Barbara Bush.
To learn more about HART of Maine, its impact or to join Katie as a volunteer, visit the organization’s website at www.hartofme.org.