At The Young Professionals of the Lewiston/Auburn Area (YPLAA) Y-Not? Challenge finale held in Lewiston last week, Dan Thayer, President of Thayer Corporation, announced that, based upon the tremendous success of the YPLAA inaugural Y-Not? competition, he is offering a $5,000.00 challenge grant for a select community-sponsored program to launch a Y-Not? competition in their community.
Who is YPLAA?
The Young Professionals of the Lewiston/Auburn Area boast 400 members, who have an active agenda, socially, and for professional growth. Sponsored by the Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce, the largest chamber in state of Maine, The Y-Not? program was the brainchild of current YPLAA leadership. The program intended to create an amusing way of catalyzing social engagement within the community.
Modeled after a treasure hunt theme, teams of 5 stormed the community over a two-week period gathering points from achieving certain specified activities, such as investing money into local businesses, sitting in on a city council meeting, and becoming educated on local non-profit organizations. Each activity only earned points for team if it was blogged about after completion.
First year success both from a participation and a civic engagement point of view exceeded all expectations. Based upon the success, and the importance of involvement to the L/A community and surrounding area, Thayer Corporation has agreed to be the prime sponsor again for 2014. To read more about the YPLAA and Y-Not? Program, click here.