PC Construction joined local nonprofit leaders at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath on April 15 to present three Maine-based nonprofits with donations totaling $15,000 as part of the company’s Building Communities: PC Construction Gives Back contest.

The first-place winner, the Maine Maritime Museum Discovery Boatbuilding Program, received a $10,000 donation from PC Construction; the second-place winner, Hospice of Southern Maine, received $3,000; and the third-place winner, Tedford Housing, received $2,000.

The announcement of the three winners follows a month-long, crowdsourced voting contest. PC Construction’s employee-owners nominated 10 nonprofits from the greater Portland area. The contest was then opened up to the public and garnered more than 5,200 votes to help determine the final three winners.

Greater Portland was selected by PC Construction’s employee-owners as the latest location for their charitable-giving program to thank the community for the opportunity to build and grow in southern Maine.

“As proud members of this community, we’ve worked on projects ranging from the Portland Museum of Art and the Canal Plaza towers to Bath Iron Works and South Portland High School,” said Joe Picoraro, PE, LEED AP, vice president of PC Construction in Portland. “With more than 5,000 votes cast for 10 outstanding organizations, it’s clear that the people of southern Maine make this a great place to live and to do business.”

The grand prize winner for the Building Communities: PC Construction Gives Back contest, the Maine Maritime Museum Discovery Boatbuilding Program, is celebrating 20 years of helping 7th and 8th grade students learn how to build traditional wooden boats.

“PC Construction is setting a great example for how companies can help build the communities they serve; just as this program isn’t only about building boats, it’s about building character and confidence,” said Amy Lent, executive director of the Maine Maritime Museum.

The PC Construction donations to the three winning nonprofits were made during the Discovery Boatbuilding Program Open House with students from Woolwich who participate in the weekly boatbuilding program.

“We are thrilled to be chosen by our community as a worthy recipient of such a generous award,” added Kurt Spiridakis, boatshop manager at Maine Maritime Museum. “2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the Discovery Boatbuilding Program at the Maine Maritime Museum, which has served over 300 middle school students. This donation affirms our belief in the benefits of a hands-on, comprehensive, traditional boatbuilding curriculum located at Maine's center for maritime history.”

Seven other local nonprofits participated in the PC Construction contest: Animal Welfare Society, Center for Grieving Children, Day One, Friends of Casco Bay, Pine Tree Society, Portland Trails, and Preble Street Resource Center.