MAINETODAY.COM OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR 3RD ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT: SHIPYARD BREWING COMPANY SETS $30,000 FUNDRAISING GOAL FOR OPPORTUNITY FARM
 
Portland, Maine (March 10, 2004) -- The Shipyard Brewing Company announces that MaineToday.com has come on board as the official media sponsor of the 3rd Annual Sea Dog Golf Tournament to benefit Opportunity Farm for Boys and Girls in New Gloucester. The golf tournament will be held Saturday, June 13th, at Spring Meadows Golf and Country Club in Gray.

"Our company has a strong commitment to community service," said Joe Michaud, president of MaineToday.com. "Part of MaineToday.com's mission is to feature what makes Maine unique and a great place to live. What better way to achieve both those goals than to support a fantastic organization like the Opportunity Farm?"

"The first year this tournament raised $7,000. Last year, we more than doubled that amount," noted Fred Forsley, president of The Shipyard and Sea Dog Brewing Companies. "Our goal this year is to hit the $30,000 mark. Next year -- the sky is the limit! I've seen first hand the difference the Farm makes in people's lives and it gives me great personal satisfaction to know that 100% of the proceeds from this tournament support their efforts."

MaineToday.com is the largest news and information Web site north of Boston.

Opportunity Farm for Boys and Girls has been helping Maine youth for nearly 100 years. Its program, which offers early intervention and long-term care, has allowed countless youth to become independent, self-sufficient adults. Without relying on state or federal funds, the Farm has been able to offer financial assistance to the families it serves.

Forsley has a long standing relationship with Opportunity Farm. Forsley grew up in Gray and became friends with many of the boys who lived at Opportunity Farm and attended Gray schools. Forsley met Bill Marshall, owner of Ourtickets.net, in the mid-70s when Marshall lived at the Farm and the two men have been close friends ever since.

Marshall speaks highly of Opportunity Farm. "It turned my life completely around," he said. It's important for him to give back to Opportunity Farm because of the "stability and structure it provides for kids so they can attend school and achieve dreams they didn't even know they had!"

To that end, Marshall and Ourtickets.net have donated four Red Sox tickets and a bus trip to Fenway Park as part of a drawing for tournament sponsors. One lucky person who signs up to sponsor the golf tournament on MaineToday.com will be chosen at random to receive the Red Sox tickets.

Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor of the 3rd Annual Sea Dog Golf Tournament should contact Julie Poulin, director of development and community relations for the Opportunity Farm -- 926-4532 or jpoulin@opportunityfarm.org.