The People’s Choice Award is a special award that gives the community a chance to support their favorite Maine Golden Beauty contestant while helping make a difference for older adults.How it works:Each contestant has a professional headshot displayed online. Family, friends, and community members can cast votes by making a $1 donation per vote through our online giving platform. Voting is open June 30 through September 1.What does the winner receive?The People’s Choice Award trophy.A $100 cash prize.A guaranteed spot in the Semifinal Walk during the pageant, regardless of preliminary scores.The honor of knowing their friends, family, and community rallied behind them in support.How does it help the York County Elder Abuse Task Force?Every dollar raised goes directly to the York County Elder Abuse Task Force to support our mission of protecting and serving older adults. Funds from the People’s Choice Award help us:Continue our Wishing Well Project, granting meaningful wishes to older adults.Provide education and prevention programs to help stop elder abuse before it starts.Support community outreach through Beacon Cottage and other initiatives that reduce isolation and connect older adults with valuable resources.Build future programs that promote dignity, safety, and quality of life for older adults throughout our community.The People’s Choice Award is more than a contest—it’s an opportunity to celebrate these remarkable women while supporting a cause that makes a lasting difference. Every vote helps honor our contestants and supports the York County Elder Abuse Task Force’s mission of taking care of those who once took care of us.———-At York County Elder Abuse Task Force, we know that change starts with people like you. Every act of kindness, every dollar, and every moment of your time brings us closer to achieving our mission. Together, we can do some amazing things.The York County Elder Abuse Task Force, established in 2005, is a non-profit 501(c)3 group of committed professionals from many fields, including but not limited to law enforcement, social services, healthcare, public health, legal services, community members and financial institutions. We come together to share our knowledge and skills, to serve as a resource to educate the public about abuse, exploitation and frauds committed against our older adults. Our primary focus is York County but our efforts extend throughout the State of Maine. Our task force has developed many innovative and nationally recognized activities surrounding our older adults including: the “Wishing Well” program which grants our local elders a wish of their lifetime; we sponsor a scholarship for graduating seniors based on a winning essay involving a theme of elder abuse, we conduct mobile awareness discussions and presentations, we hold an annual educational conference and we have produced a training video just to name a few!New February 2026: We have a home! The Beacon Cottage is made possible by the Town of Ogunquit! Find us on Facebook for updates and offerings. Currently we are a tackling a pretty amazing project: 2026 Golden Beauty Pageant.This is part of our WISHING WELL project!The Maine Golden Beauty Pageant has been created for Maine women over the age of60 who are up for some fun, meeting new friends, celebrating age and making wishes come true!This event is hosted by the York County Elder Abuse Task Force as part of the Wishing Well Project and made possible by various donors.Developed in memory of York County resident Joan Fricke, a beloved friend of YCEATF President Officer Candice Simeoni. The two met while Candice was delivering Meals onWheels in 2020. Ms. Fricke and Candice shared countless conversations together each week and one of the most profound conversations involved wishes. One wish theytalked about was a beauty pageant for older women. Ms. Fricke would always reply that she would be the first contestant. This eventually become a promise and a goal of Candice’s but it came to fruition a little too late. Ms. Fricke passed away in 2022.However, a promise is a promise. So, this is for you “Joanie!”We rely on amazing partners like you in our communities to help make our Wishing Well Projects come true.It sure takes a village, and we are incredibly thankful for the amazing partners that show up to “take care of those who once took care of us”. All who contribute to this event will be thanked and recognized. Thank you in advance for being a wish granter and for honoring our older population! We are accepting items donations of or monetary donations to cover the following:-2 Crowns-Contestant bouquets (6 winner flower bouquets)-22 Contestant sashes and Winner Sashes-20 Contestant number pins-20 Robes-20 Contestant swag bag items: beauty products, health items for older women, shawls, gift cards, nice chocolates/confections, nice toiletry items, stationary items, souvenir items, pins, jewelry set, books, crafts, etc)-12 Plaques (Congeniality and People’s Choice awards)-50 Printed t-shirts or tote bags with the Maine Golden Beauty Pageant logo-2 Gold Necklaces (Golden Beauty (60-75 YO) Winner and Runner Up)-2 Platinum Necklaces (Golden Beauty-Platinum (75 YO +)Winner and Runner Up)-Printing color programs for the event, flyers, educational materials-Workshop & backstage refreshments for the contestants-Workshop locations (in Sanford area) that can accommodate 50 people-Photographer for headshots at workshop-Photographer for day of shots-Cosmetologists/Hairstylists on site for Workshop #1 and event day-Contestant lunch or dinner-Possible gown or Tux rental/donation for Hosts/ushers?-Raffle prizes for the raffle table at the event (winners announced at the event and must be present) Special Donation OpportunitiesPlatinum Sponsors: $2,000 (First received donation in this category includes a seat to be the 2026 Honorary Guest Judge)Golden Sponsors: $1,000Regal Sponsors: $500Contributing Sponsors: Any monetary donations up to $499 and any other donations to the event. Donations are 100% used to support the efforts of the YCEATF. Any residual funds from this project will be use to grant future wishes and to help with the educational efforts of the York County Elder Abuse Task Force. More information on the group and such efforts can be found at: www.yceatf.org Checks can be made out to “York County Elder Abuse Task Force” and mailed to YCEATF at 4 Summer Street, Kennebunk ME 04043. We send you our sincere gratitude and appreciation for reading this and possibly donating to this project and/or the raffle table for the night of the event! Please spread the word and join us for the 2026 Maine Golden Beauty Pageant on Sept 20, 2026 at the Sanford Performing Arts Theatre, Sanford Maine! Contestant applications are anticipated to be out on July 7, 2025!!! (Mrs. Fricke’s birthday!) Updates will be shared on our website and on our Facebook page as they are confirmed! www.yceatf.org (Golden Beauty tab) Feel free to share this with your friends, family, and on social media. Your advocacy means a lot to us. Thank you for supporting our mission, your support is invaluable. And most importantly, thank you for...."Taking care of those who once took care of us."