Sustainability has been on our conscience for years, as we cherish the resources that make our land so special. We know the importance of preserving nature’s bounties, especially concerning the tourism and hospitality industries. Yet who is concerned with the sustainability of the people behind these industries in Maine, ensuring those who care for us are getting cared for?
Enter the Say Hello Foundation, an organization seeking to improve the lives of Maine’s hospitality workforce through opportunities in education, training, and small-business grants. It’s no secret these industries are challenging, with small-business owners facing slim margins, seasonality, and unexpected events. Workers, meanwhile, endure unconventional schedules, transportation obstacles, childcare gaps, and other hurdles. Despite impressive resumés, many pick up additional jobs to make ends meet.
Yet with all its hardships, the hospitality industry is unique, drawing a particularly passionate type of person. Corey Wilcox was the epitome of that type and the catalyst for Say Hello. “We wish we didn’t have a foundation, but we do,” says Meg Wilcox, Corey’s wife of nine years before he passed away unexpectedly in 2020. Inspired by Corey’s generosity and love of people, Meg, along with her sister Katie Thibodeau and friend Kelly Dorsey, founded Say Hello to carry on his legacy.
“He was so happy in his career and wanted others to feel the same,” says Wilcox of Corey’s long-standing service in the food and beverage industries. Beginning as a busboy at Geaghan’s in Bangor, Corey worked his way up the chain, eventually landing the manager position at Pat’s Pizza in Yarmouth. He was notorious for putting his employees first and always encouraged them to pursue their dreams, even if it ultimately meant losing valuable team members. Even after securing a successful sales role with Vacationland Distributors, he missed his customers and considered picking up an occasional bartending shift simply out of his love for people.
About a year after Corey’s death, Wilcox, Thibodeau, and Dorsey thought long and hard about how they could honor such a “kind, genuine, and sensitive” individual. They ultimately decided to continue supporting the community he cared so much about. In true Corey fashion, they focused on the people comprising the heart and soul of the industry.
After countless conversations, the three found they could make the most impact in the space by creating financial empowerment, freedom of autonomy, inclusive environments, and educational opportunities. The foundation’s first grants will be awarded later this year, and the team expects requests to include everything from fixing dishwashers to sponsoring training.
The largest fundraiser for Say Hello has been their annual Birdies for Biff golf tournament. Now in its third year, it will be held on September 12th at Spring Meadows Golf Course in Gray. The name Birdies for Biff stems from Corey’s alter ego, chosen with Wilcox (or “Bev,” in this case) while on vacation. The alter egos stuck for years; when it came time to name the tournament, using Corey’s moniker was a no-brainer.
When asked how Corey would feel about Say Hello, Wilcox replies, “He’d say we should have done it sooner. He would have loved to have been a part of it.” As readers of this magazine can surely agree, “It’s time for us to take care of the ones who feed both our bodies and our souls, who create spaces for all to feel like family, and who make this industry so special.”
