CashStar Raises Money, Awareness for EqualityMaine

26 Oct 2016, 08:02 AM CDT

Company and Employee Donations Support Acceptance, Peace and
Understanding for Maine’s LGBT Community

PORTLAND, Maine–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CashStar,
the industry-leading provider of prepaid commerce solutions, today
announced that the company and its employees have raised more than
$13,500 for EqualityMaine
– the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights and
advocacy organization in the State of Maine – through an initial company
donation, employee donations and a company match initiative. CashStar’s
contribution will help support EqualityMaine’s mission to secure
full equality for Maine’s LGBT population through political action,
community organizing, education and collaboration.

“We are delighted to have the support of one of Maine’s most prominent
and fast-growing tech startups,” said Matt Moonen, executive director of
EqualityMaine. “CashStar’s commitment to equal rights and their
significant contributions and employee giving initiative show that
companies of all sizes and stages can engage and find ways – big and
small – to support the rights of their employees and the greater
community.”

As part of CashStar’s commitment to an equal opportunity work
environment, the company supported a voluntary employee donation program
this past summer for the benefit of EqualityMaine. In addition to a
$5,000 company donation, CashStar pledged to match employee donations up
to $5,000 as part of the initiative. During the fundraising period,
CashStar employees donated $4,325, which brought the grand total to
$13,650 with CashStar’s match. The donations help support
EqualityMaine’s goals of creating safer schools and communities for LGBT
youth, providing professional development opportunities for teachers,
administrators and counselors, and consulting with business and
community leaders to help them ensure workplaces and communities are
free from discrimination and bias.

“With the mass shooting in Orlando that targeted the LGBT community,
discriminatory legislation aimed at transgender people and divisive
rhetoric throughout the election season targeting women and minorities,
this year has been deeply troubling for everyone who cares about LGBT
issues and supporting an inclusive, diverse country with equal rights
for all,” said CashStar President and CEO Ben Kaplan. “CashStar’s
commitment to equal rights goes beyond our office walls. While we are
proud to present this donation to help advance and protect equality, we
recognize that there is still so much more to do in this struggle.”

CashStar is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Headquartered in
Portland, it employs 160 people across various divisions of the company.
Its executive leadership team strives to create an environment that
embraces diversity and encourages employees to thrive and develop
professionally and personally. CashStar encourages charitable giving and
volunteering among its team by offering to match employee donations, as
well as paid time off for volunteering.

About EqualityMaine
EqualityMaine is the state’s oldest and
largest LGBT rights and advocacy organization in the state. Founded in
1984 as the Maine Lesbian and Gay Political Alliance, EqualityMaine’s
history encompasses 32 years of community education and political
advocacy to advance and protect equality for all LGBT Mainers. To learn
more, please visit: http://equalitymaine.org.

About CashStar
CashStar, the industry-leading provider of
prepaid commerce solutions, enables the world’s top retailers and
restaurants to grow and innovate in the rapidly evolving retail
environment. CashStar provides best-in-class capabilities,
revenue-optimizing risk management and a client success model based on
aligned growth, to optimize digital gifting and prepaid commerce
experiences. CashStar powers more than 300 leading brands worldwide
including Best Buy, Brookstone, Coach, Crate & Barrel, Dell, Dunkin’
Donuts, Gap, lululemon athletica, Nine West, Office Depot, Petco,
Pottery Barn, QVC, Sephora, Staples, Starbucks, The Cheesecake Factory,
The Home Depot, Ulta Beauty and Williams-Sonoma.
To learn more, please visit www.cashstar.com,
follow @CashStar
or e-mail info@cashstar.com.