Executive recognized for raising $2.1M for charity

ESSEX — An Essex businessman was recently recognized for his decades of community service and dedication to the surrounding Shoreline towns and organizations.

State Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex, granted a citation to Carter Gowrie, whose business, Gowrie Group, raised more than $2.1 million for the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries over the last 14 years through the Gowrie Challenge, according to a press release.

“Carter Gowrie’s remarkable spirit of community service is evidenced by the support and leadership he has shown to so many worthwhile and charitable causes,” Needleman said in a prepared statement. “It is because of that spirit his friends, family and colleagues hold him in the highest esteem. Mr. Gowrie has impacted countless lives in our community for the better, and the effects of his generosity will be evident for decades to come.”

Gowrie was appreciative of the honor. “The Shoreline Soup Kitchen delivered 1.6 million pounds of food to folks in our 11 shoreline towns,” he said in the statement. “What an incredible undertaking! The need was up 50 percent in this pandemic year, and it is with sincere pride that we worked together at Gowrie Group all these years to help this great cause.”

Gowrie and his insurance firm have supported local charitable causes for decades in an effort to give back to the surrounding community in Westbrook and beyond, the release said. The annual challenge involves the donation of $30,000 to soup kitchens, and encouraged local businesses and friends to help meet a goal of raising $175,000 more to support the SSKP, according to Needleman.

This year the project surpassed all previous records, raising $284,000 for the benefit of the SSKP, Gowrie said.

Gowrie and his company are also longtime sponsors and supporters of many local institutions, including the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Mystic Seaport Museum, Ivoryton Playhouse and New England Science & Sailing, the news release said.

Contributed photo / Gowrie Group Gowrie Group’s annual challenge last year raised $175,000 to benefit the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. From left are Carol-Ann Myers of BrandTech; Amy Hollis of the soup kitchens; Gowrie Group founder Carter Gowrie; Linda Dillon, volunteer and Gowrie retiree; Whitney Peterson, Gowrie director of marketing; and Laura MacLeod, marketing coordinator.