Chocolate Lovers’ Fling History

1986 - Present

In 1986, the idea of an event involving chocolate to raise funds to Support Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine (SARSSM), then known at the Rape Crisis Center, Inc., was brought from Colorado to Maine.   The excitement and planning for such an event began to build quickly and on July 14, 1987 the first annual Chocolate Lovers’ Fling was held at the Inn By the Sea in Cape Elizabeth. One hundred guests attended along with a few tired board members who worked late into the night making chocolate brownies and cookies.   The fundraiser brought in over $4,000 and showed promise of becoming the anticipated annual event it is today!

From the very beginning, the Fling served as a vehicle to raise awareness around the issues this agency represents and the services we provide.   In 1989, Senator George Mitchell helped us with this goal by attending the Fling and speaking out against sexual assault, publicly supporting our mission and raising awareness.   Since then, community leaders and local celebrities anticipate the opportunity to attend and judge the sweet entries and to show their support of SARSSM’s work.   Notable attendees include news anchor Kim Block, Commissioner of Public Safety Michael Cantara and comedian Bob Marley.

Today the Chocolate Lovers’ Fling can tout participation of more than twenty of the best chocolatiers York and Cumberland counties have to offer.   They generously serve up their most delectable chocolate treats to support this important cause.    The Fling also attracts over 800 chocolate lovers and SARSSM supporters who make a chocolate pilgrimage to the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Maine each year making the Fling one of the best attended fundraising events in the State.   The event raises over $20,000 annually making it SARSSM’s largest fundraiser and providing much needed funding to support the critical services we provide to thousands throughout southern Maine.