BANGOR — The Bangor Mall has received an international community service award for its participation in Eastern Maine Medical Center’s “Panda Project” which raised funds for a new pediatric unit.

The Maxi Award is given by the International Council of Shopping Centers to shopping centers and companies that have designed and implemented the most successful marketing, advertising and promotional campaigns in various categories. The Bangor Mall won the “Get Centered Award” for exemplary community service.

The mall was praised for its unique participation in EMMC’s “Panda Project,” a $5.7 million campaign in 1993 to raise funds to build a new pediatric wing at the hospital.

The Bangor Mall participated with goals:

To provide the hospital a one-year supply of stuffed pandas to give to each child admitted after the pediatric unit’s grand opening;

To keep expenses down so all funds received could benefit the hospital;

To educate customers about children’s health issues;

To generate 75 percent participation from retailers and mall personnel;

To gain publicity for Bangor Mall and strengthen its position as a community leader.

The stuffed pandas had a retail value of $25. The Bangor Mall management negotiated with a toy manufacturer to bring the cost of the toys down from a $12.95 wholesale price to $8.50. Corporate sponsors enabled the mall to offer sponsorships of the toys at $5 each. In return for a $5 donation, sponsors received a pin and the right to name the animal and sign their name on the pet tag. They also were invited to sign a thank-you billboard on display at center court.

Center court at the mall was turned into a “Panda Playground” filled with stuffed animals. A daily tally updated customers on the “Panda Project’s” progress.

The mall kicked off the fund-raiser with a “Panda Parade,” in which children marched around the mall wearing panda ears. The center court was transformed into an area where parents and children could read about pandas and other wild animals. Retailers donated furniture and books. The stage also was the setting for weekly “Pandamonium” events on children’s health issues.

Pandas were displayed in store windows and “pennies for pandas” jars were located at cash registers. Maintenance staff wore hats bearing a “keeper” logo, and customer service representatives wore panda aprons.

When the project was complete and the new unit was opened, volunteers carried bags of pandas in a parade from the mall to the hospital.