Advancing athletics

UMaine receives $1.5 million award from Alfond Foundation
Through the years, the Alfonds’ support of UMaine Athletics has totaled more than $15 million in gifts and pledges.

Advancing athletics

UMaine receives $1.5 million award from Alfond Foundation

A $1.5 million, three-year award from the Harold Alfond Foundation has established the Alfond Fund in the University of Maine Foundation, focused on creating a centralized fundraising structure for UMaine Athletics and continuing support of the football program.

“Through the years, Harold Alfond and the Harold Alfond Foundation have helped the University of Maine achieve excellence in Division I athletics for Maine, and for our fan base on campus, statewide and beyond,” says UMaine President Susan J. Hunter. “This newest award further underscores the leadership role of UMaine Athletics, and will be a game changer for fundraising and friendraising going forward.”

“These grants will bring transformational change to our athletic giving.” Karlton Creech

Through a three-year unrestricted grant of $750,000, UMaine will establish the Alfond Fund, a comprehensive, centralized annual giving program designed to increase the visibility of UMaine Athletics and encourage donor support. The new program, which will launch in spring 2017, will feature streamlined options for giving, greater constituent engagement and a membership-based benefits plan, and development of signature events for athletics.

This portion of the grant, which will encourage giving to all 17 UMaine sports programs, will be the springboard to significantly increase overall giving to Black Bear athletics.

UMaine also will receive a three-year grant of $750,000 to continue the Harold Alfond Football Challenge. Since 2007, the Harold Alfond Foundation has awarded annual one-to-one matching challenge grants in support of UMaine football of up to $250,000.

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