UMaine granted additional $80M gift for athletic facility improvements
New England Council member, the University of Maine was recently gifted $80 million from the Harold Alfond Foundation to be put towards upgrades to the University’s athletic facilities. This gift is in addition to the $90 million that was gifted by the Harold Alfond Foundation in 2022.
The Alfond Foundation, named for philanthropist and entrepreneur, Harold Alfond, is a long-time supporter of higher education and athletics in Maine. The gift will reportedly be used for multiple upcoming projects on the Orono campus, including the construction of a new basketball arena, and a 13,000-square-foot addition of the Shawn Walsh Center. This funding raises the Alfond Foundation’s overall support for UMaine Athletics to $170 million, making this donation one of the largest single contributions to a Division I athletics program.
“The Harold Alfond Foundation’s continued support of the University of Maine and UMaine athletics is unparalleled,” said UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. “This support will have a long-lasting impact on current and future student-athletes, and the entire UMaine community that will engage with these facilities. These beautiful new venues will provide opportunities for Maine people to gather and build community through athletics and more.”
The New England Council would like to congratulate the University of Maine for receiving this impactful donation.
Read more in the Portland Press Herald