University of Maine Foundation Reports Record Year, Honors Class of 1944
Contact: Amos E. Orcutt, President/CEO, 207 581-5100
ORONO — At its Oct. 3 annual business meeting and luncheon, the University of Maine Foundation provided details on its most successful year in its history and honored the UMaine Class of 1944 with the prestigious President Abram W. Harris Award.
Foundation President and CEO Amos Orcutt announced $25.9 million in new gifts for the year that ended June 30, marking the highest total in the Foundation’s 73-year history. Highlights included a $12 million George L. Houston bequest to benefit UMaine’s School of Forest Resources and the $4.2 million gift of a Cianchette family home in Falmouth.
The meeting was held at the Black Bear Inn and Conference Center in Orono.
“Thanks to the consistent and generous support of our donors, the Foundation was able to provide $6.5 million in endowment earnings for much needed private support to the University of Maine. Fifty-eight percent of the $6.5 million went towards student scholarships,” Orcutt said.
A highlight of the luncheon was the presentation of the third annual President Abram W. Harris award to the University of Maine Class of 1944. The Harris award was established in 2005 in memory of Dr. Abram Winegardner Harris, the university’s third president, with an endowed gift to the University of Maine Foundation from his grandson A. W. “Pete” Harris, III, a member of the Class of 1950. As modeled by President Harris, the award is given to those who have initiated “significant change.”
Although it is unusual to choose an entire class for this prestigious award, the Class of 1944 was chosen for their unprecedented generosity as leaders, philanthropists, and role models for the next generation. Members of the class have been extraordinary volunteer leaders serving through the President’s Development Council, Alumni Association, the Foundation and many other volunteer boards and committees.
Collectively, the Class of 1944 has given over $8 million to the university, not including $3 million in planned gifts. The Buchanan Alumni House, the Class of 1944 Hall, the Bodwell Lounge in the Maine Center of the Arts and the Class of 1944 renovation of the Bears Den are just a few examples of their generosity.
Accepting the gift on behalf of the class was Alvin McNeilly of Owls Head, the class agent. He spoke of the affect World War II had on the class, with many members called to service with 19 killed in military service.. Although prematurely separated, the experience created an extraordinary lifelong bond to a class and a university. Their spirit continues to inspire administrators, professors, students, as well as other UMaine classes, particularly the class of 2010, which the Class of 1944 has “adopted.”
McNeilly introduced Gimbala SanKare and Ashley Robinson, class officers of the Class of 2010 and said, “I expect you rascals to follow the lead of the Class of 1944 and with your size and energy, far surpass us.”