University of Maine Receives Largest Ever One-time Gift from Private Individual or Family

Contact: Amos E. Orcutt, (207) 581-5100 or (800) 982-8503

ORONO — The University of Maine Foundation has accepted the largest one-time gift ever donated to the University of Maine by a private individual or family, a $4.2 million personal residence at 200 Woodville Road in Falmouth.  Eric and Peggy Cianchette, the home’s previous owners, finalized the donation earlier this week.

“This generous gift represents an important milestone in UMaine’s $150 million private fundraising campaign, known as ‘Campaign Maine,'” said UMaine President Robert Kennedy.  “It will provide an important and useful physical space in the southern part of Maine, where UMaine has a large contingent of supporters, including 25,000 alumni. This facility will allow us to reach out to alumni and friends, and to provide the kind of programming and opportunities that represent UMaine’s broad-based statewide impact.”

“Thanks to the Cianchettes’ remarkable generosity, UMaine’s ability to serve Southern Maine will be greatly enhanced,” said Amos Orcutt, president and CEO of the University of Maine Foundation. “The acquisition of this facility will bring the University of Maine’s considerable resources to Southern Maine and further the foundation’s and the university’s opportunities to provide useful and valuable service to the local communities.”

Orcutt added that Eric and Peggy Cianchette, who donated the property, have been wonderful to work with and that he is extremely grateful for their generous gift.

“The Cianchette Family, meaning my immediate family and our parents, grandparents, uncles, cousins and everyone who have worked with us in our business pursuits, believe in the State of Maine,” says Eric Cianchette. “We hope that this gift will help the University of Maine educate a new generation of Mainers who will share our values of honesty and hard work.”

The foundation will be working closely with town officials and the Falmouth community to assure that the university will be the kind of neighbor that contributes significantly to the fabric of the community. As specific plans are finalized, more information will become available.

The University of Maine Foundation, located on the Orono campus, was established in 1934. It is a private, non-profit foundation that exists to encourage gifts and bequests for the benefit of the University of Maine. The foundation has a small office at 100 Foden Road in South Portland, Maine. Planned giving officer Dan Willett staffs the South Portland office and was instrumental in the acquisition of this valuable property.