Announcement of Alfond Foundation's $10 million commitment to UNE garners media coverage

The announcement of a $10 million commitment to UNE by the Harold Alfond Foundation on Dec. 10, 2010 was covered by a wide variety of media, including the Portland Press Herald, Journal Tribune (Biddeford), Kennebec Journal (Augusta), Morning Sentinel (Waterville),  Boston Globe online, Foster's Daily Democrat, Mainebiz,  Maine TV stations WCSH 6, WGME 13, WLBZ 2 and WMTW 8, and  MPBN radio. The TV news stories ran several times over a 24-hour period Dec. 10-11. The story was also picked up by the Associated Press and appeared in various media around the nation, including media covering philanthropy.

The $10 million commitment will go toward creating an approximately $20 million state-of-the-art Harold Alfond Athletics Complex on the University of New England campus in Biddeford combined with an investment in interprofessional healthcare workforce education.

“Harold Alfond understood the positive relationship between athletics and academics, and was inspired by UNE's mission to educate Maine's health care professionals," said Greg Powell, chairman of the Foundation's Board of Trustees.  "We are delighted to support UNE during such an exciting period of growth for the University."

UNE President Danielle N. Ripich, Ph.D., said: “We are extremely grateful to the Harold Alfond Foundation for this transformational gift – the largest in the history of the University of New England.  State-of-the-art educational and athletic facilities are fundamental resources that enhance the mental and physical well-being of our students.  UNE’s reputation, the institution’s overall competitiveness, and our ability to recruit and retain academically engaged students will be forever changed by this very generous gift.”  

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.