ORONO, Maine — Editor's note: The video above was published Aug. 19, 2023.
The University of Maine announced Tuesday with the University of Maine Athletics and the University of Maine System that it received an $80 million gift from the Harold Alfond Foundation to support the college's 17 varsity sports programs.
According to a news release from UMaine, the financial support will go toward facility improvements for the state's only Division I athletic program.
The donation increase takes the Alfond Foundation's total commitment to UMaine athletics a whopping $170 million. The total represents "one of the largest single contributions to a Division I athletics program," the release stated. It also honors the legacy of Harold Alfond's support for the athletics facilities master plan under the UMS TRANSFORMS initiative.
The University of Maine System website defines the UMS TRANSFORMS initiative as a commitment to "bring transformative change to the state’s largest educational, research, innovation and talent development asset."
Aside from support for athletics at UMaine, the foundation has historically donated $320 million to the UMaine System as a whole.
"In the tradition of our founder, the Foundation is doubling down on the Black Bears with this additional grant," Executive Chairman of the Harold Alfond Foundation Greg Powell said in the release. "We are hugely excited to see the progress so far and confident our additional funding will finish the job. Our state's only Division I program and its terrific student-athletes, coaches and fans deserve nothing less."
As part of the $80 million gift, UMaine has also committed an additional $18 million challenge match to the athletics facilities master plan fundraising campaign, the release said Tuesday.
"To date, $20 million of that overall goal has already been committed in gifts and pledges," the release stated.
"The Harold Alfond Foundation's continued support of the University of Maine and UMaine athletics is unparalleled," President of UMaine and UMaine at Machias Joan Ferrini-Mundy said in the release. "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."
"Harold Alfond was visualizing and supporting greatness for UMaine Athletics before anyone else believed it was possible," UMaine Director of Athletics Jude Killy said. "We are so grateful that the Harold Alfond Foundation has carried on his philosophy and vision and we give special thanks to Greg Powell, Travis Cummings, and the Foundation Board, for their leadership and support of our athletics programs. The relationship between the Harold Alfond Foundation and the University of Maine is truly one of a kind. President Ferrini-Mundy and Chancellor Malloy have each played significant roles in fostering this special relationship. Their support is deeply valued."
"We believe execution of the facilities master plan will help us support the mission of the University of Maine, current and prospective students, as well as our faculty and staff and will add tremendous value to our campus," Killy added. "The Harold Alfond Foundation investment positions UMaine to fulfill our goal of being a top-5 Division I athletic program in greater New England. Thanks to the Foundation, this is all possible. Now it is our job to go make it a reality."
The university has already completed several phases of its athletics facilities master plan, including a new softball facility that allows UMaine to host state, regional, and conference playoff contests. Additionally, a new field hockey complex has been completed, helping to elevate UMaine's position in the America East Conference, according to the release. More projects that have been done include a new turf on Morse Field at Alfond Stadium, new fencing and a new scoreboard at Mahaney Diamond, and a new center-hung scoreboard, LED end zone displays, and a new sound system in the Alfond Arena.
The $80 million from the foundation, as well as other funds through gifts and pledges, will go toward upcoming projects that include a 13,000-square-foot addition to the Shawn Walsh Center. This project will include renovated strength and conditioning facilities, a new film room, recovery rooms, team offices, expanded locker rooms, team lounges, and finally, a 4,900-square-foot expansion to Alfond Arena, the release said.
"The funding will also assist in the construction of the Morse Arena, the future home of Maine men's and women's basketball, along with improvements to Mahaney Diamond and Mahaney clubhouse; the repositioning of, and installment, of new visiting sideline bleachers at Alfond Stadium along with upgraded football operations areas; and the replacement of the Mahaney Dome with a connector to Memorial Gymnasium," the release explained. "The recently announced New Balance Track & Field and Soccer Complex, new spaces for field competition, and a supplementary multipurpose turf area will be within the construction timeline. Additional upgrades will also consider Memorial Gymnasium and its student support services."
College and athletic officials have already begun planning and designing future phases, intending to complete them all by summer 2028.
To learn more about the current and future phases of UMaine's athletics facilities master plan, click here.