May 19 Discussion on Equity in Wealth & Asset Development

Next week, May 18-20, the Maine Philanthropy Center is hosting its biennial conference, with the theme being “Centering Equity: Shifting Power, Building Community.” From the keynote speakers to the breakout sessions, it promises to be three days of rich and important discussion on opportunities to advance equity in Maine. The John T. Gorman Foundation is … Read more

Foundation Awards $250,000 to in Response to Rising Youth Mental Health Concerns

The John T. Gorman Foundation has awarded 11 grants totaling $250,000 to help Maine organizations increase mental health, wellness, and community support opportunities for older youth during the pandemic. The funding comes in response to rising concerns about the well-being of young adults, who are suffering from the mental health effects of the prolonged pandemic … Read more

Fall 2020 Foundation News of Note

Maine Working Communities Challenge: The John T. Gorman Foundation is proud to join the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, State of Maine, and other philanthropic partners in helping launch the Maine Working Communities Challenge. This challenge will make $2.7 million in grants available to drive economic growth while reducing inequity in Maine’s rural towns and … Read more

Supporting Remote Learning in Portland and Lewiston

In its latest efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation is supporting efforts to help families through a school year unlike any other – with $235,000 in grants to supplement partners’ efforts to provide childcare and remote learning support in Lewiston, and for a two-generation initiative to strengthen literacy among English Language Learner families in Portland’s East Bayside Neighborhood.

Stephanie LeBlanc: Building A Culture of Resiliency

When John T. Gorman Fellow Stephanie LeBlanc learned that more than half of middle-school students in Oxford County did not feel valued in their community, she saw a red flag that needed to be addressed. What followed was the Oxford County Resiliency Project. With a two-year grant from the Foundation, the program has helped schools across the county implement practices that make students feel safe, supported, and resilient. In this interview, LeBlanc speaks about the project’s successes, next steps, and how the Fellowship has influenced her as a leader.  

ANALYSIS: Countering Adverse Childhood Experiences

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can have significant effects on a child’s development and chances for future success – a rising concern during a pandemic that is putting them and their families under much greater stress. In this timely analysis, Senior Program Associate Jennifer Beck, PhD., uncovers the science behind ACEs and outlines the strategies the Foundation is using to prevent and mitigate them in Maine.

Photo Journal: 2020 Direct Services Grantees

Since receiving funding this spring, our 2020 Direct Services Grantees have done exceptional work across Maine to meet new and increased needs for low-income Mainers while coping with numerous challenges. These pictures from the field offer a glimpse of how they’ve done it.