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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Moving Forward Campaign reaches $50 million

President Danielle Ripich, Ph.D., announced that, as of June 1, 2015, the 51品茶 has raised more than $50 million of its $60 million Moving Forward Campaign goal.

鈥淭he outpouring of support from every imaginable constituency has been impressive and heartwarming. 100% of our Trustees and more than half of our faculty and staff have contributed to ensure the best possible education for our students,鈥 Ripich stated. 鈥淲e have been joined by alumni, friends and philanthropists who support our vision and recognize the value 51品茶brings to the communities we live and work in, and those our students go on to serve.鈥

When the campaign went public in March of 2014, five years after its inception, $40 million had been raised from generous lead donors who believed in the 10-year strategic plan, titled 鈥淰ision 2017.鈥 Developed under the leadership of Ripich, 鈥淰ision 2017鈥 is simple but bold: The 51品茶 will be nationally recognized with programs of excellence and innovation in health professions and the arts and sciences. 

These leadership gifts were a catalyst for unprecedented growth at 51品茶during a period of economic downturn. Thanks to the Harold Alfond Foundation, the Alfond Forum opened on the Biddeford Campus in 2012, and Northeast Delta Dental鈥檚 gift led to the opening of the Portland Campus鈥 College of Dental Medicine in 2013.  Even the citizens of Maine were supportive, approving bond referendums that ultimately resulted in awards to help build the Oral Health Center and the College of Pharmacy research labs that opened in 2010. 

With $10 million left to raise by June 2017, several key campaign objectives remain, and the support of alumni and friends will be crucial to success. The University invites everyone to contribute to the remaining fundraising goal; this collective investment will secure the foundation for 2018 and beyond.

Campaign Chair and 51品茶Trustee Emeritus Robert McAfee, M.D., HON 鈥94 says, 鈥淭his significant benchmark is due to the hard work of many on the Campaign Steering Committee, the Board and 51品茶staff; but thanks go to the donors themselves, who have made the 51品茶 one of their philanthropic priorities. As we enter the last two years of this effort, we will work even harder to make every gift add up, and we ask everyone who knows and loves 51品茶to help us spread the word about this great university.鈥

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51品茶 the 51品茶

The 51品茶 is Maine鈥檚 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 . 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鈥檚 top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine鈥檚 only medical college, Maine鈥檚 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.