Alfond Scholarship Foundation

Last night, the Alfond Scholarship Foundation celebrated an important milestone: the very first Alfond Grant recipients are using their grants to continue their education after high school. Higher education partners, business and community partners, philanthropists, and government leaders came together to celebrate these students and the bright futures ahead. Thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to help expand opportunities for Maine students. Together, we are helping the next generation of Mainers pursue their goals and build successful futures -- and we’re just getting started! Read more about the event and the exciting new scholarship opportunities from the University of Maine System and Thomas College: https://lnkd.in/gwjyUJXE

Introducing Get Grant Ready! Can you believe the babies pictured here have just graduated high school? Many students from our pilot year cohort of Alfond Grant recipients—babies born at MaineGeneral Hospital in 2008 whose families opened a NextGen 529 account before their first birthday—graduated in June and are now preparing to take their next steps after high school. For many, that means starting college, certificate programs, or trade school in just a few short weeks. With the first generation of Alfond Grant recipients now getting ready to use their Grants, we’ve been hard at work creating resources to help students and their caregivers feel confident and prepared for this next step. Get Grant Ready is now live on the myAlfondGrant website, with helpful guides and resources covering what students and caregivers need to know as they prepare to use their Alfond Grant for education after high school. We’re proud of the work that went into bringing this resource to life—and excited to support the first generation of Alfond Grant recipients as they put their Grants to work toward their futures. Explore Get Grant Ready: https://lnkd.in/g4dqezjj

New Blog Post: The Alfond Grant and Trump Accounts You may have heard about the new federal 530A "Trump Account" program, which provides early investments for eligible children. Here in Maine, we've been investing in kids for years through the My Alfond Grant program, which has provided $500 Alfond Grants to over 180,000 Maine children. While the two programs have similar goals, there are some important differences—and many Maine families may be able to benefit from both. Check out our blog post below to learn how each program works and what it means for your family. https://lnkd.in/gNdh3_G4

Looking for a simple way to support Maine families in planning for their child’s future education? Our quarterly Partner Newsletter includes shareable links to help families connect to the $500 Alfond Grant, plus helpful resources that build aspirations and encourage saving for education after high school. It’s quick, practical, and easy to share with employees or the families you serve. Subscribe today! https://lnkd.in/eF4TF8DW

Education savings benefits don’t just help employees plan—they help build generational opportunity. When employers support 529 college savings, they can increase wealth for workers and their children while helping reduce long-standing income, race, and gender wealth gaps. Supporting families in paying for education can enhance worker well-being and improve workplace performance over time. Education savings is a powerful and often overlooked piece of the financial wellness puzzle, and the Alfond Scholarship Foundation can help employers offer supportive benefits that promote it. Contact us to start a conversation! https://lnkd.in/gfzpiyKg

Sometimes the biggest impact comes from the simplest actions. We're grateful to spotlight our partnership with InterMed, P.A. OBGYN in Portland, which helps new families learn about the $500 Alfond Grant their child automatically receives when born a Maine resident. By including Alfond Grant materials in patient packets, InterMed provides an important connection point for families to learn more, ask questions, and connect with their child's grant. Healthcare partners across Maine play a vital role in raising awareness of the Alfond Grant through simple efforts like sharing brochures, displaying posters, and incorporating information into waiting room displays. To support this work, healthcare professionals can now request free Alfond Grant materials through our online order form, making it easy to access these resources. Thank you to InterMed and all of our healthcare partners for helping Maine families start thinking about their children's futures from day one. https://lnkd.in/gV9b99rt