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A Foundation for the Future: The Maine Maritime Academy Foundation

Homecoming 2024 served as the official announcement and debut of the newly established Maine Maritime Academy Foundation. The Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Maine Secretary of State on January 11, 2024. The celebratory weekend with alumni of all ages was the perfect backdrop to introduce our mission, “to advance Maine Maritime Academy by raising and managing funds to provide the margin of excellence necessary for MMA to remain the World’s leading maritime college.”

The Foundation’s purpose is to leverage its passionate board who are strategically focused on maximizing philanthropic donations to extend the reach of the Academy’s Advancement Department and to provide sustainable financial support to Maine Maritime Academy. To do this, we will work closely with Academy leadership and Board of Trustees on financial needs across the school’s departments and specialized programs.

Together, we look to pursue new standards in maritime education and empower the next generation of leaders through strategic partnerships and sustainable financial growth. The Foundation is an Independent Related Foundation (IRF) providing direct financial support to the Academy to help that institution grow and strengthen to meet its identified goals.

Foundations, found at nearly every public institution of higher learning, exist much like endowments do, but they have very specific individual missions, and the benefits of a Foundation are in their reach and their flexibility. As a state school, Maine Maritime Academy (which was until now the only state maritime academy without a foundation) has limits on how its endowment funds can be utilized. This is not unique to MMA, and is very common in public institutions. Gifts of real estate, art and other non-monetary items that still possess value are complex for institutions to accept. The Foundation has a different level of flexibility to accept gifts of this nature and utilize them or convert them into a monetary value.

In addition to the intake of gifts, partnerships and deployment of capital can also be complex for public institutions. An example of this may be a public-private partnership for employee housing. The Academy would not want to enter into an agreement for a PPP with a financial stake, but the Foundation could.

Foundations can fund and support numerous initiatives across a campus, from the endowment of a specific department chair to the annual funding of a portion of the operations at the waterfront or on the athletic fields – the possibilities are endless. Those funding decisions are made in conjunction with the Board of Trustees and school leadership. Our mission is truly to fund that extra area or item that truly represents MMA’s margin of excellence – and will continue to differentiate and keep MMA in its competitive rankings.

As founding Chairman, I am humbled and proud to be working alongside a robust group of individuals in this endeavor: Vice-Chair; Leah Harris and her husband Jay Harris, class of 1973; Tom Lord, Secretary and class of 1987, former MMA President Len Tyler, and Dale Thomas PhD. class of 2013. Additionally, as ex-officio members are Board of Trustees Chair Wayne Norton, class of 1986, Interim President Craig Johnson, class of 1991, Jeff Riedel class of 1986.

This collection of passionate alumni and supporters of MMA have dedicated decades of energy to engaging the broader MMA community and developing strategies to help propel the Academy. The Alfond Challenge of 2017 was a perfect example of the good work and strong progress that can be made by energized volunteers. Our hope is that the MMA Foundation will create a platform that will help propel and support the Academy for generations to come.

By Larry Burrill ‘77E, Chairman of the Maine Maritime Academy Foundation

2024 Homecoming a Great Success!

Homecoming weekend began with the senior class and various alumni attending the annual Senior BBQ at Wyman House. Over 100 seniors and 20 alumni shared food, stories, and laughs. Friday kicked off with the annual Alumni Golf Scramble at the Castine Golf Club Friday afternoon. The winning team was Randal Colbath ’79, Richard Economy ’79, John Webb ’83, and Larry Whittaker ’78. Later in the afternoon, students and alumni were invited to the dedication of the new memorial for those who lost their lives while they were Maine Maritime Academy students. Following that, Interim President Johnson gave a “State of the Academy” address and introduced the MMA Foundation with Larry Burrill ’77.

In the evening, the MMA fieldhouse was transformed into a beer garden with an ’80s twist. Homecoming revelers delighted in dining on specialty tacos, gourmet mac and cheese with mix-ins, and sausage and peppers grinders from Even Keel while Fast Times rocked out to the best ’80s tunes. Over 400 alumni, students, and friends were in attendance. The classes of ’74 and ’79 were centerstage celebrating their 50th and 45th class reunions.

Saturday consisted of the Annual Meeting of the MMA Alumni Association and the announcement of the election results. There were boat rides, the Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony, and the Class of ’74 Eight Bells ceremony; March-On was a great success, as was tailgating and Honor Alley. We had two soccer games vs. Lesley University, a mechanical shark, a live band, a dunk tank featuring some of the students’ “favorite” professors and administrators, and a beer garden. Saturday evening wrapped up with a reception hosted by Interim President Craig Johnson at the Wyman House.