By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — On Tuesday, Feb. 28, Pines Pediatrics will partner with the Finance Authority of Maine in hosting a workshop to help parents complete applications for their babies to receive a $500 Harold Alfond College Challenge Grant toward higher education. All Maine resident babies under one year of age are eligible. The workshop will be held at 11 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. in the Chan Center at Cary Medical Center.
This $500 Alfond Grant for all Maine resident babies’ future education is a legacy gift which Alfond left to the State of Maine. Alfond was the former owner of Dexter Shoe Company and created businesses in Maine with Maine people. His love for Maine and interest in sports and children led him to give millions of dollars to Maine people through education, sports programs and centers for children.
Alfond believed that all children deserve the opportunity to achieve higher education and recognized that one of the biggest barriers to attending college is cost, so he created this gift as a great start to help families invest for college early. He believed that one could transform individual families and the state’s future prosperity by helping all Maine’s children aspire to higher education.
Mila Dwelley Tappan, college access counselor with the Finance Authority of Maine and Patti Dorman, supervisor of Pines Women’s and Children’s Health Center, will lead the college fund application workshop. They plan to conduct group work sessions, as well as schedule individual appointments with parents.
For more information regarding the $500 Harold Alfond College Challenge Grant go to www.500ForBaby.org. Parents may register for one of the Feb. 28 workshops by calling Dorman at Pines Pediatrics, at 498-1680.
