ORONO, Maine – Maine Athletics concluded a record fundraising year with the department raising $22.9 million in gifts and pledges during the 2025 fiscal year, which ran from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Nearly 1,900 supporters made individual gifts or pledges to the department, all to directly support Black Bear Athletics.
"We are so appreciative of the support of our student-athletes for the only Division I program in the state," says Director of Athletics Jude Killy. "Thank you to all those who have supported us and who continue to support us. We have entered a new era of college athletics, and there has never been more of a need for philanthropic support. I also want to express my gratitude to the Foundation for its help, and to the exceptional work of our athletic development team led by Seth Woodcock. He continues to lead us and break records with truly remarkable fundraising results."
Highlighting the historic fundraising year was the generous $16 million donation from the estates of Black Bear alumnus Pierre "Pete" Labat and his wife, Catherine Clair Labat. The commitment marked the largest single gift from an individual to support Black Bear athletics in UMaine's 159-year history.
"Strong fundraising years are not possible without loyal and motivated donors, says Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and Capital Planning Seth Woodcock. "We are so fortunate to have a legion of philanthropic and loyal donors supporting the University of Maine and Black Bear Athletics. It is an exciting time to be a Black Bear, and to support the University of Maine, and we could not be more grateful to Black Bear Nation for supporting our mission of building champions with integrity."
The support for Maine Athletics spans the globe as gifts were received from six countries. including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden, and 39 states. Alumni from 76 different UMaine class years between 1945 to recently graduated seniors from the class of 2024 made pledges over the calendar year. In a recently launched program to increase in-game giving, 600 fans made gifts during home football games in the fall of 2024.
Of the $22.9 million raised in fiscal year 2025, Maine Athletics received four gifts of $500,000 or more including a bequest gift of $2,975,000, million dollar pledges from Tom & Sally Savage and David & Nancy Hunt, and a $500,000 commitment from Hammond Lumber Company.
"Overall fundraising for the University of Maine was another record year at $97 million raised," says President/CEO of the University of Maine Foundation Jeff Mills. "There are athletics alumni, fans, and friends who are very loyal supporters of the Black Bears within that number."
Maine Athletics is a signature initiative of UMS TRANSFORMS, the Harold Alfond Foundation's historic $320 million investment in the University of Maine System - boldly reshaping the UMaine athletics infrastructure with best-in-class facilities and convening venues at the state's flagship university in Orono for the benefit and well-being of students and all of Maine. In addition, the annual Alfond Fund challenge provides significant operational support for UMaine football and other key athletics priorities.
Maine's supporters have joined together to raise $202 million of the $208 million UMS TRANSFORMS Athletics Facilities Master Plan campaign goal, including $32 million of the $38 million Alfond Fund required match.
The vision of the Harold Alfond Foundation, together with the exceptional generosity of UMaine donors, is delivering new facilities for our student athletes as part of the Athletics Facilities Master Plan.
Those interested in supporting the Black Bears can visit GoBlackBears.com/give to make an unrestricted gift to the Alfond Fund or choose to support a specific program of their choice or contact the University of Maine Foundation at 207-581-5100 to discuss capital gifts, planned gifts or one of the many other giving opportunities available.
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