Grants to support early childhood and youth leadership

Courtesy / Thalassa Raasch/MaineCF Students in Portland Community Squash’s youth leadership program Rally Portland use after-school hours to cultivate wellness, academic enrichment and play squash.

Write a Comment

By Staff

The Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund of the Maine Community Foundation has awarded $83,700 in grants to 16 Greater Portland organizations and programs that support young children aged birth to eight, their families and teachers, and youth leadership for students through high school.

Awarded grants include:

• Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine, to prepare and deliver anti-bias programming to students in greater Portland schools to help build student leaders equipped to confront prejudice and discrimination in their schools

• Portland Community Squash, to grow Rally Portland from 22 members to 30 members in early 2020, with the goal of expanding to 40 students over next two years

• Portland Parks Conservancy, to create a fully ADA-inclusive playground for the children and families of greater Portland.

Mabel Stewart Daveis established the fund in 1943 through her will to honor her father and benefit nonprofits that serve Greater Portland. Edward Daveis was a member of a prominent Portland family with roots in the community dating back to 1785. After careers in banking and law, he became president of the Portland Gas Light Co., one of the first 25 gas utility companies in the United States.

The next deadline for applications is Oct. 15, 2020. Guidelines, online application and a complete list of recent grants are available here.

About Maine Community Foundation

Headquartered in Ellsworth, with additional personnel in Portland, Dover-Foxcroft, and Mars Hill, the Maine Community Foundation works with donors and other partners to provide strong investments, personalized service, local expertise, and strategic giving to improve the quality of life for all Maine people.