Maine College of Art & Design Receives $3 Million from the Lunder Foundation
Gift supports College’s effort to provide financial aid to talented students from all backgrounds
Portland, Maine – Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) has received a new gift of $3 million from the Peter and Paula Lunder family, longtime MECA&D supporters, through its charitable organization, The Lunder Foundation. The gift will include $2.5 million in additional funding for the “Lunder Scholars” program, which provides need-based aid to undergraduate students from Maine, and $500,000 for ongoing operations for MECA&D as the College prepares for a strategic planning process. Both aspects of the gift are in the form of a challenge match, which, if met by MECA&D’s fundraising, will result in a total of $5 million being raised for additional student financial aid, and $1 million being raised for ongoing operations.
“We are truly grateful to Peter and Paula Lunder for this visionary gift,” said MECA&D President Laura Freid. “I hope their dedication to MECA&D's future and to our ambitious goal of meeting the financial need of talented students of all socioeconomic backgrounds will inspire matching funds from MECA&D donors near and far.”
“We are pleased to support MECA&D's efforts to make higher education accessible to students regardless of their financial situation through this new gift to the Lunder Scholars fund,” said Peter Lunder.“Offering opportunity to a wide spectrum of students who bring both academic and artistic strengths and diverse cultural perspectives is central to our mission.”
To date, the Lunder Scholars program has supported more than 100 MECA&D undergraduates. In 2002, the Lunder Foundation established the Lunder Scholars with an initial gift of $500,000 as part of an endowment challenge. That challenge helped the College raise more than $3,000,000 as part of its last Campaign, including a second commitment of $500,000 from the Lunders.
“On behalf of the College's Board of Trustees, and as a proud alumnus of Maine College of Art & Design, I offer our deep thanks to Peter and Paula Lunder,” said Brian Wilk ’95, MECA&D Board Chair and Vice President, Design and Development Games, Hasbro, Inc. “Their gift will make a significant impact on the college experience for these deserving students.”
Daniel Crewe, MECA&D Board member and Chair of the College's Development Committee, also applauded the Lunders’ contribution. “Momentum is building for Maine College of Art & Design,” said Crewe. “We’re well on our way towards generating the support we need to attract the nation’s next leaders in art and design. “
“MECA&D now turns its effort to raise the additional $3 million in matching funds,” said Matt Goetting, the College’s Vice President of Institutional Advancement. “This commitment will serve as a significant catalyst as we move forward.”
MECA&D is dedicated to making a high-quality educational experience affordable and welcoming to students of all income levels. To achieve that goal, MECA&D provides 100% of its BFA degree students with some type of financial assistance. More than $7 million is given to students annually in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and job opportunities.
About Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D)
Founded in 1882, Maine College of Art & Design is located in the heart of downtown Portland's thriving Arts District. It offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 11 studio majors (including Animation & Game Art), Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art, Master of Arts in Teaching, and the Salt Graduate Certificate in Documentary Studies, as well as Pre-College and Continuing Studies programming. Visit the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) at MECA&D, the Bob Crewe Gallery, and the Joanne Waxman Library at Maine College of Art & Design, 522 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04101, Tel. (207) 669-5521