The Maine Community Foundation is the largest provider of private scholarships in the state. The foundation awards more than $4 million in scholarships annually to 1,500 Maine people from 700-plus scholarship funds. These scholarships support learners of all ages and stages, including those entering traditional colleges after high school graduation. They also support nontraditional students – adult learners pursuing post-secondary degrees for the first time or earning professional certifications to advance career opportunities or learn a new skill. Watch the inspiring story of Cedrick, a recipient of MaineCF’s adult learner scholarship. Cedrick, like hundreds of hardworking adult learners throughout Maine, balances a full-time job with coursework towards his Certified Nursing Assistant certification at Westbrook Adult Education. “Something that was like a dream yesterday is becoming a reality.” – Cedrick, MaineCF adult learner scholarship recipient (fb)

The Maine Community Foundation is launching Press Forward Maine, one of 36 local chapters of Press Forward, to strengthen Maine communities by reinvigorating local news. We're excited to announce media executive Lisa DeSisto will be Press Forward Maine's senior advisor. Press Forward Maine will initially build a broad-based advisory panel to identify and prioritize the best ways to reimagine and expand access to local reporting. "We are committed to contributing to a vibrant media ecosystem by partnering with large and small news organizations," DeSisto said. "As a nonprofit community foundation with a 42-year record of working in communities across all 16 Maine counties, Maine Community Foundation is the perfect institution to convene media partners and craft new models for collaboration and innovation to better engage with Maine people.” (fb)