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| Contributed photo Pineland Farms, Potato and Cheese Division, recently pledged $50,000 to the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative. Pictured are, from left: Haley Kelley, vice president of marketing and sales at Pineland Farms; April Flagg, AAI’s executive director; Sandy Gauvin, AAI board president and co-founder; and Rodney McCrum, president/COO of Pineland Farms, Potato and Cheese Division. |
Pineland Farms, known in Aroostook for its Naturally Potatoes plant, announced Nov. 13 that the Mars Hill-based company has donated $50,000 — payable at the rate of $10,000 per year beginning this year — to the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative.
Founded by Ray and Sandy Gauvin, Aroostook Aspirations awards 16 $1,000 renewable scholarships each year, one for every high school in Aroostook County. Gauvin Scholars receive the scholarship, attend a local college or university, and benefit from the program’s consistent engagement plan through a myriad of activities and retreats throughout their college experience.
“Today I am announcing the largest gift of this type our company has ever made,” said Rodney McCrum, president/COO of the Potato and Cheese Division. “We believe in the concept created by the Gauvins to build a multi-million dollar foundation to be used for college scholarships awarded to deserving high school graduates from every community in The County. These students elect to attend a college in Aroostook, boosting our economy and helping to reduce our outward migration level.
“This is a great idea that deserves support from all of us. Nothing is more important than educating our young people, and as parents and business people trying to operate successfully here, we understand the importance of a steady flow of bright college graduates into our economy and area,” he said. “We view this as a great investment in the future of our children, our businesses, and our communities. We see this as a win, win, win investment, and we hope others in The County will agree and join us as financial supporters of this program.”
Sandy Gauvin, AAI board president, marveled at the company’s overwhelming support.
“We at Aroostook Aspirations appreciate the generous donation made by Pineland Farms Potato and Cheese Division. Their support will allow us to help more young people get a quality post-secondary education and have the opportunity to stay in Aroostook County, working at good jobs, raising their families here, and contributing to the economy of northern Maine,” she said. “This gift illustrates not only the company’s belief in Aroostook Aspirations, but their strong belief in a positive future for our youth and the county that we all love. Pineland Farms Potato and Cheese Division has been supportive in multiple ways since our inception, and we look forward to working together with them for a long time into the future.”
April Flagg, AAI’s executive director, agreed.
“This kind of support is always exciting, but for AAI, it is an example of what we believe. Pineland Farms has made significant economic investments in The County, both with this commitment and a $7 million expansion at the Naturally Potatoes facility in Mars Hill,” she said. “That is a promise to this county, to her people, and to her children. The company’s belief in the importance of education for our young people is firm, and their commitment today shows how serious they are about education in The County.
“I’m so delighted to have the opportunity to work with Rodney [McCrum] and Haley [Kelley]; they are the epitome of Aroostook — perseverance, tenacity, and a belief that success is possible. It is truly what we are all about. In today’s statement by Pineland Farms Potato and Cheese Division, the company did more than vocally support our efforts, they invested in our efforts, in our scholars, and in the future of Aroostook County. It is a beautiful testament to their belief in the promise and the future of the children in Aroostook. With this investment, they assured the youth in this county that they will be here to support that promise and protect that future.”
For more information on AAI, log onto www.gauvinfund.org or call 760-0558.
