Down East fund receives $1 million grant

EASTPORT – The late philanthropist Deborah Pulliam established the Belvedere Fund in 2000 as a way to fulfill her philanthropic goals, and now the Down East area is the beneficiary of that to the tune of $1 million.

The Tides Institute and Museum of Art in Eastport and Henry Schmelzer, president of the Maine Community Foundation, announced at a press conference last week that the money had been given to the Washington County Fund, a permanent charitable endowment that supports nonprofits in Washington County, the Maine Community Foundation press release said.

“This grant from the Belvedere Fund at the Maine Community Foundation will have a considerable impact on the philanthropic landscape in the county,” Schmelzer said in the release. “Deborah had a special passion for the Down East region.”

One of the first county committees established by MaineCF, the Washington County Committee, which oversees the Washington County Fund, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2006, the press release said.

“In that time, the fund and its committee of volunteers have supported over 120 organizations with more than $375,000 in grants, including, just in Eastport, the Cobscook Bay Resource Center, the Tides Institute, Eastport for Pride, Eastport Arts Center, and Eastport Health Care, among other organizations,” Schmelzer added.

With the addition of the Belvedere Fund grant, the Washington County Fund’s assets will total $1.6 million. Scott Whitney, chair of MaineCF’s Washington County Committee, said in the release that the $1 million will increase the committee’s capability to give grants.

In its most recent cycle, the WCF awarded $4,700 to Washington County Community College for its Outdoor Adventure Center, $5,000 to the Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and Education, and $4,000 to the Eastport Arts Center to cover one third of the facilities manager’s salary.

But with this latest gift, more can happen.

“It will bring the annual grant making capability of the fund to $80,000, and I underline that this is $80,000 annually. It will bring new opportunities to nonprofit organizations serving the Washington County community,” Schmelzer said. “This truly is the gift that keeps on giving.”

At the press conference, Hugh French, director of the Tides Institute, and Will Hopkins, executive director of the Cobscook Bay Resource Center, offered testimonials on the effect of MaineCF grants to their organizations over the years.

Pulliam arrived in Maine 20 years ago to work for the Castine Patriot. Then her father, who was the former publisher of The Indianapolis Star and The Indianapolis News, died, and Pulliam and her mother inherited a fortune, the MaineCF newsletter said.

Pulliam also was a spinner and knitter well known among Maine fiber artists.

When she learned of her inheritance, she contacted the MaineCF so she could give the bulk of her money away on the condition that she remain anonymous, the newsletter said.

Among her charitable contributions, Pulliam was a strong supporter of animal welfare groups, ranging from Hancock County’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to the global Jane Goodall Institute.

Additionally, her passion for traditional crafts led her to support organizations such as Maine FiberArts, Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. She gave to food pantries, homeless programs and to organizations in the wake of the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, as well as to health care, especially community health care, including Castine Community Hospital, the newsletter added.

A statewide organization celebrating its 25th anniversary, the MaineCF partners with donors and nonprofits to strengthen Maine communities. According to its Web site, the foundation currently manages $245 million in charitable assets, made up of more than 850 funds established by individuals, families and businesses. The fund awarded $16 million in grants and scholarships in 2007.

For information, visit www.mainecf.org.

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