Husson University

The Harold Alfond Foundation has provided major grant support to Husson University to support scholarships; the Winkin Sports Complex; construction of Harold Alfond Hall, home of the rapidly-growing College of Business; and to accelerate programming in the new School of Technology and Innovation.

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The Harold Alfond Foundation and Husson University have more in common than most people realize. Chesley Husson, the founder of Husson University, was born in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1903. Eleven years later, Harold Alfond was born in the same town – Lynn, Massachusetts. Both men moved to Maine and both men were dedicated to education.

In fact, it was Alfond’s enthusiasm for collegiate sports, education and his friendship with then Husson Vice President John Winkin that led to Husson’s first $1 million gift from the Harold Alfond Foundation in 2002. Alfond added to this gift by donating an additional $100,000, later that same year, to complete the beautiful artificial-turf baseball diamond known today as the Winkin Baseball Complex. It is the home field for Husson University field hockey, football and baseball.

The University also awards $100,000 in Harold Alfond Scholarships each year to approximately 30 students each year. These scholarship provides much needed financial assistance to Central Maine students experiencing economic challenges. Children of deceased or disabled parents affected by the September 11, 2001 terrorist tragedy and children of former Dexter Shoe employees are given special consideration.

In 2017, the Harold Alfond Foundation generously provided a one dollar match for every two dollars donated to Husson University for the creation of a new College of Business building, up to a total of $4 million. The building was later named Harold Alfond Hall. This is the largest outright gift ever made to Husson University.

In 2022, Husson University received a $2.2 million grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation to accelerate programming in the new School of Technology and Innovation, part of Husson University’s College of Business. The grant will help support Husson programs in integrated technology and the University’s new degree in extended reality (XR). With the help of these programs, Maine will have the qualified professionals it needs to fill future job openings. The funding is also designed to support project research and development as well as business partnerships that will help stimulate job growth and economic development in Maine. In 2023, the Foundation made a second $500,000 grant to Husson to continue support of this initiative.