The 2025 Alumni Community Challenge serves to support our Annual Fund with the goal of raising $80,000 for programs at Lincoln Academy during the 2024-25 school year.
Lincoln Academy is committed to providing an excellent education to every student who chooses LA. Funding for our programs comes from tuition at rates set by the State of Maine, endowment support and contributions to the Annual Fund from organizations, businesses, alumni, and LA families.
What is the Alumni Community Challenge?
The Alumni Community Challenge is a fundraiser, but it is also a celebration of Lincoln Academy’s deep generational connections in the midcoast community and beyond.
How did the ACC get started?
The Alumni Community Challenge was started in 2016 when Dennis Prior ‘91 reached out to his classmates: Could they raise $1,801 for Lincoln Academy? Dennis suspected that putting the challenge out to his classmates on social media would not only help spread the word to reach their goal, but it would also spark the competitive spirit among peers from other classes. Sure enough the following year, Juliet Kelsey Holmes ’92 accepted the challenge as an opportunity for her class and the ACC was launched. In the following years, Lisa Masters ‘83 joined as a key player on the ACC volunteer team.
The ACC is Lincoln Academy’s biggest annual online fundraising campaign. In 2021, over 175 donors participated, raising nearly $60,000. The class of 1992 have been the leading class donors for several years in a row. In 2022, community members raised $71,000 for Lincoln Academy, and in 2023 and 2024 we came together to raise nearly $80,000 to support the school.
Who can participate in the ACC?
The ACC continues to grow and all LA alumni, friends, and family are welcome to be a part of the fun! Alumni are the primary participants, but we are so grateful for the many local businesses that have joined in to sponsor this fundraiser. Lincoln Academy is proud that so many of our alumni own or are employed by businesses in the midcoast area. More than 200 supporters took part in the Alumni Community Challenge in 2024 and we hope you will join us in 2025!
How does the fundraiser support Lincoln Academy?
All funds donated through the Alumni Community Challenge support Lincoln Academy’s annual operating budget. Each year Lincoln Academy depends on alumni, friends, businesses, and foundations to enable the exceptional range of courses and programs that serve the diverse needs of our students. We are grateful for everyone who contributes each year to the Annual Fund, as well as to special projects or campaigns throughout the year.
Last year, support from our community allowed Lincoln Academy to:
- Offer more than 140 courses ranging from Marine Tech to U.S. History to Graphic Design.
- Expand our Community Basaed Learning Experiences: there are currently 17 students working with 13 local organizations.
- Grow our VEX Robotics team and watch them advance to the title of 2024 State Champions and participate in the WORLDS competition in Dallas, TX last spring.
- Host the Peter J. Benner ‘92 Job Fair with more than 30 area businesses. Save the Date for 2025: April 2
- Print our 23rd edition of the Talon, Lincoln Academy’s award winning student newspaper.
- Count record numbers for fall sports participation among our students - more than 40% of our 9th graders were on a team.