A lasting legacy...Here's to Harold Alfond

After I'm dead, I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one.
- Cato the Elder

Harold Alfond, the founder of Dexter Shoe Co., passed away last month at 93. During his life, he gave away about $100 Million. It has just be announced that he spent his final months planning for a much grander legacy. Called the Harold Alfond College Challenge, his plan is to see that *every* child born in Maine receives a $500 contribution to start a college fund.

I love Maine. We have more than one program that promotes reading for the young (and old) including the brilliant Raising Readers program that sees that every child gets books of their very own when the go home from the hospital and after every wellchild doctors visit. The Maine Laptop Initiative sees that every Maine 7th and 8th Grader gets their own iBook for school. Now we have a first of its kind program (in size/scope) to see that every child has money put away for their college. The blueberries and lobster isn't too bad, either.

Harold Alfond managed to do something that very few people ever manage to achieve...create something that will do "good"...indefinitely. Remarkable. I wonder when someone will build a monument to him.