The Mitchell Institute

2026 Annual Gala

An evening celebrating the Scholars who are at the very heart of our mission.

Friday, September 25, 2026 · 5:00 PM · Brick South, Thompson’s Point, Portland

Some evenings stay with you.

This is one of them.

The Mitchell Institute Gala is the one night a year when Maine’s business, education, and nonprofit communities gather around a single, simple belief — that where a student grows up should never determine how far they go. Join us for an evening celebrating the Scholars who are at the very heart of our mission.

Purchase Your Tickets Today View Sponsorship Packages

Highlights of This Not-to-Be-Missed Evening

●Community reception with Maine’s business, education, nonprofit, and political leaders

●Seated dinner with Mitchell Scholars at every table

●Stories of impact, told directly by our Scholars

●Raffle for a luxury getaway from Odysseys Unlimited

●A role in reducing barriers to higher education for students in every Maine community

●Post-event reception from 9–10 PM

Since 1995, the Mitchell Institute has provided Mitchell Scholars from every Maine public high school with vital resources to fulfill their dreams of a college education, realize their enormous potential, and develop their career paths. Your attendance and support at our annual Gala are essential to allowing the Mitchell Institute to continue to meet our mission.

Sponsor the Gala+

Each year we welcome over 60 sponsorships from businesses, organizations, and individuals ranging from $3,000 to $35,000. Sponsorships include a variety of benefits including preferred seating, parking, and promotion. All funds raised from Gala sponsorships support Maine students looking to access higher education, persist through graduation, and reach their full potential.

View Sponsorship Packages Purchase a Table Sponsorship

Questions about sponsorship?

Contact Jeff Candura, Director of Development — jcandura@mitchellinstitute.org · 207-358-7733

Our Growing List of 2026 Sponsors+

Lead Sponsor

Prime Sponsors

Rob and Diane Kilroy

Leadership Sponsors

Chuck de Sieyes + Carol Ward

The Zonnenberg Family

Program Sponsors

Chris and Nancy Pierce

Parking Sponsor

Table Sponsors

Bates College

Kennebec Savings Bank

Live + Work Maine

Lockton

MedRhythms

MEMIC

Melissa Roy & Matt Schneider

Saint Joseph’s College

Virginia Swain

University of New England

University of Southern Maine Foundation

Roger and Chagit Deitz

Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors+

Lead Sponsor

Platinum Sponsor

Prime Sponsors

Leadership Sponsors

Rob and Diane Kilroy

The Zonnenberg Family

Program Sponsors

Roger and Chagit Deitz

Bruce and Becky Epstein

Sue Fitzgerald

Senator George J. Mitchell and Heather Mitchell

Chris and Nancy Pierce

Table Sponsors

Bates College

Bernstein Shur

Bowdoin College

Marjorie Bride

Broadreach PR

Cheverus High School

R.M. Davis

Chuck De Sieyes

Drummond Woodsum

Mike and Denise Dubyak

Margaret Angell & Nathaniel Fick

FRAME

GoNetSpeed

Hannaford

John T. Gorman Foundation

Jordan Wood for Maine

Kennebec Savings Bank

Robert Levine

L.L.Bean

Lockton

Martin’s Point Health Care

MedRhythms

MEMIC

Bill and Vicki Mitchell

Pine State Trading Co.

Saint Joseph’s College of Maine

Spectrum Health Care Partners

Virginia Swain

TD Bank

Turner Construction

University of Maine Foundation & University of Maine

University of New England

University of Southern Maine Foundation

Uprise Partners

Wilmington Trust

Wipfli

See What Your Support Means for Mitchell Scholars+

What began in 1995 with just 20 Scholars has grown into a statewide community of more than 4,000.

See an Overview of All Our Programs

Learn More About the Evening+

The Mitchell Institute Gala is an annual celebration of Mitchell Scholars and the Mitchell Institute’s mission to unlock the potential of Maine students.

Since 1995, the Mitchell Institute has provided Mitchell Scholars from every public high school in Maine with vital resources to fulfill their dreams of a college education, realize their enormous potential, and develop their career paths. In addition to awarding a $10,000 scholarship to each Mitchell Scholar, we offer a broad range of support, including mentoring, fellowship grants, and programming to develop leadership skills and encourage career exploration.

Proceeds from the Gala support these and other Mitchell Scholar programs.

What began in 1995 with just 20 Scholars has grown into a statewide community of more than 4,000. For 30 years, the Mitchell Institute has invested in Maine’s students — opening doors to opportunity, building networks of support, and shaping a stronger Maine for generations to come.

See an Overview of All Our Programs

The generosity of Gala attendees continues to fuel our plan to fund and provide wraparound supports for 200 Mitchell Scholars from every community in Maine each year. Thank you for continuing to make Mitchell Scholars and our mission a philanthropic priority.

Purchase Your Tickets Today