Start the Year Strong for Your Child’s Future

The new year is a great time to take a few simple, meaningful steps that build confidence, healthy money habits, and momentum toward your child’s future education. Here are three easy ways to start the new year strong for your kiddo:

1. Support their learning and dreams—your encouragement matters just as much as your savings. Our Age-Based Resources has ways you can support a child of any age.
2. Build healthy financial habits with simple, age-appropriate conversations about money. Learn together with our free Achieve Foundations financial education program.
3. Make their Alfond Grant feel real by checking the balance together and sharing their mailed quarterly update with them. Check your grant online!

Small moments today can inspire big confidence for tomorrow.

The $500 Alfond Grant is just the Beginning

The $500 Alfond Grant is real money set aside for your child’s future education—and adding to it, even a little at a time, can help that opportunity grow.

How much would you like to save this year? Use our education savings calculator to see how regular savings can make your goal feel achievable.

Automatic contributions from your payroll or bank account make it simple, and many Maine families use a NextGen 529 account to save for education after high school. Learn more in the link below to see if it’s a good fit for your family.

Questions? Contact NextGen at NextGen@famemaine.com.

Alfond Scholarship Foundation is not an authorized distributor of NextGen 529.

Click here for more information.

Celebrating Our Teens... and a Big Milestone Year!

Thank you to all the families who shared photos in our Celebrating Our Teens contest—we loved seeing your inspiring entries!

2026 is a big year: our oldest Alfond Grant recipients are graduating high school this spring! For those students with an Alfond Grant, the value is now worth almost $2,200. We’re cheering them on and can’t wait to celebrate what’s next.

Keep an eye out for more contests in our upcoming newsletters!

Print & Play: Wintertime Bingo

Maine has seen quite the winter this year—lots of snow and chilly days! Whether your kids are building snow forts, sledding, or crafting indoors, there’s always something to do.

Print out our Wintertime Bingo from the Alfond Grant Blog archives, and have your child color in a square each time they spot an item or complete an experience. It's fun, screen-free winter entertainment!

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