The Boyne Foundation recently donated more than $500,000 to the Southern Maine Community College Foundation, which will be used to create an endowed scholarship fund to benefit students enrolled in the nursing program at the college.

This is the largest gift ever made to the foundation, according a press release from the college.

“The Boyne Foundation’s generosity and longtime support of SMCC makes a huge difference in allowing our students to achieve their goals and pursue their dreams,” said Ron Cantor, president of Southern Maine Community College. “This gift shows the Boyne family’s confidence in our college, our students and the SMCC Foundation.”

The Boyne Foundation is a family-run, charitable organization whose mission is to provide scholarships for future healthcare providers. It was founded by the late Dr. Philip Boyne, a native of Houlton who attended Colby College and became an accomplished oral surgeon and research scientist at Loma Linda University.

“The Boyne family has been funding nursing scholarships at SMCC for the past nine years,” said John Boyne. “Our donation to the SMCC Foundation (now) provides a permanent fund for future nursing students. We hope that our gift may encourage others to consider similar grants to help future students.”

Call 741-5559 or go online to www.smccME.edu/foundation for more information about the foundation, includings its mission and programs.

– Kate Irish Collins