Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 8 : Spring 2011 | Page 32

As most people know, the Turners were also generous
contributors to local charities and provided scholarships for
area students. In addition, they contributed to the area’s
healthcare needs by making donations to the building fund
of the Arthur R. Gould Memorial Hospital as well.

In the 1990’s, the need for renovations became
apparent in the Cary Library in Houlton, and a local
philanthropist generously contributed monies to meet
those needs. His son continued that legacy and contributed
additional funds for the renovations.

People such as
the Pinkhams
and the
Levesques in Ashland and
the Madigans in Houlton
have donated thousands,
even millions of dollars
towards health and welfare
of The County. Elizabeth
Noyce established the
Libra
Foundation,
a
philanthropic group that
has had a significant impact
in The County, funding
the Maine Winter Sports
Center. Other philanthropic
endeavors include the
recently concluded $2.5
million
dollar
capital
campaign at Northern
Maine
Community
College, the yearly Presque
Isle Rotary Auction, the
$1.7 million dollar capital
campaign for the Parish of
the Precious Blood, monies
donated to the Wintergreen
Arts Center and the Caribou
Discovery Museum, and the Andrew Carnegie
monies donated to the Aroostook County Fund, the local
division of the Maine Community Foundation. These
are just a few examples that attest to the charitable giving
gestures in our area.

Philanthropy in Aroostook County is not confined
to bricks and mortar, however. The Edgar J. (Guy) Paradis
Cancer Fund, originally known as the Paradis Leukemia
Fund, was founded in 1978. It is named in the memory
of Guy Paradis, a resident of the St. John Valley who had
erythro-leukemia. Guy often had to leave the familiarity of
the Valley in ord