The Franco-American Education Foundation began with the bequest of $2,000,000 from Georgianna Martin in 1998. Mr. and Mrs. Martin were the owners of Lewiston Crushed Stone Co., Inc., a company that moved dirt for fill, loam and stone for underlayments and asphalt. At the time of Mrs. Martin’s death in 1998, she was alone with no children and she had been a widow for ten years. When she passed, Mrs. Martin’s wish was that her family fortune be dedicated to the further growth and development of the area, through the hearts and minds of the Franco-Americans of Lewiston-Auburn and surrounding communities to pursue their studies.
The ACA Education Fund was chosen by Mrs. Martin to administer the multi-million dollar Lucien E. Martin and Georgiana Martin Memorial Scholarship Fund. The ACA Education Fund was created by local estate attorney and former Lewiston mayor Robert Couturier. Robert also served as a legislator and was a proud advocate of the French language. In the late 1990’s, the ACA Education Fund was disbanded and The Franco-American Education Foundation was created in an effort to continue to provide educational assistance to high school graduates of Franco-American heritage pursuing higher education.
The scholarship is made possible through the generosity of the following benefactors:
- The Estate of Lucien E. and Georgianna M. Martin
- The Estate of Maurice F. Hemond
- The Estate of Rose Couturier
- The Estate of Albert E. Cote
- The Estate of Roland A. and Theresa Rodrigue
The Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization for the purpose of awarding scholarships and receiving tax-deductible bequests, devises, transfers, gifts and contributions.
Each year the Foundation awards more than $100,000 in scholarships to high school and college students who are continuing their education, as well as continuing grants to scholarship recipients who are pursuing their college careers.