PORTLAND, ME – On Wednesday, December 11, with more than 500 supporters in attendance, the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute held its 10th Annual Leadership Luncheon at the Holiday Inn By the Bay in Portland. The event—hosted by its founder, former United States Senator Olympia Snowe—celebrated the organization’s successful first decade and thanked the network of support helping the Institute deliver its program and develop the next generation of women leaders in Maine. The Leadership Luncheon was generously sponsored by The Roux Family Foundation.
In her remarks, Senator Snowe shared:
“We have created a three-year experience that connects Maine girls with caring, trained mentors. The content—exploring their Values, Voice, and Vision—as well as the meaningful relationships they develop with peers and mentors, have resulted in deepening self-assurance and expanded aspirations. We can see the difference when 95% of our graduates report increased confidence, and when more than 82% focus on futures in STEM fields. [. . . ] When I see these results, I recognize that your support has consistently been the most vital element that is growing our organization and helping these young women achieve their full potential. Together, I know we will continue to be here to root them and encourage them as they continue to grow in their careers, in their communities, and in their personal lives.”
The luncheon’s keynote speaker was Cynthia McFadden, former Co-Anchor of ABC’s Nightline and former Senior Investigative and Legal Correspondent at NBC NEWS. McFadden has been among the nation’s leading investigative journalists for more than 30 years and recognized with a host of journalism’s most prestigious awards, including nearly 20 Emmy nominations and three wins. Both McFadden and Snowe graduated from Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine—which has been a School Partner of the Institute for the last ten years and supported 45 of the 1,400 Olympia’s Leaders, as students are called, who have participated in the program to date.
Additional speakers included Christina McAnuff—Executive Director of the Institute; Evelyn Bilodeau—Marketing Operations & Events Specialist at Netcracker Technology and Olympia’s Leader ’18 of Edward Little High School; Tessa Solomon—Administrative Assistant for International Development at Babson College, Olympia’s Leader of Houlton High School ’19, and Chair of the Institute’s Alum Council; Lily Bailey—Student at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine and Olympia’s Leader of Spruce Mountain ’23; and Houda Aden—Student and Olympia’s Leader of Edward Little ’26. Olympia’s Leaders, Alums, and mentors were seated among the luncheon tables to share their experiences with guests as well.
Since the launch of its three-year “My Values” (10th grade), “My Voice” (11th grade), and “My Vision” (12th grade) program with an inaugural class of 45 Olympia’s Leaders, the Institute has grown to serve more than 555 young women annually, supported by more than 200 volunteer advisors, at 38 high schools across all 16 Maine counties. This year, the Institute will facilitate more than 10,000 hours of connection between each student and the Institute’s network. Olympia’s Leaders have received free college credit and $2.8 million in Institute-exclusive or Institute-partnered scholarships in the last several years.