BRUNSWICK, Maine - Marty Ryan, the President of the State of Maine Chapter of the National Football Foundation, has announced a $250,000 grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation in support of the chapter’s continuing initiatives of youth and amateur football in Maine.

Accordingly, the fund formerly known as the “Coach Mac Fund” in honor of Richard MacPherson, will be renamed the “Richard MacPherson and John Huard Maine Football Fund” to recognize the contributions of the two Maine football legends.

In addition to supporting the chapter’s already-existing initiatives such as youth leagues, start-up high school programs, and clinics, the grant will allow the chapter to distribute scholarships to selected college-bound scholar-athletes honored at its annual Awards Banquet in the spring.

“On behalf of the members of the Maine Chapter of the National Football Foundation and all of the interscholastic and youth football programs in the state of Maine, we are truly excited and sincerely appreciative for the development of the Richard MacPherson and John Huard Maine Football Fund,” said Ryan.

Greg Powell, Chairman of the Harold Alfond Foundation said “We look forward to working with National Football Foundation, the Maine Chapter, and the broader Maine youth football community in rolling out the “Mac-Huard Fund,” with a mission to advance coaching quality and football programs in Maine and to fund scholarships for Maine football student athletes.”

Harold Alfond was a recipient of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame’s Gold Medal in 1995. Dick MacPherson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009. John Huard, the current CEO of Northeast Turf, was a decorated collegiate and professional football player and was honored by the State of Maine Chapter in 2009.

Student-athlete nomination forms and grant requests will be distributed to coaches and Athletic Directors in the coming weeks.