The New Balance Foundation, which is the charitable arm of New Balance Athletics, announced this month it issued grants to 14 nonprofit organizations in Maine totaling more than $1.4 million. The timing of the funding is especially significant, with many nonprofit organizations already seeing the effects of federal funding cuts.

New Balance and Maine have a long history, starting in 1981 when the Boston-based company purchased the former Medwed Footwear factory in Skowhegan. That’s the same year the New Balance Foundation was formed. It has since gifted more than $150 million to nonprofits in the U.S. and around the world. In 2024, New Balance donated $12 million to nonprofits.

New Balance is the only major athletic footwear maker with manufacturing plants in the United States, with two

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