Testimonials
Don't just take our word for it. JMG is fortunate to have strong partnerships with the Governor and legislature, private foundations, businesses, and public education. Each of our partners is committed to seeing more Maine students succeed.
The Honorable Janet Mills
“I wish I had JMG when I was in high school in Farmington. Back then when it came to life skills, communications, finances, and team building, we were pretty much on our own. I wish I had this great group of kids to hang out with, to build things, to do budgets, to practice public speaking, to build trust, confidence, and leadership. JMG teaches Maine students the skills, the will and ability to determine both their future and ours.”
-Governor of Maine 2019 to Present
The Honorable Paul LePage
“Maine has 177,000 kids in our schools. And every single one of those children deserves the opportunity JMG can give.”
-Governor of Maine 2011 to 2019
The Honorable John Baldacci
“When you can take one life, and you can make it such a positive bright light, it offers a lantern to help show others. I think JMG is a program to be modeled and expanded throughout the state.”
-Governor of Maine 2003 to 2011
The Honorable Angus King
“The real thing that JMG imparts is confidence. The knowledge that you too, can achieve, grab opportunities and excel. This is one of the most important programs with which I have ever been associated with, and I want to thank JMG for helping students fulfill their dreams in the state of Maine… JMG is more important now, than at any time in Maine’s history.”
-Governor of Maine 1995 to 2003
The Honorable John McKernan, Jr.
“In 1993, when JMG was created, there were 859 students in 18 programs. Since then, governors of Maine have all maximized JMG to reach its peak performance so that now it’s making a difference for more than [12,000] students a year.”
-Governor of Maine 1987 to 1995
Tony Cipollone
“It is nice being honored for what we are doing to help JMG, but it is really us, the partners, who should be honoring JMG for the work they are doing.”
- President & CEO, John T Gorman Foundation
Jeanne Paquette
“My twin nephews are now juniors. They entered JMG in the 7th grade in pretty bad shape. But because of the program, they are going into vocational training for plumbing and heating and they are happier than ever.”
- Former Commissioner, Maine Dept. of Labor
Cary Olson Cartwright
"Ten years ago, JMG was focused on ensuring students graduated from high school. As we listened to our stakeholders in education and in the business community, we realized we had to change and expand our model to support students through college, continued education and career training. Today, JMG is the only statewide nonprofit that offers a continuum of support to students from middle school to high school to college and careers. JMG allows students to reach their fullest potential and find their pathways to be productive and successful adults."
- Former JMG Board Member
Assistant Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, Unum
Shawn Roderick
"JMG taught me what the real world was going to be like. The reason I'm where I am today is because my JMG specialist taught all of us if you want to do something, go for it and give it all you've got. If you don’t try, you'll never know what you're made of. This is how I live my life every day.”
- JMG alumni, and Assistant Secretary of the Maine Senate, State of Maine
Jon Doyle, Esq.
"We continue to invest in students because these kids are Maine’s future. Maine’s got lots of challenges and we need to meet them. Lots of students have lots of challenges, too. And JMG helps the state and helps students meet their challenges. So if we work together, the state prospers, students get educated, and everything gets better."
- Former JMG Board Member and Founding Partner, Doyle & Nelson
Dan Breton
“When your organization is giving money to a nonprofit, it’s unusual for the nonprofit to come back to you and report the results so effectively. Usually, as a funder, you have to hold your grantees accountable. But JMG’s culture is so focused on achieving results for students that everyone from the board members to the CEO, to the Specialists, to the students holds each other to high expectations. It's why as JMG continues to grow and expand, it is able to continue to ensure quality programs and outcomes.”
- Former JMG Board Member and Former Director of Government Affairs, Verizon
Owen Smith, Jr.
“Need compassion, resilience and spirit of unity? Look no further than JMG students, Maine’s next generation of leaders.”
- President of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont AT&T Services Inc.
Chris Howell
“While an individual program works with 35-40 students, the very presence of JMG has a contagious effect on the entire faculty to adopt a ‘can-do’ spirit for all kids… We see a greater extracurricular involvement once kids get into JMG, and a huge reduction in behavioral issues and absentee rates.” - Chris Howell, Superintendent
- JMG Board Member and RSU 14 Superintendent
Gregory W. Powell
“We consider JMG to be one of Maine’s anchor organizations making important contributions to the state and the economy.”
- Chief Executive Officer and President of the Harold Alfond Foundation