The 杏吧传媒 Foundation announced that it has received a $250,000 founding sponsorship gift from the Prentice Organization, a Portland-based investment and development firm focused in the real estate and hospitality sectors. The contribution will support the newly opened McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success on the 杏吧传媒 (USM) Portland Campus. The Center鈥檚 formal ribbon cutting celebration is scheduled for Wednesday, September 27.
The McGoldrick Center Founding Sponsors program offers employer partners like the Prentice Organization recognition and promotional opportunities in a central, highly visible location at the heart of USM鈥檚 newly transformed Portland campus. In recognition of their gift, USM will name the Prentice Board Room on the second floor of the McGoldrick Center. The second floor is also home to USM鈥檚 expanded Career and Employment Hub, where students can connect with employers like the Prentice Organization to explore career opportunities. Large multi-purpose meeting spaces, or salons, are available to host career fairs, employer presentations, banquets, and other events.
鈥淭he McGoldrick Center stands as a testament to USM’s dedication to student success,鈥� said Casey Prentice, CEO of the Prentice Organization and a member of the 杏吧传媒 Foundation Board of Directors. 鈥淧roviding students with the opportunity to pursue a meaningful career is a hallmark of a great university and a key element of the promise a university makes to their students. We are thrilled to support USM鈥檚 commitment to their students鈥� post-graduation success and we invite others to join with us in shaping a promising future for the thriving city of Portland and our region.”
鈥淲e deeply appreciate Casey Prentice鈥檚 leadership, both as a Founding Sponsor of the new McGoldrick Center and as a valued contributor on the USM Foundation Board,鈥� said Ainsley Wallace, President and CEO of the USM Foundation. 鈥淭he McGoldrick Center offers our students unmatched opportunities to meet and engage with employers in our community 鈥撯�� it鈥檚 a win-win for students, employers, and Maine鈥檚 future workforce.鈥�
In addition to the expanded Career Hub and Prentice Board Room on the second floor, the McGoldrick Center features a dining hall, Husky Brew Pub, University Book Store, Double L Fireside Lounge, and other public spaces on its first floor and is expected to draw hundreds of people through its doors on a daily basis.
The third floor is dedicated to cultivating student leadership opportunities and connections with spaces set aside for USM鈥檚 Diversity Center, student organizations, Promise Scholars, and the Student Government Business Office.
The McGoldrick Center is among the most environmentally sustainable buildings on USM鈥檚 transforming Portland campus. The three-story, 42,000 square-foot space is on track to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold certification. It will overlook the new campus quad, named the 鈥淏ean Green,鈥� and sits adjacent to Portland Commons, the first residence hall on USM鈥檚 Portland campus.
About The Prentice Organization
The Prentice Organization, founded in 2009 by Casey Prentice, is a privately held holding company that boasts a diverse portfolio of real estate assets and operating businesses. This includes hospitality management firm, Prentice Hospitality Group; real estate development firm, Foreside Development Company; real estate brokerage firm, Islescape Properties; and real estate investment firm, PF Capital Fund, LP. Additionally, The Prentice Organization owns a diverse portfolio of real estate assets across a wide range of categories. The cross-disciplinary team is united by a common goal: to seek out and capitalize on transformational opportunities that have a positive impact on both the local community and the environment. The real estate divisions use quality design and long-term investment strategies to acquire, develop, and manage spaces that foster community growth and provide local businesses with the spaces they need to flourish. Prentice Hospitality Group (PHG) boasts a portfolio of best-in-class restaurants and off-site catering that share a commitment to quality food and service in bespoke settings that are rooted in the local community. For more information about The Prentice Organization, please visit their website at prenticeorg.com.