Former Governor Paul LePage is calling for a full investigation into the Maine Community Foundation (MCF) over its handling of millions in donations meant for victims of the 2023 Lewiston mass shooting—the deadliest in state history. LePage and several victims allege that nearly $2 million in donations were funneled to politically-aligned nonprofits, including those that serve migrants, rather than the victims and their families.
“We were overwhelmed at the time by the outpouring of support… now, I am incredibly concerned money intended for these victims and their families may have been diverted elsewhere,” LePage stated. He emphasized broken trust and a lack of transparency from MCF, which oversaw the distribution of donations following the shooting.
Among the 29 organizations that received redirected funds are the Somali Bantu Community Association, Empowered Immigrant Women Unite, and the New Mainers Public Health Initiative. Victims say these groups had no direct connection to the tragedy.
Jennifer Zanca, a shooting survivor with a $93,000 hospital bill, said she received less from the fund than many nonprofits did. “This opened my eyes to the inequities,” she stated. Destiny Johnson, another survivor, called the revelation a betrayal, saying donors never knew funds would be used for unrelated causes.
Kelsay Hathaway, whose brother Maxx was killed, accused the foundation of using the tragedy to exploit public generosity. “We trusted this Foundation… and our own needs were not prioritized,” she said.
LePage is urging the state’s Government Oversight Committee to investigate. He demanded transparency about the decision-making process, communications to donors and victims, and the financial trail of redirected funds.
