MaineHealth Announces $1.6 Million Gift To Address Youth Mental Health Crisis

MaineHealth's Center for Health Improvement announced a $1.6 million donation from Maine entrepreneur and impact activist David Evans Shaw to launch the SHAW Challenge, a comprehensive four-year initiative designed to transform how Maine communities address the youth mental health crisis. The goal is to offer a “one stop shop” that organizes and integrates the various programs that target mental health.

The initiative unites health care expertise, community engagement, student innovation, and education leadership. Launching in January 2026, the initiative will pursue five core goals using proven public health strategies across seven participating school districts:

Foundational understanding: Facilitated . . .