Ora Kinsley Bates, only 12 hours old, has the adoring attention of her parents, Carroll Bates Jr. (left) and Nicole Bates (right), as the couple find themselves in the limelight on Jan. 1 after Nicole gave birth at 1:50 a.m. making Ora the first baby of 2009 in Greater Bangor. Buy Photo
BANGOR, Maine — Ora Kinsley Bates was able to start saving for college the moment she arrived in the world.
Born at 1:50 a.m. Thursday at Eastern Maine Medical Center, she is one of more than 14,000 babies expected to be born in the state this year who will qualify for the Harold Alfond College Challenge, a scholarship program designed to help families save money for college as soon as a child is born.
The challenge will provide a $500 scholarship, to be invested in a NextGen College Investing Plan account, for each newborn in Maine.
The program began on New Year’s Day, and Ora Bates will be one of its first recipients as soon as her parents file the paperwork.
“She’ll need it,” the newborn’s father, Carroll Bates Jr., 33, of Glenburn said of the scholarship. “It’s definitely something we’re going to do.
“We do want her to go to college,” mother Nicole Bates, 29, of Glenburn said as the baby, who weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and was 21 inches long at birth, rested in her arms. “I went and her father went.”
Nicole Bates works as a veterinary technician in Dover-Foxcroft, and her husband is a carpenter. The couple met about 15 years ago in Shin Pond where the then-Nicole Morris vacationed every summer.
Ora Bates, the first child for both parents, arrived three days early. They checked into the hospital at 4 p.m. Wednesday, her father said. Krystal Morris, Nicole Bates’ twin sister, who was visiting from her home in Bushnell, Fla., was with them and in the delivery room for the birth of her niece.
Maternal grandparents Mary Beth Morris and Ronald E. Morris of Howley-in-the-Hills, Fla., arrived Thursday afternoon in time to take part in the media hoopla that goes along with being the first baby of the new year in Bangor.
Ora Bates paid little attention to the reporters and photographers who crowded into her mother’s room. She was much more interested in studying her parents’ faces.
“She’s an awesome baby,” Nicole Bates said. “Very quiet, so far.”
The new member of the Bates family will be spending a lot of time outdoors fishing and hunting before she’ll need to use her scholarship, her father said.
The college scholarship program was started last January with funds from the estate of the late Harold Alfond. He founded Dexter Shoe Co. and the state’s first philanthropic foundation. A successful pilot project in 2008 at MaineGeneral health facilities in Waterville and Augusta enrolled 320 babies for scholarships.
It is estimated that in 18 years at 8 percent interest, a $500 grant, without any additional contribution, would grow to $2,000, according to the Finance Authority of Maine. The account could grow to $25,000 in 18 years with a contribution of $50 a month.
Collin Alexander Duplissis of Westbrook most likely was the first baby to qualify for the scholarship in 2009, based on an informal survey of Maine hospitals. The boy was born at 12:36 a.m. at Maine Medical Center in Portland, according to a hospital spokeswoman. A girl was born about 30 minutes later at 1:07 a.m. at Portland’s Mercy Hospital.
Ora Bates appeared to be the third birth at Maine hospitals in 2009 and the first born in the Bangor Daily News coverage area.
For information on the Harold Alfond College Challenge, visit www.500forbaby.org.
On 1/2/09 at 6:58 AM,
mikelt wrote:
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what a great idea for the new years babies to be set up with. college is, indeed, something valuable and when a child has this already established from birth and has begun contributing money already, it's great. however, what about all the other babies in society that would love the chance for college but because they were not born on time, they miss out? college is very expensive and unfortunately, not all parents are able to support that educational growth. there should be a grant in place for all babies upon birth and let the parents contribute as the child grows. it's too bad that not all children can be born into the new year and have something as good as this grant.
On 1/2/09 at 8:17 AM,
nwoods wrote:
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Congratulations to Carroll and Nicole..what a way to start the New Year! Best wishes to all 3 of you.
On 1/2/09 at 8:46 AM,
Lorilee wrote:
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Mr. Alfond set this up for babies born in 2009. Maybe somebody else who can afford to do so will continue this.
On 1/2/09 at 8:51 AM,
jeffysmom wrote:
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This $500 gift will be given to ALL babies born in Maine from now on. Apparently, there is enough money set aside for this program to last an awfully long time. So, it doesn't matter if a baby isn't born on New Year's Day - all babies get the gift.
On 1/2/09 at 9:25 AM,
dandlmom wrote:
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Yay..congrats you two! I was waiting to see the first new years baby!
On 1/2/09 at 9:58 AM,
parkstreet_demon wrote:
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Can't wait for 13 years from now when we read about the first baby born!!!!
On 1/2/09 at 10:45 AM,
avidreader wrote:
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Jeffysmom is correct. The fund is an onging fund that has been established to cover all babies (statewide) born in Maine beginning January 1, 2009 and beyond. Parents should also check out FAME's website www.famemaine.com to learn about matching grant possibilities for their other (older) children as well. Mr. Alfond's generosity will certainly jumpstart the next generation of college-go'ers in Maine. The benefits won't be known for nearly two decades, but it's a great start.
On 1/2/09 at 10:48 AM,
LincolnMOM wrote:
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ORA....my daughter said mom did they forget the "D"?????????????? Congratulations...and Happy New Year!
On 1/2/09 at 11:17 AM,
countryliving wrote:
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Congratulations ! What a wonderful way to start a New Year. Blessings be yours.
On 1/2/09 at 11:49 AM,
Hoplite wrote:
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The new $500 is for all babies born from here on out in Maine with no income restrictions. If you already have children and open a NextGen account they can get a $200 initial contribution ( An additional $50 if before their frst birthday). They also qualify for a matching annual contributions up to $200 per year. Adjusted gross income needs to be below $75,000 for these matches.
On 1/2/09 at 2:42 PM,
Richard37 wrote:
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great idea,the rich should be helping make maine a better more educated place for the future.
On 1/2/09 at 6:43 PM,
MoeBolduc wrote:
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But I have a what if? Let's say a baby is born in 2009, in 2026 that child wants to join the ranks of the born again, and he or she does. Do they then receive another $500.00? I have an inquiring mind and need to know!
On 1/3/09 at 5:09 AM,
inmaine2009 wrote:
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I think this is just wonderful!!! Who knows how many of these babies will grow up and go to college and maybe beyond that. Do something awesome with their lives!! Very generous of this man.. Like someone else said, people who CAN afford it, SHOULD continue this program. PAY IT FORWARD...
On 1/3/09 at 7:39 AM,
dreamland51 wrote:
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i don't believe in Buddha
On 1/3/09 at 12:35 PM,
parkstreet_demon wrote:
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i was born in 1986, wheres my baby bailout?
On 1/3/09 at 10:14 PM,
mlvoisine wrote:
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Congratulations!
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