Praise for Maine's Unsung Philanthropist
Lawrence J. Keddy, a self-made man whose engineering creativity and unselfish nature shaped his life's work and personal relationships, left a legacy to Maine that includes our unique farm in South Windham. Mr. Keddy avoided the public spotlight and never sought or received recognition for his munificence.
During his life, Lawrence J. Keddy owned numerous hydroelectric enterprises in Maine. He enjoyed a hands-on approach to all that he undertook, including piloting his own helicopter. He was very financially successful. Mr. Keddy also possessed an abiding affection for animals of every stripe and that passion produced his profound influence on our organization. Mr. Keddy joined the MSSPA board in 1974 and thereafter single-mindedly led the operation whose primary mission is the rescue and rehabilitation of large animals who have been seized by the State of Maine
Under Mr. Keddy's leadership, the MSSPA purchased hundreds of acres of land in South Windham, built a second large barn to house equines, and outfitted the farm with all that is necessary for the lifetime care of damaged animals. When Lawrence Keddy died in 2000, longtime Farm Director and protégé Marilyn Goodreau took on leadership of the MSSPA. She, with the support of the Society's Board of Directors, has continued his dream and example of philanthropy on behalf of equines.
The facility is unlike any other in New England. It provides around the clock on-site staffing, has access to veterinary services twenty-four hours a day, and maintains animals for the entirety of their lives, provided the animals are not suffering. Thanks, in significant measure to Mr. Keddy's generosity, and a large membership, the MSSPA has never received tax dollars to support its work. In fact, the MSSPA provides nearly a million dollars in services annually to Maine.
MSSPA is looking ahead to its next one hundred years of service to Maine. The status of animals is improving in Maine and across the nation. As costs of care for large animals increase, MSSPA, while celebrating the legacies of Lawrence J. Keddy and others, is beginning to look for additional funds to keep Maine's most compassionate farm at the forefront of saving lives. Please help in supporting our mission of compassion for animals living at the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals.