Castine church celebrates the legacy of a quiet philanthropist

Deborah Pulliam ‘would be proud’ to see her local impact, organizers say at event commemorating the late philanthropist’s birthday

Members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine gather around a photo of the late Deborah Pulliam. Seated are, from left, Leslie Goode and Barbara Fleck. Standing are, from left, Bob Holmberg, Lewis Cohn, UUCC minister Amy DeBeck, Brooke Tenney, Gil Tenney and Pedrick Sweet. Photo by John Boit.

June 9, 2026

By John Boit

CASTINE–Friends, neighbors and community leaders gathered June 2 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Deborah Pulliam, whose commitment to social justice, community service and philanthropy continues to shape charitable giving across the region through the church's Opportunity Fund.

The gathering, held on what would have been Pulliam's birthday, featured remembrances of the longtime volunteer and Castine resident. The daughter of the publisher of The Indianapolis Star who became a local journalist in Maine, Pulliam lived a quiet and unassuming life. Even her close friends had no idea of the wealth she would pass on–both during her lifetime and posthumously–to social causes on the Blue Hill Peninsula.

Among those was the Opportunity Fund, established through a significant bequest she left to the Castine church.

Barbara Fleck recalled Pulliam as one of the first people she met after moving to Castine in 1994, describing her as an avid reader, baker, gardener and devoted volunteer who quietly served the community through organizations including the former Castine Food Co-op and the church. Pulliam was also remembered for sharing homemade cookies with neighborhood children each Halloween and for creating small, hand-bound cookie recipe books that reflected her love of baking and generosity.

Bob Holmberg, a member of the Opportunity Fund steering committee, said the fund was created nearly a decade ago to carry forward Pulliam's vision of strengthening the church's social justice mission while addressing unmet community needs. Since its inception, the fund has awarded nearly $500,000 in grants to nonprofits and community organizations throughout the region. Holmberg said annual grants have grown from several awards totaling just a few thousand dollars to approximately $100,000 in grants each year.

The fund focuses on initiatives that alleviate poverty, support children and families, address housing insecurity and domestic violence, foster equality, promote environmental stewardship and climate education, and advance Wabanaki and LGBTQ+ awareness. Grants have supported organizations including Families First Community Center, Next Step Domestic Violence Project, H.O.M.E., Community Compass, local food pantries, Blue Hill Heritage Trust, Castine Kayak Adventures’ programs for children, the Bagaduce Watershed Association and other nonprofits serving Hancock County. The Rising Tide is also a recipient.

Holmberg said the need for local philanthropy has become increasingly important as many nonprofit organizations face reductions in government funding. He credited Pulliam's generosity and the congregation's continued commitment for allowing the Opportunity Fund to respond quickly to emerging community needs without requiring organizations to navigate lengthy grant application processes.

"I think Ms. Pulliam would be proud," Holmberg said. "Local funding like ours is so critically important.”