OGUNQUIT, MAINE, June 10, 2026 — The TramutoPorter Foundation today announced the recipients of its 2026 Compassionate Leadership Scholarships, a four-year, $20,000 award presented annually to students whose lives reflect the Foundation’s mission of compassion, leadership, and service. This year’s honorees are Milei Adele Kido of Bangor High School and Abe Medrano of Wells High School.

Founded in the aftermath of September 11th, the TramutoPorter Foundation has spent 25 years advancing opportunities for young people and strengthening communities through its commitment to compassion in action.

Bangor High School Recipient: Milei Adele Kido

Milei Kido has distinguished herself through exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and service. As noted in the Foundation’s presentation, she is “a leader — President of Rho Kappa, a member of multiple honor societies, a dedicated volunteer with the Maine Multicultural Center, a gifted pianist, and a committed athlete.”

Her compassion has been equally defining. After the loss of a family member, she “stepped forward with extraordinary maturity, caring for her family while maintaining her academic excellence and service to others.” She plans to study psychology at McGill University with a focus on expanding mental health resources in underserved communities.

Wells High School Recipient: Abe Medrano

Abe Medrano has spent four years strengthening the Wells community through leadership, athletics, and service. As described in the Foundation’s remarks, he “has been a student leader, an athlete, a volunteer, and a voice for his peers… showing that leadership is not a title — it is a responsibility.”

Teachers praise him as “independent, trustworthy… the kind of student who can be counted on to complete even the most challenging tasks with maturity and excellence.” He has excelled in varsity Cross Country, Winter Track, and Spring Track, demonstrating the determination and character that define the Foundation’s values.

Both students will receive a four-year, $20,000 TramutoPorter Foundation Compassionate Leadership Scholarship.

Scholarship Profiles

Our Scholar Profiles provide a glimpse into hometowns, higher-ed goals, future plans, and outcomes. Because financial need should never make big dreams seem out of reach.

View All Scholars

TramutoPorter Foundation Celebrates 2026 Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Defender Award

In addition to the scholarship announcements, the Foundation proudly recognizes the 2026 Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Defender Award, which is supported by the TramutoPorter Foundation RFK Human Rights Defender Endowment.

Reflecting on the Foundation’s longstanding partnership with Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Co-Founder Donato J. Tramuto shared remarks from his recent address:

“Robert Kennedy reminded us that the purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better. That belief is at the heart of why we are here. In The Double Bottom Line, I introduced the word collabovation — the fusion of collaboration and innovation in the service of compassion. And it is that same spirit that has defined our partnership with Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights since 2012.”

This year’s award honors the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, whose courage and commitment to defending the vulnerable exemplify the highest ideals of human rights advocacy.

“Their fearless defense of the vulnerable and their willingness to challenge abuses of power represent the very best of what human rights work demands,” Tramuto said. “The TramutoPorter Foundation is proud to sponsor this year’s Human Rights Defender Award, and even more proud to honor individuals whose bravery reminds us that human rights are lived every single day.”

OGUNQUIT, ME, January 16, 2026 — Donato Tramuto, award-winning healthcare executive, philanthropist, and founder of the TramutoPorter Foundation, has been featured in a widely circulated editorial spotlighting the growing global movement for compassion-based leadership. The coverage highlights Tramuto’s continued commitment to education, inclusion, and global collaboration through the Foundation’s international programs.

This recognition comes as the Foundation’s Compassionate Leadership Italy Cohort gains momentum for its unique approach to leadership training—bringing together educators, students, and human rights leaders across borders.

“Leadership today isn’t about commanding from the top. It’s about listening, learning, and acting with purpose,” said Tramuto. “What’s happening with this cohort in Italy is proof that compassion isn’t just a value—it’s a tool for solving global challenges.”

Tramuto was cited in the piece for his decades-long work in merging empathy with action. His book, The Double Bottom Line, explores how kindness and performance can coexist in leadership. His Foundation has impacted thousands of lives through education, healthcare, and human rights initiatives worldwide.

The recent feature praised Tramuto’s advocacy for relational leadership and his belief that future leaders must be taught not only how to lead, but why to lead with humanity and care.

As the world continues to navigate social, political, and generational shifts, Tramuto remains a leading voice for cross-cultural understanding and transformational leadership practices rooted in compassion.

Educators gather in the Fine Arts Center at Regis College for the Cultivating Self-Compassion in Leadership training, engaging in reflection and dialogue on compassionate leadership in education.

What an extraordinary and transformative gathering we experienced together. The training reminded us all why we do this vital work. Watching educators from Regis College, Lasell University, Boston University, Thomas Jefferson University, St. Joseph’s College, and Bangor High School come together to reflect on how we can lead with greater compassion was profoundly moving.

In a world where educators are asked to give endlessly of their time, their energy, and their hearts, this inaugural experience offered something rare: a space to receive. This was more than professional development. It was a reclamation of humanity in education. A reminder that before we can pour into others, we must first fill our own wells.

Insights That Stayed With Us

Dr. Michael Donnino and Patricia Howard of the Mind Body Research Group offered a profound reminder: we all carry a growing circle of concern about the world. But within that larger circle lies our circle of influence—the space where we can make a real difference. Compassionate leadership begins with knowing where our true impact lies and responding with intention.

The seminar was rich with moments of vulnerability and strength. Educators shared the silent burdens they carry, the invisible sacrifices they make, and their longing to lead with both courage and care. As one educator put it, the day felt like “a mirror held up to the heart of teaching.”

Gratitude for Our Panel & Leaders

We are deeply grateful to the distinguished speakers who brought both scientific rigor and soulful wisdom to the day:

• Dr. Michael Donnino, MD – Director, Mind Body Research Group, Harvard Medical School
• Patricia Howard – Lead Mind-Body, Mindfulness & Self-Compassion Specialist
• Karen Robinson – Education Program Director, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
• Chantelle Ferguson – Inner Child & Emotional Healing Practitioner, Somatic & Self-Compassion Integration Specialist
• Donato Tramuto – Co-Founder & Chairman, TramutoPorter Foundation
• Natalie Alcantara – Moderator & Facilitator, TramutoPorter Foundation Board Member

Special recognition also goes to Regis College President Dr. Antoinette Hays and her staff, our Foundation co-founder Jeff Porter, and Board members Joanne Bean, Anthony Pacillo, and David Duclos, as well as every participant who brought openness and authenticity to this work.

Guiding the Day: At the Heart of the Conversation

Natalie Alcantara
Board Member, TramutoPorter Foundation

Natalie is a strategist and facilitator with a passion for advancing compassionate leadership in education and beyond. As new member of our Board of Directors, she brings deep expertise in guiding organizations and individuals through meaningful change. At the September 11th training, her facilitation helped weave together panel discussions and participant reflections, creating a space where vulnerability and action could coexist.

The historic Collegio Ghislieri in Pavia, Italy, a 16th-century institution renowned for its academic excellence and cultural legacy.

An Opportunity Beyond the Day

We are thrilled to share that one participant will be selected to join our TramutoPorter Foundation cohort this November in Pavia, Italy, at the historic Collegio Ghislieri. This fellowship will build upon the foundation created at Regis, expanding the conversation on compassionate leadership to a global stage.

Moving Forward with Defiant Hope

In times that test our resolve, this event reminded us of the need for “defiant hope”—the kind that refuses to surrender even when the world feels heavy. Every participant left with something profound: permission to be gentle with themselves, and the tools to lead with clarity, empathy, and grace.

This was more than a workshop. It was the beginning of a movement. And it is our educators, standing at the center, who will carry this message forward to shape the next generation of compassionate leaders.

Sunday, September 7th, officially launches National Compassionate Leadership Week! In a world often driven by metrics, deadlines, and bottom lines, Compassionate Leadership Week invites us to pause and lead with heart. This week is more than a calendar event. It’s a movement—a call to action for leaders across industries to embrace empathy, understanding, and human connection as essential tools of leadership.

Founded in 2022 by the TramutoPorter Foundation and National Day Calendar, this initiative recognizes that compassion is not a soft skill—it’s a strategic imperative.

Why Compassionate Leadership Matters

Compassionate leaders build trust, foster resilience, and elevate performance. They listen deeply, respond thoughtfully, and create environments where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Today, numerous industries face challenges due to uncertainty and confusion. As a healthcare executive for many years, I have seen that in healthcare, the stakes are often life and death, and compassionate leadership is not optional—it is foundational. It shapes patient outcomes, staff morale, and the very soul of care delivery.

I recently had surgery at the Lahey Clinic in Boston/Peabody, and the care I received was exceptional—rooted in compassion, kindness, and a shared commitment to respect.

Today’s most successful organizations pursue a double bottom line: one that balances business performance with human well-being. Compassionate leadership doesn’t dilute excellence—it amplifies it. It transforms workplaces into communities and teams into families. It is the quiet force behind innovation, loyalty, and sustainable growth.

How Can We Celebrate This Week?

Let’s commit to:

• Hosting workshops on emotional intelligence and active listening
• Recognizing team members who embody compassion in action
• Creating space for open dialogue and shared stories
• Reflecting on our own leadership journeys, especially the moments that called for grace

My Personal Reflection

As someone who has spent decades in healthcare leadership, I’ve seen firsthand how compassion can heal beyond medicine. It is in the way we speak, the way we show up, and the way we lead when no one is watching. This week is a reminder that leadership is not just about guiding others—it’s about uplifting them.

Stay tuned for daily updates. Many activities are scheduled this week as we celebrate Compassionate Leadership Week, September 7–13!

~Donato Tramuto

BAR HARBOR, Maine, August 01, 2025 — As part of the upcoming National Compassionate Leadership Week (September 8-14, 2025), the TramutoPorter Foundation is proud to announce a transformative new leadership training program for educators. This event will be held on September 11, 2025, from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM ET at Regis College Fine Arts Center. Compassionate Leadership Week was permanently designated to the Foundation in 2022 by the National Day Calendar.

This exclusive, invitation-only training will gather approximately 50 faculty members, professors, and teachers from academic institutions affiliated with the Foundation’s scholarship programs. Designed to empower educators to lead with compassion in a rapidly evolving world, the training focuses on self-compassion as the foundation for developing compassionate leadership in future generations.

“Before we can inspire compassion in others, we must learn to extend it to ourselves,” said Donato Tramuto, co-founder of the TramutoPorter Foundation and author of The Double Bottom Line: How Compassionate Leaders Captivate Hearts and Deliver Results. “Educators play a critical role in shaping the hearts and minds of tomorrow’s leaders. This program helps ensure they are equipped to lead with clarity, humanity, and purpose.”

Program Highlights Include:

• Leadership Workshop with Donato Tramuto: A working session centered on activating the principles from The Double Bottom Line to bring compassion into action across classrooms and campuses.

• Interactive Panel Discussion: The panel will focus on the importance of caring for one’s own needs and the science behind the mind-body connection in compassionate leadership. Featured speakers include Donato Tramuto; Dr. Michael Donnino, MD, Director of the Mind-Body Research Group at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston; Patricia Howard, Lead Mind-Body Instructor; Nisa Patel, Chief Governance Officer at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights; and Chantelle Ferguson, Inner Child & Emotional Healing Practitioner and Somatic & Self-Compassion Integration Specialist.

• Peer Collaboration and Active Learning: Attendees will engage in collaborative exercises and conversations to explore shared challenges in today’s disrupted education landscape.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity: Italy Educator Cohort

One educator will be selected for a fellowship opportunity to join an international cohort, at the Foundation’s November 4th event at Collegio Ghislieri, a historic academic institution in Italy dating back to the 1500s. This educator will engage with global leaders in education, develop a deeper understanding of how to integrate compassion-based instruction into educational programs, and return home with new tools to share within their community.

About the TramutoPorter Foundation

Founded in 2001 by Donato Tramuto and Jeffrey Porter, the TramutoPorter Foundation was created in memory of friends lost on September 11th. For over two decades, it has become a global force for advancing compassionate leadership in business, education, healthcare, and human rights. The Foundation has partnered with nearly 140 organizations and provided scholarships and grants that have impacted tens of thousands of individuals across the world.

Scholarship partners include Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Regis College, Boston University School of Public Health, Lasell University, St. Joseph’s College, Jefferson School of Population Health, and several high schools throughout Maine where the Foundation has established permanent scholarships.

Why Now

Recent leadership research highlights a growing recognition: self-compassion is essential for sustainable, high-impact leadership. Unlike empathy alone, compassionate leadership combines care with action. This program is designed to teach educators how to model that principle, starting with themselves, and pass it on to students through intentional, values-based learning.

This training marks the inaugural global initiative for educators under the Foundation’s broader Compassionate Leadership movement. Participants will leave equipped to integrate these principles into both personal and professional spheres-and help shape a more compassionate generation of leaders.

Event Details:

• Date: September 11, 2025

• Time: 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM ET

• Location: Regis College Fine Arts Center

• Cost: Complimentary for selected educators

• Special Opportunity: One educator will be selected for the Italy Cohort Experience (November 2025)

• Registration: By invitation only. Visit www.tramutofoundation.com/ to learn more.

“This is more than a workshop,” said Tramuto. “It’s a movement. And you, our educators, are at the center of it.”

Join the TramutoPorter Foundation this September in building a future led by compassion.