SPRINGVALE — How do you spell fantastic? Many would say Grahamtastic, the program founded years ago by Leslie Morissette to help sick kids with technology so they can keep up with their school work and other pursuits.

Recently, Grahamtastic Connection became the recipient of $16,000 in cash and $1,000 in technology from FairPoint Communications’ Connected Communities program. The Springvale-based organization is one of three state-wide to benefit from the FairPoint initiative.

“This is the largest grant Grahamtastic Connection has received this year and we are extremely grateful to be selected by FairPoint Communications as one of their honored charities,” said Morissette in a statement. “With such generous funding from such a community-minded company, together we will be connecting many kids when their world is out of reach.”

FairPoint’s grant will shorten the waiting list of children in need of assistance by allowing Grahamtastic Connection to purchase additional laptops and iPads, provide free internet access for in-home care patients, and expand its tele-robotics program, a FairPoint spokeswoman said. The tele-robotics program allows children to move around their classroom, “walk” down school hallways, attend assemblies and interact with teachers and peers face-to-face from hospital beds or homes.

Grahamtastic Connection is named for Graham Morissette, who died 20 years ago of leukemia at age 8. A year or so afterward, his mother, Leslie, founded the nonprofit Grahamtastic Connection. She was named a CNN hero of the Week in March.

Grahamtastic Connection has served 1,400 children since 1998.

The two other winning organizations are Area Interfaith Outreach of Rockland and Sunrise Opportunities of Machias. As they did with Grahamtastic Connection, FairPoint will provide each organization with a $16,000 grant and a technology package valued at up to $1,000, customized to help advance its charitable mission. 

A total of 156 nonprofit organizations throughout Maine submitted applications.

“The response to the Connected Communities program was overwhelmingly positive, and selecting only three organizations from so many worthy applicants was difficult for our team,” said Mike Reed, FairPoint’s president for Maine. “The applications revealed a vibrant, active and dedicated nonprofit and volunteer community that works each day to make Maine a better place for all its residents.”

 — Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.