PORTLAND — Former Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell will be the keynote speaker at the annual Leadership Celebration of the Susan L. Curtis Charitable Foundation on March 8 at the Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks.

Opened in Stoneham in 1974 in memory of former Maine governor Ken Curtis’ daughter, Camp Susan Curtis, through the Susan L. Curtis Foundation, provides economically disadvantaged Maine children tuition-free, high quality camping, educational and social experiences.

Serving around 500 children every year, more than 15,000 Maine children have benefited from Camp Susan Curtis programming by developing the habits and skills they will need for lifelong achievement in a unique learning environment.

The Leadership Celebration dinner, which is open to the public, is the largest fundraising event for the foundation and will help provide camp scholarships for 175 Maine children in 2013. The remaining 325 children will be paid for through grants and other donations.

This year’s dinner will also feature the inaugural presentation of the Governor Curtis Family Leadership Award to Alec and Kathleen Altman and Binga’s Restaurants for their exemplary leadership in moving the foundation forward and their support for the programs of Camp Susan Curtis.

In addition, the Camp Susan Curtis Community Partnership Award will be given to Portland-based ad agency Pulp+Wire and the Camp Susan Curtis Spirit Award will be presented to Farmington’s Cascade Brook Elementary School counselor Martina Arnold.

More information and tickets for the semi-formal event are available by visiting www.susancurtisfoundation.org or by calling 207-774-1552.