PADULA  (CONT)

He has volunteered to make the homes of low-income families more energy-efficient. Last year, he helped arrange for college students around the state to pitch in to that effort. And he gives away a lot of money.
That's the Padula Cyndy Martin knows.

"He is an amazing man. He's probably one of the most gentle souls I know. He's so giving," said Martin, a science teacher at Portland High School and the adviser of the school's Environment Club. After the club's members identified ways to reduce energy use at the school, Padula called and offered $25,000 to make it happen.

"I thought an angel just fell out of the sky," Martin said.

The school is slowly making the changes, including more efficient lighting and new interior doors that will keep heat from escaping through the front entrance.

Along with giving money, Padula helped the high school's students push for information from the school department about energy use in its buildings. The department recently posted the data on its Web site.

Padula usually remains anonymous when he donates money, but he agreed to talk about a sample of his gifts for this story.

He paid for solar panels on the roof of the East End Elementary School and Lincoln Middle School.

He also helped pay for a solar-powered geodesic dome outside Lincoln Middle School, where students learn about climate science and sustainability.

He donated $50,000 for solar panels on the roof of the USM Community Education Center, one of numerous energy-related gifts at the college's Portland and Gorham campuses.

He also has paid for a program at USM that is training professors in various disciplines to incorporate climate science into their curriculums.

Padula, who is single, said the fact that he has no children allows him to be generous with money that he inherited.

Padula has shied away from the spotlight but agreed to talk about his efforts for this story, saying somebody has to speak up. But he repeatedly cautioned against exaggerating his impact.

"I'd be very loath to say we're saving the planet from 69 Clifton St. We ain't," he said. "We're just sort of getting

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