CARRABASSETT VALLEY – More than 40 years ago, a young French-Canadian moved from Canada to Carrabassett Valley to work as a chef at Chateau de Teqe.

On Saturday night that young man, Clem Begin, now 69 and a successful businessman, and his wife, Rolande, stunned a crowd of 200 at a charity banquet at the Sugarloaf Inn by giving $1.75 million to four local organizations.

Speaking at the Carrabassett Valley Academy-Sugarloaf/USA Golf Classic banquet, the donation was given “to inspire others to make gifts and support the community,” Begin said.

The Begins gave:

• $1 million to Larry Warren’s Maine Huts and Trails project, which plans to build 12 huts and 180 miles of trail to link Bethel to Greenwood via Carrabassett Valley;

• $520,000 to Carrabassett Valley Academy to help build a new campus;

• $170,000 to the Carrabassett Valley Public Library and Community Center;

• $60,000 to the Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Club to help build a new competition center.

Because the donations are matching gifts, each organization must raise the same amount from other sources.

The donation, Begin said, was his and his wife’s way to give back to the community and four organizations that have provided much to the valley, the Begins’ “most special place in the whole world.”

“Giving back to this community and our friends is very important to us and, being able to share our good fortune with you gives us tremendous pride and satisfaction,” Begin said in a prepared statement.

“This place and the people who live here have given us so much to be thankful for: work, opportunities, education and caring friends.”

Begin called officials from each organization to the podium to stand with him while he spoke about the donations, which sparked standing ovations from the crowd.

Speaking about why the Begins made their donations now, he said, “I’d liked to give my money back now instead of waiting until I’m dead, because I like to see if I invested it good.”

Choked by emotion after the announcement, Warren said, “We are humbled and honored. This is the largest gift we’ve ever received.”

John Ritzo, the headmaster at CVA, was equally stunned.

“This is unbelievable,” Ritzo said.

Later, in his speech, Ritzo presented Begin with a new street sign, “Begin’s Way,” which will be placed on the road to CVA’s new campus.

“It’s not a road name, it’s an example that Clem and Rolande have set that each of us should try and exemplify,” Ritzo said.

Andrea DeBiase, the town’s library director, thanked the Begins for getting the new library and community center project closer to reality.

“We’re honored and overwhelmed to be included in their outpouring of generosity,” DeBiase said.

Bruce Miles, general manager of the ski club, said the Begins’ donation was the single largest gift ever made to the club.

“This gift will help not only Sugarloaf with the competition center, but also our scholarship programs,” he said.