Brown Announces $20 Million Gift to Enable Full Scholarships for U.S. Military Veterans
Thursday, November 12, 2020
Brown University has announced a new $20 million gift that the Ivy League institution says marks a major step toward the goal of providing full financial support to current and future generations of student veterans.
Brown announced the gift from Joseph P. Healey — a U.S. Army veteran, son of a Brown alumna, parent to two Brown students and co-founder of investment management firm HealthCor — which will create a permanent endowment for a scholarship for veterans.
“A Brown degree is a ticket that opens doors for the rest of your life,” Healey said. “To give veterans who have served our country a chance to attend Brown — the way that Brown gave that chance to my mom, and the military gave a chance to me — was a unique opportunity to return an investment that was made in my mother and in me.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe announcement comes one year after Brown University launched its plan to double the number of U.S. military veterans enrolled as undergraduates by 2024.
About Gift and Support
The gift will also establish another scholarship for students in Brown’s Resumed Undergraduate Education (RUE) program, which has welcomed many military veterans to campus over the last decade.
“As the University has expanded military partnerships and more veterans have pursued undergraduate degrees at Brown, we have pledged to expand support for these exceptional students,” said Brown University President Christina H. Paxson.
“In doing so, we honor the sacrifices they have made to uphold our freedoms and strengthen the academic experience of every member of our community, which benefits from the unique perspectives and experiences our student veterans contribute," she added. "This generous gift from Joe Healey and his family marks a major step toward fulfilling our promise.”
Of the total $20 million gift, $10 million will fund the Elaine and Joseph Healey Scholarship for Veterans, creating a permanent endowment that will prove essential in the University’s effort to eliminate all out-of-pocket costs toward undergraduate tuition and fees for undergraduate student veterans for the long term.
The additional $10 million, a bequest, will establish a scholarship for students in Brown’s RUE program, which enrolls students who delayed their undergraduate study due to family commitments, financial concerns, health issues, military service, employment opportunities or compelling needs to explore other paths.
In honor of Healey’s mother, a Brown alumna who earned her degree through the RUE program in 1980, the scholarship will provide support for RUE students, with preference given to student veterans.
Addressing Needs of Student Veterans
Beginning with the Class of 2024, Brown extended its need-blind admission policy to include prospective students who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces; made standardized test scores optional for all undergraduate applicants with U.S. military service; and strengthened recruiting through a partnership with Service to School, which counsels veterans on admission to highly selective colleges and graduate schools.
The University also increased financial support for veterans, replacing all family contributions with scholarship aid and boosting Yellow Ribbon awards, which fully eliminated all out-of-pocket costs toward tuition and fees.
“Some veterans come from low-income and first-generation households that typically have fewer financial resources available to make college attainable,” said Kimberly Millette, program director for Brown’s Office of Military-Affiliated Students.
“And after years spent completing their service commitments, they no longer have access to the support systems that high schools offer to college applicants," she added. "By removing obstacles to admission and relieving financial burden, Brown is demonstrating its commitment to increasing and supporting the student veteran community on campus.”
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