BCF Launches Scholarship Initiative

The Brookline Community Foundation (BCF), the Town of Brookline and Brookline High School (BHS) have joined together on a much-needed effort to increase the scholarship dollars available to graduating seniors. Thanks to generous Brookline donors, about $150,000 is awarded each year to BHS seniors. The new endowed BCF Scholarship Fund for Brookline High School is a collaborative effort to grow that amount and give more financial support to BHS graduates pursuing two- or four-year higher education or postsecondary training programs.

With the average tuition for a four-year private university in Massachusetts at $39,307 per year, college can seem inaccessible for many. “Students who have worked hard and done all we’ve asked of them should not feel a college education is out of reach. We are thrilled to work with BCF and the town to increase the resources available to students with financial need and academic merit,” said Superintendent of Schools William H. Lupini.

This Fund is one way BCF is acting on its three-year strategic plan Brookline Forward, which includes reducing and alleviating poverty in Brookline. “A college degree dramatically increases the earning potential of students from low- and moderate-income families. Establishing this scholarship fund allows BCF to work collaboratively with the town and BHS to support higher learning and ensure more opportunities for young people to become economically secure,” said BCF Executive Director Jenny Amory.

The new scholarship fund began as an idea of Stephen Cirillo, Finance Director for the Town of Brookline. He approached BCF about establishing and managing the fund. BHS staff and administrators will manage the application and selection process. Town Administrator Mel Kleckner said “I am very pleased to see how we can all work together towards a common cause. There are so many deserving BHS graduates who will benefit from the collaboration of BCF, BHS and the Town of Brookline.”

Brookline taxpayers will receive a letter in the mail with more details on how to get involved with the scholarship effort. Additional information is also available online at brooklinecommunity.org/bcf-scholarship-fund-for-bhs.

In addition to the BCF Scholarship Fund for Brookline High School, individual donors have created the following named funds.

Thanks to the vision of Jack Kendrick, the Thomas P. Hennessey Scholarship Fund of the Brookline Community Foundation has been established to provide college scholarships to graduating Brookline High School seniors who exemplify the keys characteristics of Thomas P. Hennessey and who are in financial need. “The late Thomas P. Hennessey was an exceptional athlete, scholar and town leader. I wanted to establish a scholarship fund to honor his memory and recognize talented graduating seniors,” said Jack Kendrick. Visit the Fund’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TPHfund for more details on the Thomas P. Hennessey Scholarship Fund of the Brookline Community Foundation.

The family of Harold Brown is establishing a scholarship fund for students in need to attend a college or technical school. Jameson Brown, Chairman of the Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation and Fred Lebow and Maura Nolan Brown, trustees, stated, “Our family benefits so much from the town of Brookline and Harold Brown has always made it a priority to give back. We are pleased to share that the Harold Brown Scholarship Fund is being established in his name to enable students in need to attend a college or technical school to help them reach their potential.”

Individuals, companies or foundations interested in setting up a named endowed scholarship fund can contact BCF Executive Director Jenny Amory at jamory@brooklinecommunity.org or 617-566-4442.

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The Brookline Community Foundation shines a spotlight on community needs, inspires philanthropy and awards strategic grants to build a more vibrant, engaged and equitable Brookline.