Notre Dame: Essex County Couple Donate $20M For Low-Income Students

An Essex County husband and wife have donated $20 million to the University of Notre Dame to fund its “Fighting Irish Initiative,” the school recently announced.

Financial services industry guru Notre Dame alum Sean Cullinan and his wife, Sue – who live in Glen Ridge – have three children, two of whom are enrolled at the university, according to a release.

Their multi-million gift will “fully fund the cost for low-income students to attend Notre Dame, including tuition and fees, room and board, books, transportation and personal expenses,” the school announced.

The gift also will fund the hiring of a full-time director to oversee programming and serve as a catalyst to engage with others to support the initiative.

According to a release, university-based aid at Notre Dame increased from $5 million in 1990 to $117.8 million for 4,126 students this past academic year. More than half of all Notre Dame’s undergraduate students receive need-based aid from the school.

“I am extremely grateful that Sean and Sue’s generosity and vision have made it possible for us to enhance the support and services that we offer to our undergraduates with greatest financial need,” Erin Hoffmann Harding, vice president for student affairs stated. “The new staff and programming associated with this initiative are significant next steps toward our goal of ensuring that every student feels that Notre Dame is a welcoming place where they belong and can flourish.”

Photo of the University of Notre Dame’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart building courtesy of Michael Fernandes via Wikimedia