Brown gets $20M to create scholarships for military veterans
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Brown University has received a $20 million donation that will provide full scholarships to military veterans and support a plan to double the number of veterans enrolled as undergraduates, the school announced Wednesday.
The donation comes from Joseph P. Healey, a U.S. Army veteran and co-founder of the New York investment firm HealthCor. Healey is a parent to two Brown students, and his mother graduated from the Ivy League school.
University President Christina H. Paxson announced the donation during an annual Veterans Day ceremony that was held virtually because of the pandemic. Paxson said the donation marked a “major step” for the school's efforts to support veterans.
“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,” Paxson said in a written statement.
Last year, Brown promised to double the number of veterans enrolled as undergraduates by 2024. It also made standardized admissions tests optional for veterans, and it boosted financial aid to eliminate veterans' out-of-pocket costs toward tuition and fees.
Half of the $20 million donation will create a scholarship program for military veterans, and half will create scholarships for a Brown program that enrolls students who delayed college because of military service, family commitments or other issues. Healey's mother earned her degree through the program in 1980.
Healey made the donation in honor of his mother and said he wanted to help more veterans attend Brown without worrying about costs.
"A Brown degree is a ticket that opens doors for the rest of your life,” he said.