Donation to Rhode Island Foundation of $12M for scholarships

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The Rhode Island Foundation has received a $12 million gift that will help dozens of Rhode Island high school graduates pay for college, the foundation announced Monday.

The gift that will endow the Robert G. and Joyce Andrew College Scholarship Fund is the largest donation expressly for scholarships in the foundation’s 106-year history, and it is expected to generate enough income to provide nearly 100 scholarships a year, the foundation said in a statement.

“Bob and Joyce loved Rhode Island. It was home. They recognized the importance of education but realized most kids couldn’t afford it; they certainly couldn’t afford it when they were young. They wanted to pass along the opportunity and gift of education, yet keep it in Rhode Island,” said Drew Davies, co-executor of the Andrew estate.

The Andrews were married for 59 years. Robert Andrew died in 2015, and Joyce Andrew died in 2018.

The fund will provide need-based scholarships to applicants who pursue undergraduate study at several public and private colleges in the state and are renewable for up to three additional academic years. The foundation estimates this year’s scholarships will average about $6,000.