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The University of Rhode Island has received the largest donation in its history.
The University of Rhode Island has received the largest donation in its history.
The $65 million gift is from the late Helen Izzi Schilling, a 1954 alumna. The donation establishes the Helen Izzi Schilling ’54 and Francis Schilling Scholars Program.
The endowed fund will provide up to $20,000 per year to high-achieving undergraduate students majoring in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) field, URI officials said Friday.
Seventy years ago, Helen Izzi graduated from URI with honors with a degree in nutrition. She was president of Kappa Omicron Nu and a member of Phi Kappa Phi, both national honor societies, a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority, and worked at Butterfield dining hall.
She went on to earn a master’s degree from Ohio State University, where she met her future husband, Frank Schilling, who gained his MBA and eventually became vice president of medical imaging at the General Electric Company. For five decades, Helen Schilling worked as a registered dietitian in hospitals, taught university classes, and developed her own consulting business.
The Schillings had agreed to leave URI in their will, the university said.
“My mother’s education in the sciences formed the foundation of a career that was dedicated to helping people, and that started at the University of Rhode Island,” said physician Paul Schilling of his parents’ decision. “She wanted to make a difference for her alma mater, but most importantly for the students going forward. I am glad that my parents will be remembered for giving students a head start to achieve their goals.”
The inaugural Schilling Scholarship will be awarded to undergraduates applying to URI for the Fall 2025 admission cycle.
“With her forward-thinking generosity, Helen Schilling leaves a permanent legacy at the university, and her name will be remembered by students and their families for generations to come,” said Lil Breul O’Rourke, president of the URI Foundation.
“This transformational gift shows that alumni believe in our university and in our students,” said URI President Marc B. Parlange. “We are incredibly grateful for the Schillings’ support of our mission and our students.”
American City Business Journals' Wealth Index, 2024
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