CCRI announces largest individual gift ever 1 week after previous largest gift

The Community College of Rhode Island announced a second record-breaking gift in as many weeks./ PHOTO COURTESY CCRI

WARWICK – On Wednesday morning the Community College of Rhode Island announced the largest individual gift in its 53-year history – $650,000 from the Hassenfeld Family Foundation to support Rhode Island Promise Scholarship students – eclipsing the $500,000 record-breaking gift announced last week.

Through a new program called Rhode Island Promise Plus, the Hassenfeld gift will be doled out to the roughly 800 Rhode Island Promise Scholarship students who are also eligible for federal Pell Grants as an incentive for completing “college success milestones.”

For each milestone, qualified students will receive $100.

In a statement, Meghan Hughes, CCRI president, said: “The Hassenfeld gift provides additional critical incentives to ensure students will take the steps we know are critical to their success.”

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Five milestones can be met during a Rhode Island Promise Scholarship student’s first year for a total amount of $500.

A representative from the school said the milestones are subject to change, but currently include two opportunities to earn a milestone by having a one-on-one meeting with an adviser in the fall and spring, by developing a documented educational plan in the fall, by a student updating their educational plan in the spring and by registering for 15 credits during the first two weeks of registration.

Earlier this month CCRI received a $500,000 gift from local philanthropist Bhikahji Maneckji establishing the “Last Mile Scholarship.” This money will fund the needs of students who are halfway to graduation but wouldn’t be able to attend college full time due to life costs such as travel expenses, child care or wages lost.

Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.

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