Gabelli Foundation supports Presidential Scholars

A $10 million gift from the Gabelli Foundation, founded by Mario Gabelli, chairman and CEO of Gabelli Asset Management, will endow the Gabelli Distinguished Presidential Scholars Fund within Boston College's Presidential Scholars Program. The leadership education program attracts some of the most gifted students in the nation to Boston College. The Gabelli endowment will give preference to students of Italian-American descent.

Gabelli, father of Marc '90, Matthew '93, and Michael Gabelli '00, and Elisa Gabelli Wilson '95, is a founder of the Boston College Wall Street Council, which sponsors an annual dinner that has raised more than $11 million to endow Presidential Scholarships.

The Presidential Scholars Program each year enrolls 15 incoming freshmen, chosen for their academic excellence, demonstrated leadership ability, and significant community service involvement. The scholars enter the Honors program in their selected field of study and take part in three summer programs that include social service, travel and study in Europe, and professional internships.

"It is impossible to overstate the impact and importance of a gift like this one from Mario Gabelli and his family," said University President William P. Leahy, SJ. "Aside from the obvious and primary purpose of providing substantial, permanent support for one of the University's flagship academic programs," said Leahy, "the gift also generates tremendous momentum for the final phase of the Ever to Excel Campaign."

The director of the Presidential Scholars Program, Chemistry Professor Dennis Sardella, said Gabelli's contribution will help fully fund tuition costs for incoming Presidential Scholars, in addition to providing a recruiting advantage to attract the top-level students in the country. "We made the commitment this year to go from a half- tuition to a full-tuition merit scholarship for Presidential Scholars, beginning with the Class of 2006," said Sardella. "This gift will make a huge difference in our ability to support that commitment."

"Mario Gabelli's name obviously carries a great deal of weight in the financial community. For students who are interested, for example, in the Carroll School of Management or in studying economics, it may very well be that the ability to name some of these people 'Mario Gabelli Distinguished Presidential Scholars' will go a long way toward helping us recruit them," said Sardella.

"From the earliest days of the concept of Presidential Scholars at Boston College, we have seen the positive and widespread impact that this program has had in attaining Boston College's Jesuit goals and ideals," said Gabelli. "This gift from our foundation underscores our continuing belief that the program will continue to attract some of the most gifted students in the nation to Boston College and create a group of future world leaders."


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