From the beginning of the Pennsbury Scholarship Foundation in 1956, the Foundation began building its endowment fund, first by application of 25% or more of donations. Then, the Hayes Trust in 1968 provided over $225,000, a very large increase in the fund. Donations, including that of stock certificates, continued to come in. And, in the 1980’s, an anonymous donor gave almost $134,000. This, however, was an unpredictable stream of endowments.
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In the mid-1990s, Board member and former Treasurer, Tom Engleman, had an idea that could attract more endowments in a steadier stream. He introduced a proposal to permit the Foundation’s Development Committee to solicit major gift prospects who would provide the Foundation with donations that would result in endowed named scholarships. For $15,000, donors would be able to establish an endowed scholarship in the name of a person of their choice. The proposal met with resistance from the Board, however, because the policy until then was to limit the granting of named scholarships to just a few families chosen by the Board, generally to honor the memory of a deceased member of the Board. In the Fall of 1997, the Board was divided on keeping the policy as it had been or to allow others “to buy a Namesake for $15,000.” At the Board meeting of October 22, 1998, Tom Engleman and Director Dr. Paul DuBois had an energetic debate and the Board voted “yes” to Tom’s proposal. Wanda Long, President at that time, knew that Tom had identified someone who wanted to make this kind of donation, so they were able to announce at the meeting that they had their first Endowed Namesake Scholarship.
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A Certificate of Appreciation from the Foundation was presented to Tom Engleman by Wanda Long and Claire Connell for his many contributions, including the Endowed Namesake Scholarship program and the development of the PSF website.
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The first Endowed Namesake Scholarship was from the family of F. Glenn Breen which made the first $15,000 gift to the Foundation in December 1998. Mr. Breen had been the President and Chairman of the Trenton Savings Bank. A reception for the family was held on January 16, 1999, and a photo and article were published in the Yardley News on January 28, 1999. The first Named Scholarship was awarded in June 1999 to Alyssa Cole. The Endowed Namesake Scholarship program had begun!
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The detailed rules for receiving donations and administering them as Endowed Namesake Scholarships had been developed by Tom Engleman and Michael Rosen and received Board approval December 3,1998, just as the contractual arrangements with the Breen family were being concluded.
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The second Namesake Scholarship was created in July 1999 by Betsy Mills Moore, the daughter of Clayton Mills, and her husband Beryl in memory of Clayton W. Mills, one of the founders of the Foundation and Treasurer for 25 years.
With this new fundraising program in place, Michael Rosen, a Pennsbury graduate, PSF scholarship recipient and member of the National Fund Raising Executives (NSFRE) Greater Philadelphia Chapter, wrote a letter to the President telling the story of the Endowed Namesake Scholarship program. In August 1999, the NSPRE notified the Foundation that it had been selected to receive a special President’s Award, which was given from time to time for unusual fundraising accomplishments. The award, accompanied by a gift of $500, was presented at the NSFRE Awards Luncheon at the John Wanamaker Building in Philadelphia on November 11, 1999. There were in the order of 700 people in attendance. Along with the Pennsbury Scholarship Foundation (President’s award), the other award recipients included The Toll Family (Individual Philanthropists of the Year) and Edward Rendell, Mayor of Philadelphia (Government/Philanthropic Partner of the Year). President Wanda Long received the award on behalf of the Foundation and was accompanied at the luncheon by Michael Rosen, Louise Harmon, Dorothy Breen, Glenn Breen Jr., Sally Breen, Betsy Mills Moore, Claire Connell and Norma Lindbloom. The Breen family represented the first Namesake Scholarship given (in the name of F. Glenn Breen) and Betsy Mills Moore represented the second Namesake Scholarship (in the name of Clayton W. Mills).
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Since then, many families, friends and business associates in the Pennsbury community have entrusted the Pennsbury Scholarship foundation with the privilege of helping keep the name and spirit of their loved ones alive. As of 2024 there were 54 Namesake Scholarships, attesting to the effectiveness of the program to generate endowments for the Foundation.
​Many of the Endowed Namesake Scholarship donors have been honored with a reception.
Click here to see photos and descriptions of each Namesake.
​Click here for a list of the Endowed Namesake Scholarships.
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Compiled from the files of Wanda Long and update by Kelly Corso, Office Administrator. - Hal Long
