KINGSTON, R.I.–June 4, 2026–Representatives from the Donald P. and Elaine M. Hayden Foundation and the University of Rhode Island met to review the successful completion of year two of the $750,000 Hayden Student Success Scholarship.
The Hayden Foundation gift, made in the fall of 2024, is being distributed evenly over three years to provide emergency scholarships to enable Rhode Island students facing unexpected financial obstacles to continue their education at URI so they can achieve their academic goals and career success. The University matches Hayden’s annual financial commitment.
“We are pleased to share that the Hayden scholarship has helped more than 400 students these past two years,” said President Marc Parlange. “Today, families are facing tremendous financial challenges that can easily derail a student’s education, which is why we are committed to providing pathways to URI through collaborations with partners like the Hayden Foundation. Together, we are delivering on our mission of accessibility, and I could not be more grateful for the Hayden Foundation’s support and vision.”
“I came to URI after graduating from the Community College of Rhode Island,” said Natalie Raynor, a senior who is double majoring in film and communication. “Getting the scholarship was very important because it helped relieve financial stress for both me and my family while allowing me to focus more on school and my future career.”
URI is Rhode Island’s flagship land- and sea-grant university. More than 90 percent of URI students receive some form of financial aid.
“URI continues to have strong enrollment and one of the cornerstones of our strategic plan is a focus on student success and persistence,” said Dean Libutti, associate vice president for enrollment management and student success. “As our University continues to support students, it is essential that we have the resources to help ensure that more Rhode Islanders can complete their education at URI. These are challenging times and having a partnership with the Hayden Foundation allows us to have emergency resources available when life situations and challenges happen that can impede our students from continuing their education.”
The Hayden Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to providing financial assistance via scholarships and grants to educational and animal welfare organizations.
“The Hayden Student Success Scholarship was established to support Rhode Island students who are struggling with financial challenges that could derail their academic goals,” said George Panichas, executive director of the Hayden Foundation. “URI is a remarkable institution, and our Foundation is proud to support hard-working Rhode Islanders as they pursue their education.”
The Hayden Foundation’s scholarship adds to a long history of foundations and corporations helping students and supporting research at URI. Such contributions can change lives, forge meaningful connections, and drive new discoveries, while also helping outside organizations fulfill their mission.