obtaining a Trinity degree. •A Trinity education will equip talented and ambitious young people in Hartford to realize their potential and make a difference. I can think of no better investment," said Merin "My Trinity education lw had an enormous impact on my life. Not only do I hope to inspire others to join me in this effort, but I want Hartford students to know they can aspire to come to Trinity without worrying about their financial resources.·
Mitchell M. Merin '75 with Alliance for Academic Achievement scholar Rachel Bums '10
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Mitchell M. Merin '75, a
a $2.5-million challenge gift to establish permanent scholarship support for Hartford-based students to attend Trinity. Merin's challenge gift will match, dollar-for-dollar, all gift commitments for the same purpose, up to an additional S2.5 million.
Trinity College trustee, retired managing director and former president and chief operating officer of investment management at Morgan Stanley. has made
Born in Hartford and raised in Bloomfield, Merin has strong local roots and a conviction for supporting Hartford-based students interested in
Trinity trustee offen $2.S-mllllon lnv..tment In Martford students In addition to support offeml by Tht Hariford, snu1tnts who art Hariford residents now have another major 1't4S01I to consider Trinity when they apply to college
As chair of Trinity's Audit Committee and as an engaged trustee, Merin became aware that the College has been providing financial aid for Hartfordbased students, but that Trinity has a real need for permanent endowments for this purpose. His solution is to establish an endowed fund and match the donations of alumni, area foundations and corporations, and others who join him in investing in talented Hartfordbased students. The Merin Scholars will each receive four-year scholarships based on need; they will also receive personal laptop computers to support their academic work. In acknowledging the new Merin Scholarship and
its challenge component, President James F. Jones, Jr., noted, •As a trustee and as a native of Hartford, Mitch not only understands Trinity's ambition to strengthen its ties with Hartford, but he is doing something very tangible to support that goal. This is an unselfish, yet strategic, act of philanthropy. Imagine the impact this will have for generations to come." An economics major, Merin has been known to describe his Trinity professors as an "invisible hand, guiding his career and moving him toward the achievement of his goals. He went on to receive an MBA in finance and accounting from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management. As a top Trinity volunteer, he has served on the Board of Fellows and is now a Trinity trustee. Previously. he established the Ward S. Curran Fund and the Merin Family Jewish Studies Endowed Fund and also was a major donor for the construction of the College's Raether Library and Information Technology Center. with his gift honoring his esteemed economics professor, Dr. Richard Scheuch, now retired.
.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... For information about scholarships that support Martford students at Trinity or to learn more about the Merln Challenge, please contact Vice President for College Advancement Ron Joyce at 86o·297·2361 or ronald.joyce@trlncoll.edu.