Son honors mother with gift to Fordham’s scholarships

A son’s gift of $630,000 to Fordham University’s scholarship programs will not only honor his mother, but will also help first-generation students achieve their educational goals.
According to a news release on the school's website, James J. Houlihan, a 1974 graduate of Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business, has allocated $280,000 to the Founder’s Undergraduate Scholarship fund, with an additional $250,000 given to establish a fellowship in honor of his mother, Mary Murray Houlihan, in the Graduate School of Social Service.
“The Founder’s scholarship has always been a great program for many of Fordham’s first-generation students, just like my mom,” Houlihan said.
Houlihan’s 89-year-old mother earned a Ph.D. from Fordham in 1986 and, along with her three brothers who also graduated from Fordham, was the first generation of her Irish-immigrant family to attend college. Her granddaughter earned a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Social Service earlier this year.
“This scholarship will support many students in their pursuit of masters and doctorates in social work,” Debra McPhee, GSS dean, said. “Many of these students come from first-generation families, and pursing their degree is often at great sacrifice to themselves and their families.”