—Kerry Lawson ’01

Here’s the story...

...of a man named Bready

Last fall Richard Bready made an unprecedented challenge to an entire college community. The 1965 alumnus asked others to join him in raising half a million dollars in scholarship aid for Saint Anselm students. The CEO of Nortek, Inc., pledged to match, up to $250,000, any new or increased donations designated for scholarships.

The call went out and Saint Anselm alumni and friends answered in force. Close to 60 supported one-year, $2,500 scholarships that are helping students pay tuition this year. Scholarships were named in memory of loved ones, and in honor of parents, professors, mentors, and members of the monastic community. More than 1,000 others met the challenge by donating to the college for the first time or increasing their level of giving. Their combined efforts raised $500,000.

“A moral compass was embedded in me during my Saint Anselm experience, and it has served me well for 38 years,” says Bready, who is also a trustee of the college. “The challenge was an opportunity to address a critical need at the college today.”

For Tom Cronin, senior and president of the Student Government Association, receiving a scholarship as a result of the Bready Challenge strengthened his connection to alumni. “It is great to know that students have a strong group of supporters in those who have gone through Saint Anselm before us,” he says. “I know how much they believe in the education we are receiving and in sharing the same experience with the next generation of students.”

The family of junior Nicole Lora has also been touched by the outpouring of support. As Nicole returns to campus to serve as assistant director of the Meelia Center for Community Service , her brother is headed to college for his freshman year. “This scholarship means a lot to my family, especially since my parents will be carrying two tuitions,” she says. “My parents work hard to be able to give their kids the college education they didn’t have, and scholarship aid helps them incredibly.”

Driven by the challenge presented by Richard Bready, Saint Anselm alumni and friends teamed up to contribute the largest Annual Fund gift in the history of the college. His story is one of leadership, talent, and commitment—Bready completed his Saint Anselm degree in three years, earned a master’s from Northeastern University, and is one of the most successful executives in the country.

Their story is just beginning. Tom and Nicole came back to campus this fall ready to pick up their studies and resume their leadership roles in community service, athletics, student government, and numerous other campus activities.

…And that’s the way they became the Bready Bunch.