A Family Scholarship Shares the Gift of Colby Education Through Financial Aid Fund With New Generations

“We blossomed at Colby because of the generosity of folks we’ll never know,” said Matt Reilly ’88, who attended Colby with his brother, Mark Reilly ’89. Through the Reilly Brothers Financial Aid Fund, they are proud to offer the same scholarship support that made their Colby educations possible. The brothers grew up in West Roxbury, Mass., in a close-knit, Irish-American family. “Our parents were the children of immigrants,” said Matt. “Education and giving back were dear to their hearts.”

Their gift supports Colby’s commitment to need-based financial aid, which has grown by 82 percent since 2014, and increased from $29 million to $52 million in 2021. “We want Colby to always lead in providing a great, academically rigorous liberal arts experience with an emphasis on opportunity and diversity of all kinds,” said Mark, who is proud to support new Colby graduates in cultivating critical thinking, social awareness, and intellectual curiosity.

“We both gained a tremendous amount, academically and personally, at Colby,” they said. “Our hope is that we can make a difference for families like ours by helping kids get a great Colby education—with a lasting love for this place, and lifelong friends—just like the Reilly boys did.”

Matt Reilly ’88 and Mark Reilly ’89