Mary I. Gourley Scholarship Foundation

History
Photograph of Mary L Gourley sitting at a desk.

Our foundation and scholarship are named for Mary I. Gourley. She experienced the transformational powers of education and the support of others, and she believed in honoring hard work while paying generosity forward. 

Frank Turella and his wife, Frances, who was Mary Gourley’s daughter, created this foundation to continue Mary’s legacy of generosity. Once a young single mother herself who was unable to obtain her college degree — like many of our scholarship recipients — Mary felt a deep connection to people in similar circumstances. When she had the means later in life, Mary gave of her own money to help people graduate from college. Frank and Frances officialized Mary’s charity by establishing the Mary I. Gourley Scholarship Foundation in 1988.

Mary I. Gourley Scholarship Foundation Timeline

Since 1988, the foundation has helped more than 1,100 students graduate from our partner institutions by awarding more than $12.8 million in scholarships.