Greichen Family Scholarship Fund

“We feel we are fortunate to help others make their way” says John Greichen when asked about why he and his wife Pat established the Greichen Family Scholarship Fund, a designated scholarship fund for the support of graduating seniors at Rogers High School in Newport, Rhode Island.

John, a Newport native and a Rogers High alum, attended the University of Rhode Island, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering and a Master’s degree in Finance and Marketing. That’s when he met his wife Pat, a graduate of CCRI. They married and moved to the Boston area, where John worked as an engineer. Pat worked in retail, then took some time away to raise their two daughters, later expanding her career to include interior design. John went on to work in marketing, management and consulting, eventually retiring in 2020.

The Greichens moved back to Newport six years ago, where they built a house in the backyard of John’s 91-year-old parents in order to look after them. “We live a stone’s throw from Rogers High … when there are no leaves on the trees, we can see the track,” says John.

Pat and John opened this fund to aid Rogers High School students, understanding the financial challenges surrounding a college education. They put their own two daughters through college, but friends of their daughters “ended up with significant debt along the way.” Seeing the results of their philanthropy has also been rewarding. The Greichens recently attended a Rogers High honors ceremony, where John presented the first scholarship to a student attending URI, majoring in chemistry with a goal of becoming a pediatrician. Pat fondly recalls the look on the young lady’s face, when she realized that the scholarship was for her.

The Greichens also continue to give back to the community as volunteers at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center and Sail Newport. They partnered with the Rhode Island Foundation because they felt strongly about giving an annual scholarship and welcomed the streamlined, efficient service that the Foundation offers. Pat and John have also named the Foundation in their estate plans to further benefit the fund, and are now members of the Foundation’s 1916 Society.