The Marshall University Foundation has announced that the Valhalla Foundation, a California-based nonprofit, has gifted a multi-million-dollar grant to support the Marshall For All program.
A portion of the funds will support Marshall For All scholarships, while the remaining funds will be allocated to a dedicated Marshall For All research project focused on data collection and metric analysis.
“I have often said education is the great equalizer, and with the incredible generosity of the Valhalla Foundation we are that much closer to achieving the success of our Marshall For All objectives,” said Brad D. Smith, president of Marshall University. “With the help of this grant, we will be able to dream bigger, deliver faster and define excellence. The Valhalla Foundation’s impact will echo for years to come.”
The Valhalla Foundation focuses on driving measurable, meaningful improvement in outcomes that matter to people and our planet, and is a long-term funder of efforts to improve public education.
“This gift is a tremendous step toward completing our Marshall For All vision,” said Nico Karagosian, president and CEO of the Marshall University Foundation. “This contribution will create lasting change and will be instrumental in not only supporting our students, but also gaining insights into the future impact and outcomes of this program. We are deeply honored by the Valhalla Foundation’s philanthropic spirit toward this initiative.”
The Marshall For All program allows Marshall students to combine scholarships, grants, work opportunities and family contributions to earn their bachelor’s degree without needing student loans, which will allow students to graduate with little to no debt. To qualify, students will need to complete a FAFSA annually and commit to actions such as graduating on time, pursuing work opportunities and participating in financial literacy programs.
The program, announced by Smith in 2022, launched in the fall of 2023 with new first-year West Virginians and metro area students with great success. Now in its second year, the university will expand the program over the next decade with the goal of relieving student debt for all Marshall students by 2037.