Seton Hall University has announced a $1 million planned gift from Helen A. Wright and Robert E. “Bob” Wright, a 1967 graduate of the university’s Stillman School of Business. The donation is part of Seton Hall’s ongoing $225 million comprehensive fundraising campaign, For All, Forever, which aims to increase access to education through scholarships.
The Wrights’ gift will support the Preparing Leaders Now initiative, focused on removing financial barriers for students. Their contribution will endow the Robert E. Wright Accounting Scholarship in perpetuity for Stillman School of Business students who have demonstrated financial need.
“Seton Hall was a transitional moment in my life,” said Bob Wright. “It caused me to grow up and focus on what I wanted to do. Because of that, I was able to accomplish a great deal in my career.”
Helen Wright added, “Bobby always felt a deep sense of gratitude toward Seton Hall. It was a great experience for him, and supporting today’s students felt like a natural way to give back.”
The couple first met as teenagers and married after Bob completed his military service in 1968. Although Helen attended Molloy College, she became familiar with Seton Hall by attending events such as Bob’s proms and graduation.
Bob went on to work at PricewaterhouseCoopers for 43 years after graduating from Seton Hall. He recalled participating in an intensive training program at Drew University alongside graduates from other prestigious schools: “I thought, ‘This is who I have to compete with?’ But we both ended up making partner together. My Seton Hall education allowed me to do things I didn’t even think I was capable of doing.”
After retiring near Charleston, South Carolina, Bob reflected on his career trajectory: “I’ve had amazing opportunities in my life, and that all really started with Seton Hall,” he said.
Monsignor Joseph Reilly, President of Seton Hall University, commented on the impact of such gifts: “Because of gifts like Bob and Helen’s, we’re able to plan for our future success and better serve our students who go on to enrich and empower our communities. It’s really what the For All, Forever campaign is all about.”
By including Seton Hall in their estate plans through this planned gift, the Wrights joined the Benjamin Savage Society—a group recognizing donors who support the university or its seminary through legacy giving.
Their commitment also made them eligible for Seton Hall’s Legacy Challenge program, which provides an immediate cash match for new planned gifts while supporting initiatives such as the RISE (Resilience, Integrity, Scholarship and Excellence) Scholarship Program. This scholarship assists low-income students as well as those who are first-generation college attendees or use disability services.
Jon Paparsenos, Vice President of University Advancement at Seton Hall University stated: “Planned giving is a great way to make a difference for students today while also creating a lasting legacy for the future.”
Reflecting on their decades-long relationship with the university and their motivations behind this donation, Bob Wright said: “I get tax benefits by designating part of my 401(k) to Seton Hall, and I get to give back to the school that gave me everything. It makes me proud.”
