Herbert and Judy Paige knew the life-changing power of education firsthand.
Raised in inner-city New York with limited opportunities, Herb Paige's football scholarship to William & Mary opened doors he never imagined possible. That transformative gift sparked a successful business career and a passion for helping others access higher education. He and wife Judy believed education isn't just about personal advancement; it’s a catalyst for a better society.
"They didn’t come from privilege," said Tim Schafer, the Paige’s estate planning attorney, who, along with executive director Sunny Justice, now leads the Herbert and Judy Paige Family Foundation. "Herb and Judy worked hard for everything they had, and they wanted to give back." Although they passed away in 2011 within months of one another, their legacy still thrives through the foundation's work.
Today, the foundation transforms lives by investing and helping to raise over $6 million to date in support of its unique three-pronged mission: supporting higher education, assisting senior citizens, and caring for animals. The Paige’s influence resonates across communities throughout Colorado and California, including the bright futures they are helping to shape at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Making College Dreams Possible
Each year, the Paige Family Foundation awards life-changing scholarships to ten CU students from the Leeds School of Business and the College of Engineering and Applied Science. These awards are more than financial support–they are an investment in future leaders, changemakers and innovators.
Take Jésus, a rising junior at Leeds studying information management and business analytics and a current intern at Morgan Stanley. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Jésus arrived in Colorado at age nine. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to become a founding partner at 14 Founders, an undergraduate venture fund, whose mission is to support student entrepreneurs by providing capital and facilitating connections with investors.
“I once believed that attending college was an unattainable dream. The circumstances my mom and I faced made it seem impossible to save for higher education. However, everything changed when I received this scholarship—an opportunity that transformed my life,”
said Jésus.
For Jésus, the scholarship's significance goes beyond finances. "Without this scholarship, I would not have as much time to focus on my personal and professional growth. It has given me the ability to take risks and try things that I otherwise wouldn't have thought possible. I am incredibly grateful to know that there are individuals who are concerned about my future and the future of my generation.”
Colton's story similarly illustrates the foundation's transformative power. His winding career path spanned retail, trucking, golf course work and biomedical equipment repair before he found his way to CU. With the scholarship support from the Paige Family Foundation, Colton earned his degree in aerospace engineering in spring 2024.
"Incredibly, I find myself at the forefront of an industry with an amazing number of opportunities that I never would have imagined five years ago," he said. Colton now leads cutting-edge research, "testing first-in-flight novel technologies to better the understanding of phenomena in the ionosphere, helping to answer long-standing questions in the scientific world."
These stories exemplify the foundation's commitment to holistic support. “We want to help students succeed in every way we can," said Justice. Beyond scholarships, the foundation fosters a community among its students and alumni through mentorship and networking events, hoping to create a support system that extends far beyond the classroom.
A cycle of support
The foundation's choice to support students at two of CU’s schools is no coincidence. Schafer is a Leeds alumnus who is impressed with its leading-edge programs and initiatives and the collaboration between business and engineering.
“CU's Leeds School of Business and the College of Engineering and Applied Science are renowned for their rigorous academic programs, cutting-edge research and commitment to innovation,”
said Justice.
"These qualities resonate with the foundation's goals of fostering versatile industry leaders who can navigate and lead in diverse and complex environments."
This commitment to nurturing leadership extends beyond CU. The Paige Family Foundation also supports programs at high schools, community colleges and other four-year universities. With the aim of making a greater impact, Schafer and Justice are hoping for additional donors and partnerships to expand the foundation’s reach.
"Ultimately, we aspire to see a significant increase in the number of graduates who go on to make meaningful contributions to their fields and communities," said Justice. It's a vision of a continuous cycle of support in which educated individuals are empowered to give back and create opportunities for the next generation. Jésus embodies this vision, stating, "I hope to give back to my community by creating a scholarship program to support other first-generation students in the same way I have been supported in my college career." His ambition exemplifies the kind of impact the foundation envisions, where those who benefit from support become the supporters of tomorrow.
From two people who worked their way up from humble beginnings, the Paige Family Foundation has become a beacon of hope, transforming lives and communities through the power of education. Their legacy serves as an inspiring reminder of how generosity can create positive change that ripples outward for generations to come.