Ruth B. Loving Scholarship

Help UMass Amherst University Without Walls endow the Ruth B. Loving Springfield Area Scholarship fund! 

The money we raise for the Ruth B. Loving Springfield Area Scholarship fund will be an invaluable resource for UWW students living in Hampden County who face financial hardship. Across Hampden County, only 26.2% of adults have achieved a bachelor's degree. For many, cost is a significant barrier to continuing their education. 

Together, we can make a difference.

Ruth B. Loving was known as the “Mother of Civil Rights in Springfield.” Loving dedicated her life to community involvement, civil rights, and political activism. She was a member of the Springfield National Guard and Women’s Defense League, served as president of the local NAACP, founded and worked as editor for an African-American newspaper, hosted a radio show called “Focus on Springfield,” worked on countless commissions and boards, and received many awards. In 1987, at the age of 73, she earned her bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst through the University Without Walls. Ruth Loving passed away in 2014 at the age of 100.

The Ruth B. Loving Springfield Area Scholarship furthers UMass Amherst and University Without Walls' continued effort to support Hampden County residents with an affordable, high-quality public education. For decades, UWW has supported residents of Hampden County in finishing their bachelor's degrees with flexible degree concentrations, opportunities to earn credit for work and life experiences, and course options that meet the needs of working adults. We really understand how important it is to increase the amount of scholarships we are able to provide to non-traditional students from this area. For those of you living, working, and serving in the Hampden County area, we know this cause is deeply meaningful to you as well.

The impact is on the community as a whole, not just one person.

When you increase access to education, it builds up the community. Higher wages, better health, and higher rates of employment are just some of the benefits. For this reason, it is important to invest in ways to make higher education accessible to everyone. Your gift to the Ruth B. Loving Scholarship fund will go a long way to make this possible. Give today, and ask your friends and family to help us endow this crucial scholarship, which is urgently needed to advance the Hampden County community.

Thank you for your support!