Over the course of a decade, the Thomas R. Shirley, Sr. Scholarship has helped students from the Manayunk, Roxborough, and East Falls section of Philadelphia achieve their dream of a quality education. The need-based academic award was established in 2008 when then-president of Philadelphia University Stephen Spinelli approached Coach Shirley and suggested establishing a scholarship in his name. Coach Shirley agreed to the scholarship, but only if it was created as a tribute to his father, Thomas R. Shirley, Sr., a man who taught him the importance of giving back to his community, and who “never finished high school, yet worked every day of his life to make a better life for his children.” Shirley, Sr. left Roxborough High School during his junior year to serve in the Navy at the start of World War II. After the war, he returned home to Roxborough, married Kathleen (“Kitty”), and raised four children. When Kathleen passed away in 2018, Coach Shirley had the scholarship renamed the Kathleen and Thomas R. Shirley, Sr. Scholarship in honor of their memory.
Celebrate Coach Shirley’s 30th year as Head Coach of Women’s Basketball at Jefferson with a gift to the Shirley Scholarship Fund. With your help we’ll reach the goal of $300,000 this year!
