Our Story
Alice and Patrick McGinty
Where It Began
Patrick John McGinty was born on November 15, 1903, in Holyoke, MA. Patsy, a name he was known by throughout his life, was the oldest of seven children: four girls and three boys. When Patsy was eight years old, his mother, Mary Rose, died unexpectedly. His father, Thomas, with the help of his wife's sisters, raised the children until he died suddenly in 1922.
During high school, Patsy worked several jobs to support his brothers and sisters. He graduated from Holy Rosary High School, an accomplishment of which he was always very proud. The death of his father marked the end of his formal education. After graduation, he began working for The American Writing Paper Corporation, where his father had been employed. Over the years, Patrick rose from being an hourly shift worker to senior management, eventually becoming the operating superintendent of two paper mills at the time of his retirement in 1968.
On Labor Day, 1928, Alice May Hill married Patrick McGinty. Throughout their lives, the couple had an abiding faith in God and the American Dream. However, Alice and Patrick's educational aspirations were stifled by personal tragedies and the Great Depression. Despite this, they were determined that their children would receive the education that had been denied to them. With Alice at home—sometimes taking jobs to supplement the family income—and Patrick working part-time in accounting after long hours at the mill, the couple managed to ensure that their children attended college.
At the time of his retirement in 1968, Mr. McGinty was the operating superintendent of two paper mills in Holyoke. Like his wife, Alice, he was disappointed that he was unable to pursue a four-year college education. However, with three young children in his growing family, Patrick took evening courses and graduated from Bay Path Institute in 1937 with a degree in accounting.
Patrick was a lifelong learner. In later years, he studied chemistry and mathematics and was always a devoted reader of literature. Alice, the keeper of the hearth and a talented at-home dress designer and seamstress, shared his passion for education. Their commitment to learning became a core value for their family, respected and honored by their children. It is only fitting, therefore, to cherish their memory and further their dreams through the creation of the Alice and Patrick McGinty Foundation.
The Foundation is Created
In 1989, Thomas E. and June T. McGinty established the Alice and Patrick McGinty Foundation as a living memorial to honor Mr. McGinty's parents, who believed in and instilled the values of a quality education—one that would enrich and expand not only their family's life experiences but also those of others.
Thomas Edward McGinty
Why The Foundation Was Established
The Alice and Patrick McGinty Foundation was established in 1989 by its principal donors, June and Thomas E. McGinty. His parents instilled in their family the importance of obtaining a quality education and using that education to improve their lives and the lives of others. As a result of this philosophy, most of their five children have been involved in teaching.
In gratitude for these values, the creation of the Foundation allows the founders to contribute funds to educational causes that are most meaningful to them. The Foundation's board of trustees and distribution committee independently assess where its funds will have the most meaningful impact on current educational needs. In addition, the Foundation aims to support promising, long-term, and innovative educational programs.
Through their involvement in the Foundation, the donors set an example for their family and others, emphasizing the importance of social responsibility through philanthropy and community service.
Thomas P. McGinty
Continuing the Legacy
Thomas P. McGinty, the son of the Foundation’s founders, Thomas E. and June T. McGinty, took over the day-to-day operations of the Foundation in the early 1990s. He continued to uphold the belief in the significance of using education to improve lives.
This belief helps establish a culture of giving for generations. Giving and volunteering benefit both recipients and philanthropists alike. Philanthropy fosters empathy and broadens our perspective on the world. When people come together to help others—whether by donating money or time—they are reminded of what it means to be human. From that shared experience, communities grow stronger.
A Lasting Legacy: The McGinty Family Foundation
The Alice and Patrick McGinty Foundation was later renamed The McGinty Family Foundation as a living memorial foundation. The McGinty Family Foundation is more than just a way to honor the memories of loved ones; it is a way to keep their essence alive, influence lives and communities, and initiate a positive ripple effect.
The McGinty Family has established a lasting legacy of philanthropy and a deep commitment to education, values that have been passed down through generations.