Why the Holloways made a charitable bequest
Paul '71H and Anna Grace '76 Holloway
When it first began in 1988, the Paul J. Holloway Prize Competition, aimed at encouraging entrepreneurial passion and innovative ideas for businesses, had what would be considered standard business ideas: a plan to launch a babysitting service, an idea for a dog-walking business, and the like. More than 30 years later, the competition ideas have become much more advanced to address today’s challenges, with student teams competitively clamoring for a chance to bring their big idea to market. The annual event recognizes students who conceptualize, develop and pitch the most compelling proposals to bring a product to market and awards students thousands of dollars in cash and prizes every year. And, thanks to a gift from the competition’s original founders and funders, Anna Grace and Paul Holloway, that tradition of innovation will live on indefinitely. The Holloways have invested $1.6 million through planned giving to endow their namesake competition.
They see it as a continuation of their legacy at UNH. Paul served for many years as a trustee on the University system board, Anna Grace earned her undergraduate degree from UNH, their son got his master’s here, their daughter earned both an undergraduate and a graduate degree here, and their grandson is a Wildcat as well. When the competition was founded, says Anna Grace, the aim was for her, son Scott and daughter Debra to honor Paul’s achievements and contributions to the educational and business communities of New Hampshire by creating a connection between UNH’s research focus and the corporate world. Steadily the competition grew, expanding beyond the business school to be a university-wide, and then a university system-wide, offering — and along the way, fostering a sense of entrepreneurship among students, but also inspiring faculty to mentor students so that their ideas would become practical business plans that could really take off.
Paul points to his own story, and those who helped him along the way, as his inspiration for giving to worthy causes. He grew up in an 18-foot-wide rowhouse in Philadelphia, his family unable to afford a car until he was a teenager. He found his athletic talents helped him make his way — as did people who lent a helping hand. “If it wasn’t for some people along the way, helping me in sports, I would never even have gotten to college,” he says. Now many years of success later, he adds, “I just think when you’re successful you have an obligation to help make other people successful.”
