Mary A. Dempsey, the first woman to chair the DePaul University Board of Trustees and a 1982 DePaul College of Law graduate, and her husband, noted trial attorney Philip H. Corboy Sr., have made the single largest gift in the history of  the DePaul University College of Law by creating the Mary Dempsey and Philip Corboy Endowed Scholarship.  The seven figure endowment, the total amount of which is undisclosed at the request of the benefactors, was announced Oct. 17 at a law alumni dinner attended by 250 DePaul law graduates and guests.

“Scholarships are absolutely essential to attracting talented and diverse students,”  said Warren E. Wolfson, interim dean of the College of Law.  “Gifts such as this enable the College of Law to attract and retain the most talented students without regard to their financial circumstance so that economic status does not become a barrier to economic and professional progress.”

Dempsey says that if it had not been for the financial support she received while attending law school she may never have successfully concluded her studies to become an attorney.  Through this scholarship, Dempsey, who is commissioner of the Chicago Public Library, and her husband will assist law students who also may find themselves in need of a financial boost to pursue a career in law. 

“Nobody is self-made in this life,” said Dempsey.  “DePaul gave me financial support when I needed it. Phil and I are very pleased that Dean Wolfson and his successors will be able to ensure that talented students with financial need are able to attend DePaul College of Law with assistance from the scholarship.”