Ruth Woolard

In 1971, New York was struggling. Times were tough all around and all that had made the city great was in jeopardy — including Catholic schools. Terence Cardinal Cooke, then Archbishop of New York, recognized the profound challenges and called on a group of prominent New Yorkers to help keep Catholic education accessible to disadvantaged children.

“Cardinal Cooke had such a passion for the mission of Catholic schools, and was not going to let them fail,” says Ruth Woolard, whose husband Paul P. Woolard, a Revlon executive, was one of the eight founding members of the first executive council for Inner-City Scholarship Fund in 1971. “The Cardinal believed they were an oasis, a refuge, and a happy place for learning.”

The Woolards have been an integral part of Inner-City Scholarship Fund since its inception. Paul was an active member of the council and later as a Trustee until his death in 2013 at the age of 89. Ruth has served on and chaired committees that have been instrumental in the organization’s growth from a small group of business leaders and philanthropists that raised $400,000 in its first year to a fund that now provides upwards of $14 million in scholarships each year.

Essential in the organization’s growth was FRIENDS of Inner-City, a group of volunteers that in 1977 orchestrated the first FRIENDS Gala held at the Kennedy Gallery. The event — and its “friend-raising” — was so successful that the executive committee organized the first Awards Dinner that December, a
tradition that continues. Under Ruth’s leadership, Inner-City Scholarship Fund has hosted the fun-filled annual gala with hundreds of guests featuring student speakers and performances at some of New York’s premier venues.

Throughout it all — in addition to scholarships — the gala has supported programs which enrich the lives of students with fitness programs, art appreciation, career readiness, social events, and field trips to New York’s finest cultural attractions. “It gave them an education beyond the classroom and made them part
of the city,” Ruth says. “These were all things that helped provide a full-life.”

The beauty of all of this, Ruth adds, is that the hard-work and dedication has changed the trajectory of and enriched young people’s lives. In fact, in the past 50 years, Inner-City has helped 800,000 students receive a quality faith-based education in the Archdiocese of New York. “When you look at a child’s life, you realize
something extraordinary is happening. In a word, it is transformational.”

And it’s not only rewarding to students. Those who are involved and supporting Inner-City are moved by the tremendous impact they have on a young person’s life, which in part, explains why generations
of families remain dedicated to Inner-City Scholarship Fund and its mission. “We’ve always had excellent vision and leadership,” she says. “It’s always enriched my life. You see the progress that is being made: It’s a wonderful reward.”