Philanthropists Make Million Dollar Promise To Bucks County Students

BRISTOL, PA — An additional 100 scholarships will help Lower Bucks high school graduates attend Bucks County Community College, with $1 million promised over the next decade.

A new gateway sign was unveiled at the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol, as Newtown philanthropist Gene Epstein announced the expansion of a scholarship program to help high school graduates attend the community college.

Last March, the Gene and Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund donated $100,000, which made it possible for 100 students to attend their first year of college - free of student debt - during the 2025-26 academic year.

This week, Epstein and his wife, Marlene, announced an additional 100 scholarships that will be available in the 2026-27 academic year.

“The college recently awarded approximately 100 scholarships that we sponsored for the most needy students in Bucks County and today we wish to announce that, showing continued success, we will provide another hundred thousand dollars for next year’s students,” announced Gene Epstein.

Gene and Marlene Epstein attended the unveiling of a new sign for the Bucks County Community College campus in Bristol Township that bears their name. (Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)

In addition, Epstein also revealed a $1 million pledge toward future scholarships over the next decade.

“Overall, we intend to fund $1 million in scholarships over the next ten years, allowing the most financially needy students to get a college education,” he said.

According to Epstein, the commitment will provide 1,000 students from Lower Bucks County with free tuition and books over the next decade.

“Our agreement with BCCC is that no student approved for our scholarships will incur any financial
responsibility,” said Epstein. “It will be a free education and a pathway for those that attend and succeed to a new life ahead of them and their following generations.”

Scholarships will be awarded based on need, not grade point average. However, recipients will need to maintain passing grades to retain the funding, said Epstein.

Students from Bensalem, Bristol Borough, Bucks County Technical High School, Bishop Conwell-Egan, Harry S Truman, Morrisville, and Neshaminy high schools are eligible to receive the scholarships on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Figuring out how to pay for college should not be a barrier for a young person who wants to make a better life for themselves,” says Gene, a long-time supporter and advocate of Bucks County Community College. “We want every student in Bucks County to know that there is a path forward for them at Bucks County Community College, and this scholarship will help them get started today. Don’t think you can afford college? Well, now you can!”

The Lower Bucks campus, which opened in 2006 in Bristol Township as the Bucks County Community College Lower Bucks Campus, was renamed the Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in 2016 to commemorate a generous donation from the Newtown-based Epstein Humanitarian Fund.

In 2022, the campus expanded with a new building, the Center for Advanced Technologies.

“We are honored to have our name as part of the success story of this most valuable institution,” said Gene.

Three years after the new Center for Advanced Technologies opened in Bristol Township, Bucks County Community College unveiled the new sign for the Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks. (Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)