The Ronald D. & Regina C. McNeil Foundation, Inc. was founded in 2002 in support of education. The Foundation is a private 501(c)3 and since its inception has maintained an annual administrative cost of less than 1%. The founders, Ronald Dean McNeil and Regina Clark McNeil, PhD are both natives of Detroit, Michigan and graduates of Detroit Cass Technical High School, which is where they met.
The founders believe that education is an essential element in a successful life plan and challenge themselves and others to “Reach Beyond Your Grasp”.
To date, The Foundation has established seven endowments, two scholarship programs and one scholarship fund.
Our inaugural endowment, The Sanders M. Clark Endowed Scholarship, was established at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, College of Engineering. Two additional endowments, also at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, are The Ronald D. McNeil Endowed Football Scholarship and The Regina Clark McNeil Endowed Fund in the Marsal Family School of Education. Recipients are named Sanders M. Clark Engineering Scholars, Ronald D. McNeil Scholar-Athletes and Regina Clark McNeil Education Scholars, respectively. A fourth endowment, The Ronald Louis Clark FAM Endowed Scholarship, was established through the University of Michigan’s Alumni Association’s Future Alumni of Michigan Scholars Program (FAM). Recipients are named Ronald Louis Clark FAM Scholars. The Alumni Association also administers The Regina Clark McNeil FAM Endowed Scholarship, The Ronald Dean McNeil FAM Endowed Scholarship. and The Dorothy M & Elijah L. McNeil, Jr. FAM Endowed Scholarship. Recipients are respectively named Regina Clark McNeil FAM Scholars, Ronald Dean McNeil FAM Scholars and Dorothy M. & Elijah L. McNeil, Jr. FAM Scholars.
The McNeil Scholar Program-Detroit was established in 2007 for high school graduates of the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) matriculating to accredited institutions of higher education within the state of Michigan. The McNeil Scholar Program-Lana’i, established in 2012, is for graduates of the Lana’i High & Elementary School (LHES) who plan to attend college in the United States. Recipients of The McNeil Scholar Programs are named McNeil Scholars. Both McNeil Scholar Programs also support DPSCD and LHES graduates matriculating to one of the five United States Military Academies.
The Elijah L. McNeil, Jr. Scholarship Fund was established in 2012 in honor of
co-founder Ronald D. McNeil’s father, Elijah L. McNeil, Jr. The Fund is administered by The Foundation through The McNeil Scholar Program-Detroit and provides support for DPSCD high school graduates who enroll in the School of Business Administration at Wayne State University. Recipients are named Elijah L. McNeil, Jr. Scholars.
The Ronald D. and Regina C. McNeil Walking Robotics Laboratory and the Ronald D. and Regina C. McNeil Department Chair of Robotics are named in honor of Foundation co-founders, Ronald and Regina McNeil. The McNeils are also recipients of the David B. Hermelin Award.