THE MAGUIRE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM -

When James J. and Frances M. Maguire first met, they had no idea how many possibilities and blessings would come into their marriage. Today, they give back to the groups and individuals who improve lives and aid the greater Philadelphia area in getting ready for a better future.

SCHOLARSHIP SPONSOR

MR. MAGUIRE

In the midst of the Great Depression, Mr. Maguire was born in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area of Germantown to a sizable Irish Catholic family. Thomas, who was only partially hearing, worked for Met Life Insurance. As a result of his father’s importance to the business and subsequent promotions, the Maguire family relocated to various New York State locales. James moved four times in 10 years, and each time he attended a new school, few people noticed that he was having academic difficulties. The absence of his father caused difficult times after Thomas Maguire’s sudden death at the age of 45. Ruth Maguire, James’ stern but loving mother, wouldn’t allow things to go. She aided in ensuring James’s continued progress and determination to work hard for a better life.

James received a basketball scholarship to attend Niagara University, but after the first year, his academic eligibility was determined to be invalid. In anticipation of enrolling at SJU, he returned to Philadelphia, but unanticipatedly, he was called up for the Korean War. James enrolled at SJU on the G.I. Bill after returning from Korea, but he struggled in the classroom until he met the Reverend Hunter Guthrie, S.J., a renowned early pioneer in the research of dyslexia! James’ dyslexia was first identified by Fr. Guthrie, who then worked relentlessly to assist him overcome his reading and comprehension challenges. James went on to earn a 3.0 GPA and graduated from SJU in 1958.

James Maguire would always have a special place in his heart and mind for Saint Joseph’s University throughout his entire life.

A CAREER THAT SUCCEEDS

James began his career at Met Life, a company where his father had achieved success. But it was obvious after the first day that he didn’t want to spend his time as a collections agent sitting at a desk. He quickly persuaded the business to let him sell insurance to the deaf people he had met while helping at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf during his time at Saint Joe’s.

James petitioned Met Life for permission to offer conventional insurance to the deaf community, a first in the company’s history, and granted it. He later rose to the position of sales leader at the organization. He left his first post-graduate position with Met Life in 1960, 18 months after receiving his degree from SJU, and established Maguire Insurance Agency. There, he rapidly started providing specialist insurance options to the auto industry. The firm signed its first national account with Chevrolet dealers in 1969, which sparked the development of the ground-breaking and all-inclusive WHEELWAYS program for car dealers. By the middle of the 1970s, Maguire Insurance Agency had 15 offices nationwide thanks to the success of this campaign.

In 1980, Mr. Maguire established a holding company, which today owns a number of subsidiaries, including Philadelphia Insurance Company, which has approval to write surplus lines insurance in all states, Maguire Insurance Agency, Inc., its flagship company, and Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company, which is licensed to write property and casualty insurance in all 50 states. James, who founded the business, is still chairman emeritus of Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corporation today.

The company (NASDAQ PHLY), which went public in 1993, eventually expanded to cover more than 100 specialty business industries and employ 2,200 individuals in 50 offices across the nation. James, along with the PHLY management team, negotiated and concluded the $5 billion merger with the Tokio Marine Group in December 2008, which was regarded as one of the greatest financial transactions in Japanese history.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

For four years of matriculation, The Maguire Foundation offers last-dollar scholarships to entering freshmen at each university.

ELIGIBILITY

Maguire Scholars are chosen by their individual colleges and are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA, participate actively in extracurricular activities at their respective institutions and/or in the community, and have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0 to $25,000.