Silverman Family Scholarship Established at NJCU

Real estate developer and philanthropist Paul Silverman donates $50,000 to provide financial assistance to deserving students.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:51pm

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A softly focused, impressionistic photograph of students walking on a college campus, their faces obscured but their body language suggesting a sense of purpose and optimism.A scholarship gift from a local philanthropist will help open doors for deserving students at New Jersey City University.Jersey City Today

Real estate developer and philanthropist Paul Silverman has established the Silverman Family Scholarship at New Jersey City University, with an initial $50,000 endowed gift that will provide financial assistance to deserving students on its Jersey City campus for generations to come.

Why it matters

The need-based scholarship will help support NJCU's mission of serving a diverse student population, many of whom are first-generation and working-class scholars facing significant challenges. Silverman's gift also serves as the lead donation for a planned centennial campaign to benefit student scholarships as NJCU celebrates its 100th year.

The details

The Silverman Family Scholarship will be awarded by the NJCU Foundation to students who demonstrate financial need, with recipients selected based on their circumstances and potential for success. Silverman, a former longtime member of the NJCU Foundation Board of Directors, was inspired to re-engage with the university after attending President Andrés Acebo's investiture ceremony in 2025, which rekindled his belief in NJCU's mission and purpose.

  • NJCU was chartered in 1927 as Jersey City State Normal School, and 2027 will mark the 100th year of the campus.
  • Silverman served on the NJCU Foundation Board of Directors from 2012 to 2022, including a term as vice chair.
  • Silverman was honored during the 2022 NJCU Leadership Awards gala.

The players

Paul Silverman

A real estate developer and philanthropist who has established the Silverman Family Scholarship at New Jersey City University with a $50,000 endowed gift.

Andrés Acebo

The president of New Jersey City University, whose investiture ceremony in 2025 inspired Silverman to re-engage with the university.

NJCU Foundation

The organization that will award the Silverman Family Scholarship to students who demonstrate financial need.

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What they’re saying

“What inspired me was Andy's investiture. He approached it not as a ceremony, but as a tribute to this community. Being there rekindled something in me: a belief in NJCU, in its purpose, and in the people it exists to uplift.”

— Paul Silverman, Philanthropist

“Paul Silverman and his family's generous commitment to our students demonstrates their profound understanding that education is the foundation upon which strong communities are built. As someone who has literally shaped the skyline and neighborhoods of Jersey City, Paul recognizes that investing in our students is the most important investment we can make in our community's future.”

— Andrés Acebo, President, New Jersey City University

What’s next

The establishment of the Silverman Family Scholarship continues Paul Silverman's long history of supporting education and community development in Hudson County. NJCU plans to announce details of a planned centennial campaign to benefit student scholarships at a later date.

The takeaway

Silverman's gift to establish the Silverman Family Scholarship at NJCU demonstrates the transformative impact that philanthropic support can have on students, especially those from underserved communities. His renewed commitment to the university's mission and purpose serves as an inspiring example for others who have the means to invest in the future of their local communities.