Carrying forward a mission: Ateneo Law establishes the Dean Joey Hofileña Scholarship Fund

The Ateneo Law School community is establishing the Dean Joey Hofileña Scholarship Fund in memory of our beloved Dean, Jose Maria “Joey” G Hofileña, whose life and leadership profoundly shaped the Law School.

Dean Joey deeply believed in the transformative power of education and in the responsibility of lawyers to serve others. Throughout his years at the Ateneo Law School, he consistently championed student formation and the expansion of financial aid so that deserving students, regardless of circumstance, could pursue legal education and dedicate their talents to the service of justice. 

During his tenure as Dean, the Financial Aid Program increased the number of grants awarded to over 300 per year. This year alone, over one-third of the seniors are receiving financial aid. In the midst of the pandemic, his determination to reduce the barriers to an Ateneo legal education only strengthened. Thus, the Aid Upon Admission Program was brought to life. Bolstered by the success of the Program, he made plans with great fervor for another big push to raise scholarship funds. His work did not end upon his passing. His family immediately carried on, requesting that donations for Ateneo Law scholarships be made in lieu of flowers, and inspired so many others to reach out to fulfill his mission.

Despite the demands of the first year of law school, one student who already felt called to help reached out and wrote: “As Dean Joey’s brother quoted in his eulogy, no one is truly dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away. I, too, take comfort in this, knowing that despite his passing, I will continue to witness the impact and aspirations he had for Ateneo Law School and its scholarships. As such, in line with his wishes and enthusiasm … and perhaps also with my own selfish desire to know him a little bit more through his legacy … I would like to ask if there is any way I could help…”

The Dean Joey Hofileña Scholarship Fund seeks to provide similarly-minded individuals an opportunity to carry forward this mission by providing grants to students who not only demonstrate financial need but who, as Dean Joey put it, also display the resolve to become lawyers who are skillful as well as "kind, decent, principled human beings." Through the generosity of alumni, friends, and members of the Ateneo community, the Fund will help ensure that future generations of Ateneo lawyers may continue the work and imbibe the values that Dean Joey held dear.

Donations may be made through the Ateneo Law School Financial Aid donation page:
http://go.ateneo.edu/lawfinaid

Please indicate that the donation is intended for the "Ateneo Law School - Dean Joey Hofileña Scholarship Fund."

Donations may also be made through the Bank of the Philippine Islands (Account Name: Ateneo de Manila University Inc. | Account Number: 3081-0264-82). After depositing or transferring any funds to the account, donors are requested to email a copy of the deposit slip or transfer confirmation, together with the donor’s name, for the official receipt and contact details, to finaid.law@ateneo.edu and development@ateneo.edu. Please specify that the donation is for the Dean Joey Hofileña Scholarship Fund. Other details on how to donate are available on the Ateneo Law School’s Financial Aid page (go.ateneo.edu/lawfinaid).

The Ateneo Law School community remains deeply grateful for the many expressions of love, prayer, and generosity shared in memory of Dean Joey. Through this Fund, his legacy of service, generosity, and care for students will continue to live on in the lives of the future Ateneo lawyers it will support.