The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle Thanks Donors, Celebrates Recipients

PRESS release: 1/20/2017

The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle held its annual scholarship brunch on Sunday, January 11 in the inviting venue of the Trinity Episcopal Church New Parish Hall.

Board Chair Lucy Miller welcomed a full house of benefactors, trustees and scholarship recipients and introduced two speakers.

Byron Woodman, 2017 Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year and former trustee of The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle called The Scholarship Fund “a labor of love.” During Woodman’s twelve-year term on the Board, he saw the Fund grow from $200,000 to $1 million. The endowment now stands at over $3 million.

Woodman touched on his motivation for establishing the scholarship fund in memory of his sister, Joyce T. Woodman and in challenging his 55th CCHS reunion class to create a scholarship fund.

“From a community perspective,” said Woodman, “Concord is blessed with many resources. We can be proud of our public school system, our library, our museums and our cultural institutions.” He continued, “We can be equally proud of The Scholarship Fund. Our students will come closer to reaching their full potential as a result of our donors and of those who volunteer their time.”

Gabrielle “Gabby” Wilson CCHS ’17 spoke on behalf of this year’s scholarship recipients. Wilson attends Roger Williams University, pursuing her interests in languages, design, film and music.  “For me,” said Williams, “college is a journey of discovery. I am grateful to the community that has supported my aspirations and ambitions.”

The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle is the largest source of need-based scholarships to help students in the community to pursue their dreams of further education. In 2017 it awarded $200,000 from its own funds and $67,000 from affiliate organizations, such as the Concord Rotary and Lions Clubs, to 79 deserving high school graduates.  A major source of funding is the annual Phonathon, scheduled for March 18 and 19, 2018.