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About Us
We are proof that the collective support of a community has enormous power to help its young people achieve their potential and affect change in their world.
About Us
We are proof that the collective support of a community has enormous power to help its young people achieve their potential and affect change in their world.
We are proof that the collective support of a community has enormous power to help its young people achieve their potential and affect change in their world.
The Foundation
The Winchester Scholarship Foundation is a voluntary non-profit organization dedicated to providing need-based financial aid to students who have graduated from Winchester High School. The Scholarship Committee composed of five Winchester residents, awards scholarships based upon unmet family financial need. Since its establishment in 1945, the WSF has been supporting students during their four college years as well as students pursuing graduate degrees. Income from endowed gifts from organizations and individuals as well as annual contributions are the principal source of funding.
The Winchester Scholarship Foundation
Completes Successful 78th Year
November 10, 2023
By Edward Lamson
This article originally appeared in the online edition of The Woburn Daily Times Chronicle.
The Winchester Scholarship Foundation recently completed its 78th year, highlighted by near-record scholarships awarded to Winchester High School graduates. Final awards totaled $551,300 to 118 undergraduate and graduate students. The most recent WHS graduates (Class of 2023) received 23 scholarships totaling $95,000. Six graduate students, primarily medical school students, received $36,000 in scholarships.
This year’s awards represent the second highest award year trailing the $558,682 awarded in 2021. During its 78-year history, the Winchester Scholarship Foundation has awarded in excess of $10,500,000 to WHS graduates.
The WSF’s ability to accomplish this record is primarily the result of long-term community support. Endowed funds established during the past fifty years are managed both internally and externally. External Funds are managed by unaffiliated money managers, primarily banks. Internal funds are managed superbly by three Winchester residents, David Donahue, Alan MacDonald, and James R. Willing.
Our internal funds are composed of 55 endowed funds. These endowed funds have been created to honor Winchester residents and organizations. A list of each of these funds and a description of the donor can be found on the WSF’s website at: www.winchestersf.org. The internally managed funds have grown consistently in value during the past 25 years from $2,663,004 in 1998 to $11,891,670 on September 30, 2023.
During the fiscal year ended in June, an endowed fund was created by community contributions to recognize and honor Kathleen Bodie’s fifty years as a superb educator and involved Winchester citizen. In addition, community contributions recognized the service of Donna Gildersleeve to the Winchester School System during the past 45 years. Donations to create these two endowed funds were primarily from Winchester residents. Nearly all of the WHS sports teams contributed to the Donna Gildersleeve Fund recognizing her care of WHS athletic teams. During 2022, three endowed funds were created to honor John Sullivan, Bob Bigelow, and Tyler Antonovich.
The WSF website will provide additional information on the Winchester Scholarship Foundation.