The Youngstown Rotary Foundation Board of Directors and the Rotary Club of Youngstown have made the decision to permanently establish its scholarship endowment at the YSU Foundation to provide greater exposure to the fund and promote the scholarship to broader groups of guidance counselors and graduating seniors in the city and parochial high schools.
Rotary Club of Youngstown President Samantha Turner notes, “The YSU Foundation is a valuable resource in our community, and is helping us to administer our scholarship program to Youngstown’s public and parochial schools. This transition will allow the Rotary Club of Youngstown to play a more active role in mentorship and overall community support. We are proud to partner with the YSU Foundation on this endeavor.”
This gift from the Rotary Club of Youngstown is part of YSU’s $125 million We See Tomorrow campaign, the largest fundraising effort in the University’s history. Scholarships are one of the fundraising priorities, with over $68 million being raised so far. The campaign closes on June 30, 2021; however, giving opportunities are available by contacting the YSU Foundation at 330-941-3211 or www.ysufoundation.org.
The Rotary Club of Youngstown has been awarding scholarships to seniors graduating from Youngstown’s public and parochial high schools planning to attend Youngstown State University annually since 1989. From 1946-1989, the club operated a Student Loan Fund for students attending Youngstown College, later Youngstown University, and then Youngstown State University. This past April, the club awarded $5,000 to students from Chaney, East, Youngstown Early College, Ursuline and Cardinal Mooney High Schools. Annually, one scholarship is given in the name of the late Edward J. Hulme, a long-time member and past president of the Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club of Youngstown was founded on February 1, 1915, by architect Charles Owsley. The club is the 137th club founded among over 35,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide whose members provide “Service Above Self” to their local communities. The club boasts 85 members and meets every Wednesday at noon. Additionally, the club founded the Boys & Girls Club of Youngstown in 1969 and has long advocated public education in Youngstown, adopting Harding Elementary School in 1997. In 2018, the club completed a $300,000 renovation of the pavilion at historic Wick Park, where the club will host its weekly luncheons beginning on July 7.
Pictured in the photo: The Rotary Club of Youngstown recently established a new scholarship fund through a $150,000 gift to the YSU Foundation. From left are YSU Foundation President Paul McFadden, YSU Foundation development officer Andrew Zajac, Rotary Club of Youngstown President Samantha Turner and Youngstown Rotary Foundation board member Scott Schulick.