If you have no children but have a generous heart, you can be like the late
 |
| Florence Smith has helped nearly 750 physicians pay for medical school since she died in 1952. |
Florence L. Smith and live forever through your area community foundation. There are more than 700 of these regionally focused foundations in North America helping people from all walks of life become philanthropists -- either during their lifetimes or after they pass away.
Florence Smith was a Norfolk, Virginia physician's daughter who never married and had no children or family left when she died in 1952. But, she lives forever because she put a provision in her will to start a scholarship fund at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. At the time it was called The Norfolk Foundation and was a two-year-old community foundation.
Florence's idea of sending long-time Virginians to medical school in the commonwealth has given her nearly 750 "heirs" -- people helped by her generosity. That number is growing each year. In 2014 her scholarships are helping 19 medical students pay for their educations. Look for more "heirs" to join Florence's family later in 2014 when the next Smith Scholars are selected.
In 1953 there were 20 Virginians in the first class of Smith Scholars. Among them was Dr. Percy Wootton of Richmond, Virginia, who was a student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (formerly Medical College of Virginia). He became a cardiologist and president of the American Medical Association.
Smith Scholars have gone on to be caring physicians, researchers, medical missionaries and professors working throughout the United States and in other countries. Quite a few of them have headed regional, state and national medical associations.
More and more Smith Scholars are modeling the generosity of their benefactor by becoming Hampton Roads Community Foundation donors themselves or supporting scholarships at their alma maters. In 2013 student Brian A. Holloway of Chesapeake, Virginia became the first recipient of the new Helen and Buzzy Schulwolf Fund for Smith Scholars. The Eastern Virginia Medical School student who dreams of a career as a dermatologist also has a Smith scholarship in 2014.
Dr. Alfred L. "Buzzy" Schulwolf, a retired Norfolk pediatrician who started the Schulwolf Scholarship at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, was helped by a Smith scholarship. It enabled him to attend the University of Virginia School of Medicine from 1954 to 1958. Florence's generosity inspired him to start his own scholarship fund in 2011.
As Buzzy explains, "I've given to lots of charities but this is one that actually helped me."
Florence's bequest to her community foundation for the scholarship fund was $436,620. Through the power of endowment, it has provided more than $2.5 million in scholarships and is now valued at more than $2 million.
That means Florence Smith will continue gaining new heirs to her legacy as she helps future generations achieve their dreams of becoming medical doctors.
The last line of Florence Smith's February 18, 1953 obituary says: "There are no survivors."
Through her community foundation connection with nearly 750 physician "children," Florence Smith proves that is not true. One of her scholarship recipients from many years ago whose life was changed by Florence Smith says: "I say a little prayer to Florence Smith every day."
To learn more about Smith Scholars click here.
To learn how you can create a scholarship fund or one of the many other kinds offered by the Hampton Roads Community Foundation click here.
Click here for a Council on Foundations map that will help you find information on the community foundation nearest you.
(The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is a regional community foundation started in 1950 as the first community foundation in Virginia. It is the largest grant and scholarship provider in southeastern Virginia and manages more than 400 charitable funds created by donors from all walks of life. It is dedicated to improving life for residents living in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia, including the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Smithfield, Suffolk and Virginia Beach. It also serves people in Isle of Wight and Southampton counties and the Eastern Shore of Virginia, including Accomack and Northampton counties. Learn more at hamptonroadscf.org.)
