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Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of Westfield marks 50 years

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In 2011, the foundation awarded almost $102,000 in scholarships, the most in the organization's history.

022412-c-csf-neary-lee.jpgCynthia A. Neary, left, director of the Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of Westfield, and Cynthia Lee Anderson, whose father Edward Lee was instrumental in funding the organization, display memorabilia in his office in celebration of the foundation's 50th anniversary.

WESTFIELD - Charitable endowments are traditionally established to honor one’s memory, but for Edward M. Lee, investing in a scholarship fund was a way to celebrate the joyous occasions in his family’s life.

Since its inception 50 years ago, the Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of Westfield has awarded more than $2.3 million to nearly 6,000 students, none of which would have been possible without Lee, one of the organization’s most ardent supporters whose initial investment was made to honor the late attorney’s 50th wedding anniversary.

Each family celebration after that, says his daughter, Cynthia Lee Anderson, her father insisted donations be made to the scholarship as a way to honor the good times and perpetuate the importance of education.

“He asked all our family members to stop buying things for all the happy occasions and instead make donations into the fund,” said Anderson of her father, who died on March 2. “He felt that a college education is important and wanted to help other people get that education.”

A chapter of Scholarship America, the Westfield foundation is now celebrating its 50th anniversary, much in the same way Lee celebrated his 50th anniversary - by making the expenses of higher education a little less burdensome for students and their families.

Scholarship America, the parent organization of Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of Westfield, was founded by Dr. Irving Fredkin, of Fall River, and now has more than 1,050 affiliated chapters across the country. It was Fredkin who coined and trademarked the phrase “Dollars for Scholars,” which identifies the scholarship chapters which are non-profit, local and staffed solely by volunteers, according to Cynthia A. Neary, president of the Westfield chapter.

In March 1962, Neary said, Fredkin visited Westfield and made a presentation to the city’s Jaycees about the merits of his fledgling scholarship organization.

“The Jaycees felt that a local scholarship chapter would be very beneficial for the students of Westfield. Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of Westfield was established and incorporated, and then affiliated with the national foundation on Oct. 17, 1962,” she said. “During the past 49 years, the Westfield community has generously donated to CSF to help our students achieve their dreams of a college education.”

021712-c-csf-award.jpgAgma Sweeney, a congressional aide to U.S. Rep. John W. Olver, D-Amherst, presents certificates of recognition to Cynthia A. Neary and Danutay Lysy, treasurer of the Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of Westfield and winner of the Dollars for Scholars National Volunteer Award.

The early June awards night is now a Westfield tradition, made even more notable in 2011 by the highest amount ever in scholarship funds awarded to local students.

“We gave out a total of $101,760 in scholarships last year,” Neary said. “This is more important to the community than ever before. There is a greater financial need because of the high cost of college.”

The success of the foundation and its continued growth can be directly attributed to the volunteers and people like like Lee who have not only invested funds, but their time and energy as well.

“It really is the dedication and hard work of all those folks 50 years ago and the wonderful volunteers who have given tirelessly of their time and talent that has made the difference,” Neary said.

One of those volunteers, Betsy Gaylord, of Southwick, began donating her time “many years ago” and served the organization in a variety of capacities, from the head of the committee charged with evaluation scholarship applications to sitting on the CSF board.

“I just think any time you can help someone continue their education - it’s the most important thing you can do in life,” Gaylord said. “It makes them a better person.”


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