Preserving a Loved One's Legacy

To preserve a loved one’s legacy by establishing a way to create lasting impact on the causes that mattered to them is a beautiful gift. It’s a gift we have the joy of helping donors like Dr. Jennifer Shewmaker bring to life.

Dr. Shewmaker is an ACU professor who established a new scholarship fund in 2017 to honor the memory of her late father. In her own words, she shares the story of the Harold D. Wade Memorial Scholarship.

“As a first generation college graduate, my dad, Harold Wade, saw firsthand the power of education to transform lives for generations.

Growing up in rural Mississippi, he was encouraged by his family to pursue his own college degree and he then dedicated his career to helping others succeed. My dad spent most of his career in Christian education, serving as a teacher, principal, and finally as a superintendent.

Throughout his career, he sought to encourage and support both students and staff members, challenging them to be their best and to use the opportunities that they had to change their lives for the better. His loving approach touched hundreds of students, and transformed not only their lives, but the lives of those they later served.

It seemed only fitting to honor his memory and legacy by finding a way to continue his work of changing lives through Christian education, and that is why we established the Harold D. Wade Memorial Scholarship.

Having seen how much it meant to my own daughter to receive a scholarship through the Community Foundation, I knew CFA would be the perfect partner to help me honor my dad's memory.

My sister, Julie Crum, and I count it a privilege to be Harold Wade's daughters and have witnessed the way he lived his life to share God’s love with others. We hope that in some small way this memorial scholarship will extend his legacy of love for generations to come.”

Learn more about scholarship funds