A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CORFU-PEMBROKE DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS CHAPTER...

Like minded alumni and community members joined together in 2006 to create an organization that would provide financial support to all Pembroke district graduates who desired to continue educational studies. An Alumni Scholarship program that started in the mid-1950's was the basis for the 2006 discussions and the Corfu-Pembroke Dollars for Scholars chapter (DFS) was formally established 2008 as an authorized affiliate of Scholarship America (ScholarshipAmerica.org) and are a {501 (c) 3} charitable organization.

Our DFS chapter has grown and flourished over the last 18 years with the generous financial support of numerous alumni, civic organizations, local businesses, and other sponsors. Currently, the Corfu-Pembroke chapter of the Dollars for Scholars, offers no less than 31 annual monetary awards to graduating seniors in the Corfu-Pembroke School District to assist in their continuing education endeavors.  

The founding members of the Corfu-Pembroke Dollars for Scholars Chapter were: Doc (Art) Mruczek -Pres; Linda Rindell - V-Pres; Jack Waggoner - Treasurer; 'Berneda Scoins - Secretary; Toby Beahan & Keith Palmer - Awards Committee; Joseph Fenton, Michele Fingerlow, and Gemma Rarich- Fund Raising; Sandra Maurer, Kate Reigel, and Katleen Dethier. 

 

 

 

A Major Scholarship was provided...

The first large scholarship grant was provided by Walter Chmielewski to establish a perpetual scholarship in memory of his mother, Sophie Chmielewski. Walter said, "I would like to think of my contribution as "seed money" which would be added to by others in the future." Walter recalled an observation his mother often made: "Others may take away your possessions. They can never take away your education." 

Sophie J. Chmielewski was born August 25, 1916 in Kansas City, Kansas and died March 1, 2004. She did not have the opportunity to complete high school but was one of those individuals that parlayed her common sense, and sense of honestly and dignity to reach her goals for herself and her children of one son (Walter, the eldest child) and two younger daughters.

Shown here is Daniel Graves, nephew of Sophie, presenting the 2011 Scholarship at the Senior Banquet with Toby Behan, High School Counselor .  $1,000 has been provided by the Chmielewski Endowment annually.  


This original financial "seed money" and all subsequent endowed donations have been carefully invested in various appropriate and prudent financial instruments. Our DFS chapter and its Finance and Investment Committee enjoy a relationship with the Edward Jones office in Batavia, NY. Supplemented by new scholarships each year, some of DFS' annual scholarship award money comes from the earnings on those investments. Of course, investment returns vary from year to year because of market conditions, and invested reserves are utilized from time to time as needed to supplement investment reserves to fund scholarship awards. Additional scholarship donations are always being sought to increase the number of students DFS is able to assist in their continuing educational endeavors. 

Board meetings are held in the library in the High School. Students, parents, educators, and interested citizens are invited to attend and participate. Please consider becoming an Ambassador, volunteer, or board member. You will "Make a Difference"! If you are interested to learn more, please email corfupembrokedfs@gmail.com. 

A Mind is a terrible thing to waste.....https://admin.dollarsforscholars.org/index.php?downloadFile=1&table=chapters_webContent_images&field=image&check=4c8df85bb4de82bfb611cea31addf5cf&key=457&thumbnail=1