The GRSP Endowment Fund
In the late 1970s and 80s, there was a great concern among the GRSP Trustees about the expenses of this student scholarship program. What would the future hold? Would we be prepared to handle the demands financially? 

Three visionary Rotarians, Norm Shipley (Rotary Club of Marietta), Marshall Weaver (Rotary Club of Atlanta) and Gordon Bonderrant (Rome Rotary Club) convinced the Trustees to establish a fund that would supplement the annual contributions
of each Georgia Rotarian from each Rotary Club to the Program.
 
The first Endowment Committee Chairman was Marshall Weaver. After the untimely death of Marshall Weaver, Trustee Ronnie Waller (Gainesville Rotary Club) was asked to chair the Endowment Committee.
 
Tom Bryan (Rotary Club of Jefferson) followed Ronnie as Endowment Chairman in 1986. Then in 1989, Frank Bentley, Sr. (Rotary Club of Sandy Springs), became Endowment Chairman.

As a result of the chairmen’s leadership and support from the Trustees and Rotarians through out Georgia, the Endowment Fund now stands at $9 million. The earnings each year from the Endowment help supplement scholarship funds provided by individual Rotary Clubs for our students.
 
It is important that we continue to grow the Endowment as the cost of scholarships is ever increasing. With additional income it will allow us to continue, or increase, the total number of students each year by reducing the total scholarship cost to the sponsoring Rotary clubs.
 
View special GRSP Powerpoint presentations below;
 
 

Gift Recognition

Named Scholarship:
A contribution of $100,000 or more will earn the donor a permanent Named Scholarship in their name or the name of an individual designated by the donor.

Frank Bentley, Sr. Fellow:
A contribution of $25,000 or more will earn the Frank Bentley, Sr. Fellow designation, honoring this past GRSP Endowment Chairman. He guided the Endowment Fund in the ’90s to successful campaigns that gave the GRSP financial stability. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Sandy Springs.

Hart Joiner Fellow:
A contribution of $20,000 or more will earn the Hart Joiner Fellow designation, honoring one of the original 12 Trustees selected in the program in 1958. A member of the Rotary Club of Gainesville, he was host to many GRSP students and also served as GRSP Chairman in 1964-65.

Jim Brim Fellow:
A contribution of $15,000 or more will earn the Jim Brim Fellow designation, honoring this dedicated GRSP Trustee from the Rotary Club of Pelham. He wrote the original GRSP By-Laws and served as Vice Chair of the GRSP program.

Ronnie Waller Fellow:
A contribution of $10,000 or more will earn the Ronnie Waller Fellow designation, honoring this original Endowment Chairman who guided the Endowment through a significant period of expansion. A member of the Rotary Club of Gainesville, he also served as the GRSP Chairman.

Jake Cheatham Fellow:
A contribution of $7,500 or more will earn the Jake Cheatham Fellow designation, honoring this long time GRSP Trustee. Jake served as the GRSP Secretary/Treasurer for over 30 years. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Griffin.

Kendall Weisiger Fellow:
A contribution of $5,000 or more will earn the Kendall Weisiger Fellow designation, which honors this Atlanta Rotarian, whose support of international students through the Rotary Education Foundation of Atlanta was merged into GRSP.

Hue Thomas Fellow:
A contribution of $2,500 or more will earn the Hue Thomas Fellow designation, honoring this past GRSP Chairman who guided the program through 35 years of growth. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Savannah.

Will Watt Fellow:
A contribution of $1,000 or more will earn the Will Watt Fellow designation, honoring the founder of the Georgia Rotary Student Program, who was a member of the Rotary Club of Thomasville.

Governor’s Associate:
A contribution of $500 or more will earn the designation of Governor’s Associate.

Sustaining Member:
A contribution of $100 or more will earn the designation of “Sustaining Member” of the Georgia Rotary Student Program.