Endowment Giving
Dr. Wood Smethurst and "Yoda" the cat.
Ben Franklin has tremendously benefited from the generosity of donors who have made gifts to establish endowment funds for the school.
These endowment funds generate reliable, stable funding for scholarships, technology upgrades, and property maintenance, as well as provide funds for special awards, educational tools, and recognition that might not otherwise be possible.
Financial aid is consistently identified as a top funding priority at Ben Franklin. We never want a teen who could benefit from our individualized approach to education to be unable to attend our school. Accordingly, our largest endowment, The Wood Smethurst Scholarship Fund, is directed to provide scholarship assistance to deserving teens.
The Wood Smethurst Scholarship Fund
The Wood Smethurst Scholarship Fund was established to honor Ben Franklin’s founding Headmaster, the late Dr. Wood “Doc” Smethurst. Dr. Smethurst envisioned Ben Franklin as a community of learners where everyone could find his or her own path to academic success. He worked hard to bring this vision to life, believing that every student who wants to learn can be taught at Ben Franklin.
Today the Smethurst Scholarship Fund provides need-based financial assistance to students, helping to ensure that all teens can benefit from Ben Franklin’s individualized instruction regardless of background. The Scholarship Fund continues to provide support for this pressing need. The Smethurst Scholarship Fund pays tribute to Dr. Smethurst’s leadership and honors his legacy for generations to come.
If you are interested in learning more about The Wood Smethurst Scholarship Fund or would like to inquire about establishing a new endowment fund, please contact Martha Burdette, Head of School, at 404-633-7404.
