Invest in Possibility. Honor a Legacy. Change a Life.

A tax-deductible gift to the Violet H. Simmons Scholarship Fund, Inc. is an investment in the promise of Webutuck students—today and for generations to come.

For more than four decades, the Fund has supported students who demonstrate academic commitment, character, curiosity, and a desire to grow beyond the classroom. These scholarships and enrichment grants do more than ease financial burden: they open doors to opportunity, confidence, and lifelong learning.

Every contribution—large or small—helps ensure that Miss Simmons’s belief in the transformative power of education continues to shape young lives.

Why Your Support Matters

Your generosity directly supports:

• College scholarships for graduating Webutuck seniors

• Transformative summer enrichment grants for current college students

• Opportunities for students to pursue research, internships, travel, language immersion, and service learning

Past enrichment grants have supported students studying calligraphy in Japan, participating in medical missions abroad, engaging in international language programs, and working with underserved communities closer to home. These experiences shape students not only as scholars, but as citizens.

A Living Legacy

Miss Violet H. Simmons devoted 48 years to teaching in the Webutuck School District, inspiring generations of students through her resilience, integrity, and unwavering belief in education. The scholarship fund established in her honor reflects those same values.

The Barbara Thorlichen Riefle Summer Enrichment Grant further embodies the spirit of paying it forward—one former student’s gift enabling the growth of those who follow.

When you give to the Fund, you become part of this shared legacy: teachers, alumni, families, and friends working together to expand what’s possible for young people.

Make a Gift

• Online: Make a secure donation on our website or through the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation website

• By Check: Made payable to Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (“Violet H. Simmons Scholarship Fund” in the memo line)
  Mail to: Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation / 800 North Main St / Sheffield, MA 01257-0953

• Legacy Giving: In your estate planning, make a bequest to the Violet H. Simmons Scholarship Fund, Inc.

The Violet H. Simmons Scholarship, Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)3 charitable corporation registered with the Internal Revenue Service. All gifts are tax-deductible as permitted by law, and endowments are professionally managed by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.

Thank You

Your generosity makes a difference—not just for one student, but for generations of learners who will carry this support forward into the world.

Thank you for helping us sustain a tradition of opportunity, curiosity, and excellence.