Soul of 1971 Scholarship Fund-Johnston

High School

Harold Hemberger, chief organizer of the quinquennial class reunions of Johnston High School’s Class of 1971, found himself approaching the Soul of ‘71’s 50th.

Last September, he had budgeted $500 for them to award a scholarship—the money kept coming in. “I put it out on our Facebook group suggesting that maybe we could do something much bigger.” Ultimately, eight thousand came in and he decided he needed a way to manage this. “One of the things I researched was the Rhode Island Foundation—I knew they did this type of thing and it was important to keep the money in Rhode Island. The only catch was that we needed $10,000 to initiate this. So I went back to Facebook, and we ended up with $13K and change by the time I sent the check to the Foundation.”

Harold has gathered five classmates to meet by Zoom three times a year to sustain an income stream for the fund. Pleased that their first scholarship recipient was a first-generation college student, they think that is something to target. A second target area has been trade schools: “we had a number of kids from my class who went to trade school, and today there is still a big demand but the skills aren’t out there. I attended honors night and there are scholarships being granted for lots of reasons—fifty awards but only two or three for trade or technical schools.”

The guidance department will take the initiative, put the word out there, and will choose the recipient. Harold has since asked other classes to contribute if they are so inclined—they will be recognized when scholarships are awarded but the name will remain the Soul of ‘71—it has always been this class’s nickname. “They don’t have to go through the process we did so this is the way they can participate with an existing fund.”

Harold spent his career at the YMCA—from a lifeguard to the CEO of the Smithfield YMCA. He knows planned giving and doesn’t have a problem asking people for money. “If you have a worthy cause, it will be supported.

“It has also gelled the class: we now have a long-term goal. In the past, the long-term goal was always the next reunion. Now the goal is funding this so that when we are gone, the money will still be there.” The Class of 1971 is the first class in the history of the Johnston School Department to establish a scholarship which will be sustained in perpetuity. “It’s been a very positive experience for the entire class.”