The LeRoy & Elaine Webster Charitable Foundation

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Mission Statement: Encourage and advance knowledge to empower and strengthen our communities.

 

Directives:

1. Provide annual scholarships to Orange High School students with focus on one or more of the following: STEM, the arts, and community service, community improvement and/or community activism.

2. Provide grants and/or scholarships for artists in film, writing, painting, etc.

 

Vision Statement

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The children of LeRoy & Elaine Webster have a dream to strengthen communities through education, the arts, and community improvement/activism by providing assistance and opportunities to nurture aspirations for continuous improvement in the quality of life in communities. We are inspired to make the effort to carry forward the work of our parents who were courageous in their community activism. Our goal includes providing opportunities to nurture teens who express an interest in higher learning and commitment to the community, as well as others who have expressed artistic aspirations. We are a 501©(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and advancing higher learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math as well as the performing, visual and creative arts.

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The creation of the L&E Webster Charitable Foundation comes at a time when funding for higher learning, community improvement/activism, and artistic expression face political and social funding challenges. It is generally known through various studies that people who create and enjoy art are healthier, have more energy and tend to be overall, happier. STEM is important because it pervades every part of our lives. Students who are attracted and nurtured in STEM can find it to be interesting and fun.  Community awareness and development in youth has been shown to facilitate meaningful prosocial engagement; skills for success; a strong sense of attachment, emotional connection, empathy and bonding; and clear standards of behavior that will shape the lives of these youths throughout adulthood.

 

We seek to provide opportunities by primarily investing in Orange High School seniors who express an interest in higher education including the arts; Orange High School students who seek support for community engagement and improvement activities; and artists of all ages who are producing film, writing and publishing, and other artistic works.

 

The benefits of promoting STEM, community improvement and the arts are as follows:

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1. Fosters ingenuity and creativity by pairing with STEM which can lead to new ideas and innovation.

2. Encourages experimentation, application and teamwork.

3. Supports and encourages developmentally appropriate active participation and meaningful interaction with prosocial others.

4. Provides recognition and praise for community improvement focused effort, achievement.

5. Facilitates community bonding and collaboration.

6. Establishes and supports clear standards for behavior within communities, led by youths.

7. Encourages use of technology and problem solving.

8. Promotes improvisation for quality of life.

9. Promotes exploration.

 

References

1. University of Washington Center for Communities that Care. (2020).  Communities that Care PLUS, Social Development Strategies.  Retrieved from https://www.communitiesthatcare.net/how-ctc-works/social-development-strategy/