The Mary Carter Frackelton Scholarship Fund

Mary Carter Frackelton, a life-long Fredericksburg resident, established this scholarship fund in December 2012. Carter is a dedicated educator and businesswoman. After graduating from Sweet Briar College, she taught 4th grade at Orange Elementary School in Orange, Virginia from 1972 to 1978. She returned to Fredericksburg in 1978 and taught at Stafford Middle School – 5th grade for three years, then 7th grade math and the 5th - 8th grade gifted program for four more. For several years, she also taught math to adults in Stafford County who were preparing to take the GED test. In 1985, Carter left public school teaching and joined her father in their family business, the Frackelton Block Company. Following Robert Frackelton’s death in December 1989, Carter became managing partner at Frackelton Block Company. Carter continues to lead the business in a variety of capacities.

Ms. Frackelton began The Mary Carter Frackelton Scholarship with a donation that provides one scholarship award each year. She has also named The Community Foundation as one of the beneficiaries in her will. Her planned gift will increase the number of scholarship awards that can be made each year, and ensure that this meaningful fund continues as a permanent asset for our region.

Ms. Frackelton believes strongly that encouraging students to make a commitment to their continuing education and helping them to reach those goals will not only increase productivity in businesses but also strengthen our community as a whole. She also believes that empowering and honoring women is a powerful way to preserve and grow a community. Demographics show that more and more women are single parents and this trend can often create serious financial challenges for their children. Ms. Frackelton intends for her gift to support high school students with barriers to higher education – particularly those who have been raised by a single mother (or grandmother or aunt). She wishes to support the college or university education of one or more high school seniors from the City of Fredericksburg or the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, Stafford or Orange. Priority will be given to students for whom financial need or other circumstances create barriers to further education. Youth who plan to attend a community college as a first step to a four-year degree are encouraged to apply.

Donors help students achieve their dreams through education by establishing or contributing to a scholarship fund. Community Foundation staff help donors establish guidelines for students to apply for financial assistance through the fund. Scholarship eligibility might be based on a student’s achievement or a demonstration of financial need. Some scholarships focus on community involvement, a commitment to a particular field of study or demonstration of leadership ability. Some donors choose to meet or correspond with students after the selection process is complete.

Opening a fund at the foundation is simple, flexible, easy and personalized to you. Browse Establish a Fund or contact us to learn about giving options that best fit your charitable goals.