When Brice Krydynski walked across the stage at Spartanburg High School and turned the tassel on her graduation cap, she celebrated more than an academic milestone. She took the next step toward her dream of becoming a veterinarian.

This fall, Brice will begin her journey at Auburn University as a member of the Class of 2030. Helping make that dream possible is the Elizabeth Ward Cannon Jesse Boyd Scholarship, awarded through the Spartanburg County Foundation.

Brice’s story is one of hundreds made possible each year through scholarship funds entrusted to the Foundation. The Foundation currently stewards 294 scholarship funds, preserving and growing charitable assets while ensuring each donor’s wishes are honored for generations to come.

Many of these funds were established to honor the memory of loved ones or provide a way for local organizations and community groups to invest in the future of Spartanburg County students. Together, they create opportunities that change lives.

An example is the Robert M. Carlisle Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in 1953 with an initial gift of just $200. More than seventy years later, that $200 investment, under the Spartanburg County Foundation’s stewardship and generous donors, has provided over $330,000 in scholarships to students attending Wofford College and will continue to fund scholarships for future generations

Scholarship presentations and recognition events create meaningful opportunities to celebrate students and the communities that believe in them. This summer, members of the Spartanburg High School Class of ’79 awarded their first scholarship at a luncheon hosted at the Piedmont Club. Donors, recipients, and families gathered to celebrate achievement, opportunity, and the power of giving back. (shown above)

Brice’s scholarship honors the memory of Elizabeth Ward Cannon and reflects a family’s lasting connection to Jesse Boyd Elementary School. Mrs. Cannon’s daughter, Mary Cannon, a retired District 7 educator, has helped establish three scholarship funds through the Foundation. The scholarship Brice received is awarded annually to a student who attended Jesse Boyd Elementary School.

Behind every scholarship award is a process designed to honor donor intent and support student success. Students apply through their high school guidance offices, volunteer committees review applications, and award recommendations are submitted to the Foundation. From there, the Foundation’s Finance Team ensures scholarship payments are delivered directly to colleges and universities and continues to manage awards when students transfer or receive multi-year scholarships.

Behind every scholarship award is a process designed to honor donor intent and support student success. Students apply through their high school guidance offices, volunteer committees review applications, and award recommendations are submitted to the Foundation. From there, the Foundation’s Finance Team ensures scholarship payments are delivered directly to colleges and universities and continues to manage awards when students transfer or receive multi-year scholarships.

In 2025 alone, the Foundation distributed more than $742,000 in scholarships through 570 individual transactions, supporting the process of donor generosity turning student dreams into realities.

On July 15, 2026, Brice and her mother, Frances, visited the Spartanburg County Foundation for a special surprise. Although her scholarship had already been awarded and applied to her Auburn student account, Mary Cannon wanted to mark the occasion in a memorable way.

Together with Foundation President and CEO Troy Hanna, she presented Brice with an original portrait painted by a Ukrainian artist. The gift was intended to remain at home with her family, a reminder of the love, support, and community that helped launch her next chapter nearly 300 miles away.

For Brice, the scholarship provides financial assistance as she pursues her future. For the donors who created it, the award fulfills a lasting vision. And for the Spartanburg County Foundation, it is one of hundreds of stories that demonstrate the extraordinary impact of philanthropy: helping students transform their aspirations into opportunities and their dreams into degrees.

There are nearly 300 different scholarship funds held at the Spartanburg County Foundation. They have been opened by generous donors – individuals, families, businesses, and community groups to support students pursuing education beyond high school. The Foundation does not accept scholarship applications directly. Applications for these scholarships are available through high school guidance offices or financial aid offices at individual post-secondary institutions. The Foundation works to protect, preserve, and grow these resources so that, like the Robert M. Carlisle Fund example above, the intent of those who opened the fund will be honored, and those resources will continue to support students – for generations to come.

• If you are interested in donating to one of our existing scholarship funds, please click here to learn about them and choose one of our scholarship funds to support with your online gift.
• If you are interested in opening a new scholarship fund, please contact Karen Nichols, our Vice President of Philanthropic Services by email or by calling the Foundation office at 864-582-0138.