Every Christmas season, Terry Terwilliger rang the bell to collect donations for the Salvation Army. Though he died 13 years ago, a newly established charitable fund will pay tribute to him and three generations of his family by awarding scholarships to Wallkill Senior High School graduates and giving grants to local nonprofits. The Terwilliger Family Legacy Fund for Charitable Endeavors honors everyday people and life-long Wallkill residents who worked hard, served their community, and believed in charitable giving. As a component fund of the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan, disbursements will be made in memory of Fred C. and Terry W, Terwilliger, both respected community bank executives; Frederica V. Terwilliger, an elementary and Sunday School teacher; and Bryan T. Terwilliger, a laborer with Local 17.
The Terwilliger Family Legacy Fund for Charitable Endeavors will provide scholarships to Wallkill High School (Ulster County) graduates seeking a degree in banking, teaching, or mental wellness/social work/psychiatry. Preference will be given to applicants to Babson College and Rutgers University, for banking or finance, or SUNY New Paltz, for teaching. The fund will also give scholarships and grants to students and nonprofits focusing on mental wellness, cancer-related initiatives, or serving people with disabilities, with preference given to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention-Hudson Valley Chapter and ACCESS: Supports for Living. Students should see their school guidance counselor to apply for the “Terwilliger Family Legacy” scholarship.
Fred Terwilliger started work as a young boy cleaning spittoons at The Valley National Bank in the Hamlet of Wallkill and worked his way up to Bank President before he retired. His son, Terry, also started his career at Valley National, staying on through its merger with KeyBank and rising to executive ranks before moving to Wallkill Valley Federal Savings and Loan as vice president of operations/development. He and his parents were active civically and believed strongly in supporting their community – with service and finances. Their collective civic involvement included service with Occupations, Inc. (now ACCESS: Supports for Living), Orange County Rehabilitation Services, Inc., Salvation Army, Hudson Valley Philharmonic Orchestra, Wallkill Central School District Board of Education, Huguenot Historical Society, Terwilliger Family Association, Wallkill Reformed Church, Wallkill Public Library, and Wallkill Lions Club. Sizable bequests were left in their Wills to support causes important to them. A new generation, however, hopes to inspire others to continue this tradition of local philanthropy — while they are living — and support local students. Their goal is to raise $20,000.00 within five years.
Contributions may be made to CFOS-Terwilliger Family Legacy Fund for Charitable Endeavors and sent to the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan, 30 Scott’s Corners Drive, Suite 203, Montgomery, NY 12549. Secure online donations may also be made at: www.cfosny.org/our-funds/donor-advised/terwilliger-family-legacy-fund-for-charitable-endeavors. The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All gifts are tax deductible under current tax laws. For more information, call the Community Foundation at (845) 769-9393.
About the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan: Based in Montgomery, NY, the Foundation “connects people who care with causes that matter.” Established in 1999, the Foundation helps philanthropic individuals, businesses and organizations establish charitable funds that will award grants and scholarships, for good, for ever. The Foundation has significantly increased the region’s charitable capital and has empowered donors to make a profound difference in the quality of life in our region. Since inception, the Foundation, with its donors and fund representatives, has awarded more than $8.5 million in grants and scholarships, including more than $325,000 in scholarships last year alone to 140 students from 27 different school districts. The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan currently administers about 250 charitable funds that support animal welfare, arts and culture, education, the environment, and health and human services.
