It started in 1964.
In the midst of the civil rights movement in America, Akron hotel owner George Mathews set up a scholarship at the University of Akron.
Mathews, an African-American and the owner of a namesake hotel on North Howard Street, donated $25,000 toward the fund to help “students demonstrating ability, potential and need.” The scholarship was open to anyone.
University officials say to date more than $50,000 has been awarded to UA students.
More than $20,000 has been doled out in the last decade alone, said Christine R. Curry, director of development-stewardship/donor services at the university.
Mathews holds a special place in the history of African Americans in Akron as the area marks Black History Month.
The finishing touches are being made to a $125,000 monument to the Hotel Mathews, which was open from 1925 to 1978, and the entertainment district around it that was the city’s hub for African-American businesses and entertainment in the city for decades. The monument, which represents the hotel’s door, stands at North Howard Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Legendary African-American entertainers like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzie Gillespie and Duke Ellington played in the clubs on North Howard Street when they were in town and when they were renting rooms from Mathews.
Today the George W. Mathews Scholarship Fund has a market value of nearly $70,000 and a book value of nearly $47,000.
“For 1964, for a black man is pretty impressive,” said Curry of the scholarship. “It shows a commitment to higher education and to philanthropy.”
The scholarship is unique in that it requires that a match of the scholarship amount given out be set aside each year to go directly into UA’s general fund “so he is supporting the university and he is supporting scholarships,” Curry said.
Because of the sluggish stock market, no scholarships were awarded last year. But the university hopes to offer the scholarship again next year. The last two recipients, Curry said, went on to graduate from the university.
Mathews was the sole contributor to the fund, but Curry said, others may contribute to thescholarship.
Donations can be made to the George W. Mathews Scholarship, Department of Development, University of Akron, 44325-2603.
To find out about this scholarship and others, go to www.uakron.edu/financialaid or call 330-972-7111 and ask for financial aid.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or at jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.