In 1976, long time member of the International Association of Arson Investigators (I.A.A.I.)
John Charles Wilson made a donation of $1,000 to start a college scholarship for students
enrolled in fire service and law enforcement curriculum. The scholarship program was named
in honor of Wilson who served on the I.A.A.I. Board of Directors and many different I.A.A.I.
committees for 33 years. He was made a life member of the association in 1975.
From 1976 to 1979, the fund sat dormant until the I.A.A.I. Board of Directors voted to
take one year's interest from the association’s savings to help jump start the fund.
The following years, the program was funded by generous donations from I.A.A.I. members.
In 1981, the I.A.A.I. gave out the first two scholarships.
By 1995, the scholarship program was giving out three (3) $1,000 scholarships a year
but only adding about $600 a year to the fund. At that rate, the fund would have been broke
in a couple of years.
In November 1995, the I.A.A.I. transferred the John Charles Wilson (JCW) program to the
I.A.A.I. Educational Foundation. The remaining fund of $13,785 was transferred to the
Foundation as well. The Foundation then invested $6,000 into the program to fund
scholarships. In 1996, the Foundation awarded three (3) $1,000 and four (4) $500
scholarships to students throughout North America.
Since 1996, the Foundation has funded the JCW program with grants of $6,000 (’96),
$5,000 (’98) and $25,000 in ('99).
With the infusion of funds noted above and the continuing fund raising efforts to
increase the JCW endowment, the Foundation has stabilized the program for years to come.
The Foundation continues its fundraising efforts in connection with the John Charles
Wilson Scholarship program. |
