During the 70th annual Special Needs Fishing Derby, the Germantown Grove Club and the Carbon County Community Foundation announced the establishment of the Phil Rodgers Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The new fund will award a $500 scholarship annually to a Carbon County student pursuing a degree in special education or rehab therapies.

The scholarship honors the life and legacy of Philip Rodgers, a lifelong Jim Thorpe resident and decorated U.S. Army veteran, whose passion for community service, inclusivity and outdoor recreation shaped countless lives across the region.

In 1955, Rodgers founded the Special Needs Fishing Derby, which has since become a cherished annual tradition. The scholarship will recognize students who exemplify the values that Rodgers held dear: service to others, compassion and a commitment to improving the lives of individuals with special needs.

“Announcing this scholarship at the event Phil created 70 years ago feels deeply meaningful,” said Kim Sargent, representative of the Germantown Grove Club. “Phil was a true example of what it means to give back. This scholarship is a way for us to honor his life and extend his vision — supporting young people who are passionate about special education and making their own impact.”

“We’re honored to partner with the Germantown Grove Club to help carry on Phil Rodgers’ legacy through

this scholarship,” said Sharon Alexander, president of the Carbon County Community Foundation. “It’s clear he left a lasting mark on this community, and we’re proud to help his friends and family celebrate that legacy by supporting the next generation of students committed to making a difference.”

More information about the scholarship is available at www.cccfoundpa.org.

Donations to the Phil Rodgers Memorial Scholarship Fund are tax deductible and will help sustain the scholarship for years to come. Donations can be made online or by mail through the foundation.

Born on Jan. 13, 1924, and passing on Aug. 13, 2006, Rodgers served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1947. Upon returning to Jim Thorpe, he immersed himself in community life: volunteering with the Red Cross; serving as an EMT with Fairview Ambulance; and participating actively in organizations such as St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and American Legion Post 304.

He also helped shape public spaces through his work on the Jim Thorpe Memorial Park Commission and in 2003, founded the Germantown Grove Club.

A devoted husband and father, he and his wife, Kathryn, raised 10 children — five boys and five girls — instilling in them the same values of service, compassion and community engagement that defined his life.

The Carbon County Community Foundation was formed in 2015 with the mission to improve the quality of life for all Carbon County residents, now and forever. The organization does this by offering individuals, families and businesses the most effective charitable giving tools available in the marketplace today, combining that with expertise in philanthropic planning, nonprofit sector issues and community priorities.

Since 2016, the charitable funds at the foundation have cumulatively awarded more than $1 million in grants and scholarships to nonprofit and community organizations, teachers, schools and students in Carbon County.

Learn more about the foundation at cccfoundpa.org or by calling 1-855-545-1311.