Photo by Matt Wittmeyer

Extending the Road: From Deep Roots in the South to Support for Scholars

Emerson U. & Vernita Fullwood’s Planned Giving Story

Strengthening families while building community has been the philanthropic work of the family of Emerson U. and Vernita Fullwood for generations, beginning more than 150 years ago. Just seven years after slavery was abolished, Emerson’s great-grandfather amassed a significant amount of property and completed his first philanthropic act. He gifted land by the North Carolina seashore to build the community’s very first church in 1872. In due time, Emerson’s grandfather did the same thing, gifting land to build the community’s next church. “With those philanthropic genes and impactful family traditions, how could I not follow their example?” says Emerson.

Family stories passed on to Emerson and Vernita described the church as the centerpiece of the community, showing them both how consequential a gift like that could be. The impact of philanthropy on individuals, families, and communities was made even more obvious throughout Emerson and Vernita’s careers. Excelling at Xerox allowed Emerson to scale the corporate ladder and participate personally and professionally in making a difference in the lives of others. Vernita, a lifelong educator, not only impacted students in the classroom but has been a dedicated partner in bringing the family stories of philanthropy to life.

Investing in Education

Together, the couple has awarded half a dozen scholarships every year for decades and set up funds that will support educational possibilities long after they are gone. Their motto on giving is: “It’s a small investment for a monumental return in their lives.”

Over the years, Emerson and Vernita have established local scholarships at Monroe Community College, Roberts Wesleyan University, and the University of Rochester, as well as at Emerson and Vernita’s alma maters and other schools in their home state. Each of these scholarships connects to a meaningful chapter in the Fullwoods’ lives.

A Just-In-Case Insurance Policy Will Fund Scholarships

The Fullwoods’ legacy gift of a life insurance policy at the Community Foundation supports a permanent scholarship at North Carolina A&T State University focused on academically driven students with financial need. The decision to hold the Emerson U. and Vernita Fullwood Scholarship Fund here in Rochester but designate it to support a college in their home state is a way for the Fullwoods to spread the benefit of their charity across two communities close to their hearts.

Emerson’s parents encouraged him to get a life insurance policy while he was still in school, thinking ahead to security for a future family if life was unpredictable. It is that life insurance policy that will invest in the futures of aspiring scholars at North Carolina A&T, a historically Black university that several of Emerson’s relatives attended.

A Bright Future for Young People

Emerson and Vernita Fullwood’s hope for their planned gift is to have extraordinary impact in the life of students, families, and the community. They want to see young people empowered to become the next generation of educators, businesspeople, lawyers, doctors, and all those who can help uplift others. “What we most want to do is be an example to our children,” Vernita says. It brings her joy to see their daughters give to the very scholarships she and her husband established.

It’s not uncommon for the Fullwoods to get letters of thanks out of the blue. They reflect on how each scholar has gone on to lead incredible lives, through their families, educational achievements, and careers. “We stand on the shoulders of so many who paved the way,” says Emerson, “And now it’s our turn to extend the road further.”

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