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OURCOMMUNITY CONNECTING

THE WINSTON-SALEM FOUNDATION

2015 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT

“It’s amazing to see what the funds have done so far. To be able to make such a difference — it is just what Patsy wanted.”

PATSY SEAWELLDONOR

THE CONCERT WAS PLANNED — just a small event at the Reynolds Homestead in the mountains

of Virginia. And Patsy Seawell, age 69, “spent hours practicing, every single day, to get it right,”

recalled her friend, Beth Fenimore.

Patsy was excited to be giving a performance at this special place she often visited near the small home where she spent many summers. She was a disciplined pianist, and she had high expectations of herself.

“She was very determined once she put her mind to something,” said Beth, with a smile.

Beth was at that performance in 2002, supporting a friendship that had emerged from a business relationship. Beth is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, and Patsy was her client at the time. Over the years, Beth learned of Patsy’s love for music, her passion for teaching, and her post-retirement interest (and skill) in water-color painting.

Patsy played piano most of her life. She studied music at Virginia Intermont College, Salem College, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she obtained a master’s degree in music with a concentration in piano. She was an assistant professor of music at High Point College from 1966 to 1980.

Patsy was married to George Taylor May, who died in 1977, and later to Samuel Griffin Seawell, who died in 2000. When she inherited stock unexpectedly — and valued at more than she real-ized — Patsy turned to Beth. How could she share her resources in a way that would have meaningful impact?

Beth suggested working with The Winston-Salem Foundation, which excited Patsy because she had received a student loan from the Foundation to help pay for her graduate studies decades before.

“Thinking back to that loan, she told me it really changed her life,” said Beth.

That led to an idea: Patsy could create a scholarship fund to support musicians, artists, and arts educators in achieving their goals. She could support future artists just as she had been supported.

Patsy’s musings about her dreams set in motion the Samuel Griffin Seawell and Patsy Moore Seawell Memorial Scholarship to support students pursuing graduate studies in music or arts-related fields in the Piedmont Triad.

Sadly, Patsy did not live to meet her scholarship recipients; she died suddenly in 2008 as the scholarship process was just being put in place. Beth, however, carries on Patsy’s legacy by meeting Seawell scholarship recipients at the Foundation’s annual scholar-ship breakfast.

“Patsy would have loved meeting the students,” Beth said. “She would be so proud of their high level of talent and dedication.”

In just a few years, the scholarship has achieved exactly what Patsy wanted — giving intentionally, supporting the arts, and educating future generations.

“It’s amazing to see what the funds have done so far. To be able to make such a difference — it is just what Patsy wanted.”

NEXT: ROBERT MATTHEWS is a pianist, singer, and choral instructor. In 2014 and 2015, he received a scholarship from the SAMUEL GRIFFIN SEAWELL AND PATSY MOORE SEAWELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND to support his graduate studies at Salem College, allowing him to pursue his dream of becoming a professional pianist. LEARN MORE >

THE SAMUEL GRIFFIN SEAWELL AND PATSY MOORE SEAWELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP, which was

established in 2008, is a $5,000 award for students pursuing

graduate studies in music- or arts-related disciplines at

institutes of higher learning in the Piedmont Triad region.

As many as 10 scholarships are awarded each year.

t h e w i n s t o n - s a l e m f o u n d a t i o n a n n u a l r e p o r t OUR COMMUNITY CONNECTING [ 1 6 - 1 7 ]

“It’s amazing to see what the funds have done so far. To be able to make such a difference — it is just what Patsy wanted.”

PATSY SEAWELLDONOR

THE CONCERT WAS PLANNED — just a small event at the Reynolds Homestead in the mountains

of Virginia. And Patsy Seawell, age 69, “spent hours practicing, every single day, to get it right,”

recalled her friend, Beth Fenimore.

Patsy was excited to be giving a performance at this special place she often visited near the small home where she spent many summers. She was a disciplined pianist, and she had high expectations of herself.

“She was very determined once she put her mind to something,” said Beth, with a smile.

Beth was at that performance in 2002, supporting a friendship that had emerged from a business relationship. Beth is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, and Patsy was her client at the time. Over the years, Beth learned of Patsy’s love for music, her passion for teaching, and her post-retirement interest (and skill) in water-color painting.

Patsy played piano most of her life. She studied music at Virginia Intermont College, Salem College, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she obtained a master’s degree in music with a concentration in piano. She was an assistant professor of music at High Point College from 1966 to 1980.

Patsy was married to George Taylor May, who died in 1977, and later to Samuel Griffin Seawell, who died in 2000. When she inherited stock unexpectedly — and valued at more than she real-ized — Patsy turned to Beth. How could she share her resources in a way that would have meaningful impact?

Beth suggested working with The Winston-Salem Foundation, which excited Patsy because she had received a student loan from the Foundation to help pay for her graduate studies decades before.

“Thinking back to that loan, she told me it really changed her life,” said Beth.

That led to an idea: Patsy could create a scholarship fund to support musicians, artists, and arts educators in achieving their goals. She could support future artists just as she had been supported.

Patsy’s musings about her dreams set in motion the Samuel Griffin Seawell and Patsy Moore Seawell Memorial Scholarship to support students pursuing graduate studies in music or arts-related fields in the Piedmont Triad.

Sadly, Patsy did not live to meet her scholarship recipients; she died suddenly in 2008 as the scholarship process was just being put in place. Beth, however, carries on Patsy’s legacy by meeting Seawell scholarship recipients at the Foundation’s annual scholar-ship breakfast.

“Patsy would have loved meeting the students,” Beth said. “She would be so proud of their high level of talent and dedication.”

In just a few years, the scholarship has achieved exactly what Patsy wanted — giving intentionally, supporting the arts, and educating future generations.

“It’s amazing to see what the funds have done so far. To be able to make such a difference — it is just what Patsy wanted.”

NEXT: ROBERT MATTHEWS is a pianist, singer, and choral instructor. In 2014 and 2015, he received a scholarship from the SAMUEL GRIFFIN SEAWELL AND PATSY MOORE SEAWELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND to support his graduate studies at Salem College, allowing him to pursue his dream of becoming a professional pianist. LEARN MORE >

THE SAMUEL GRIFFIN SEAWELL AND PATSY MOORE SEAWELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP, which was

established in 2008, is a $5,000 award for students pursuing

graduate studies in music- or arts-related disciplines at

institutes of higher learning in the Piedmont Triad region.

As many as 10 scholarships are awarded each year.

t h e w i n s t o n - s a l e m f o u n d a t i o n a n n u a l r e p o r t OUR COMMUNITY CONNECTING [ 1 6 - 1 7 ]