About
The Winifred Ward Memorial Fund was created in memory of Winifred Ward, American pioneer children's theatre and creative drama university educator, following her death in 1975. The foundation's original mission was to develop the operating procedures and fundraising methods to create an outstanding memorial to Winifred. Dorothy Schwartz was the first chair of the Winifred Ward Memorial Fund Committee. Original trustees were Jed Davis, Agnes Haaga, Ann Hill, Coleman Jennings, Sara Spencer, and Nicholas Wandmacher (Ex-Officio). With the help of Hazel Easton, Nancy Ebsen, Nat Eek, Mary Jane Evans, Emily Gillies, Kenneth Graham, and Nellie McCaslin, they began raising funds for an endowment. The Children's Theatre Foundation of America offered early support, first with a $1,000 gift to cover the Fund's initial operating expenses and with additional gifts of $10,000 to support the initial scholars.
The major function of this Fund was to establish the parameters for an annual scholarship to be given to a graduate-level student of demonstrated intellectual and artistic ability in child drama/theatre. The candidate also should indicate an interest in pursuing career goals consistent with the legacy of Winifred Ward. To qualify, the student must be a citizen of the United States and must have received a bachelor's degree before beginning their graduate degree program. Applicants must be nominated by their department or program chair, who is familiar with their work.
In the beginning, the scholar had to attend a university that had an approved program of study in the field. An Institute Accreditation Subcommittee was set up to examine child drama and theatre for young audiences course offerings, syllabi, and staffing at universities. The Fund Committee later asked the American Alliance for Theatre and Education to create a committee to conduct this university evaluation. In the mid-2000s, this criteria was eliminated.
In 1977 Judith Kase-Cooper (nee Polisini) and Muriel Mawer joined the Fund Committee. Hazel Easton became the Honorary Chairperson and Nicholas Wandmacher moved from Ex-Officio to active member. Mawer took on the responsibility for investing the funds, working with the Funds Accountant, Arlene Hamilton, Program Manager of the School of Drama at the University of Washington.
Jed Davis Chaired the first Winifred Ward Scholar Selection Subcommittee in 1976. They set up criteria for scholar selection, certification of university programs, nomination procedures, and the structure of the Scholar Selection Subcommittee. This subcommittee consists of four people, with a different Chair each year.
In 1978 the first Scholarship was presented to Roger Bedard, a PhD student at the University of Kansas, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., during the Imagination Celebration festival. Each award recipient receives a plaque and a monetary award to be used for tuition. A fabric scroll with an inscription from each scholar is also passed to the new recipient. The award is presented at the American Alliance for Theatre and Education's annual conferences awards ceremony.
The Winifred Ward Memorial Fund was incorporated in 1986, with Agnes Haaga as President, Kathie Vitz as Secretary, Muriel Mawer as Treasurer, and Arlene Hamilton as Accountant. In 1990 the Winifred Ward Memorial Fund announced the Winifred Ward Dare to Dream Fellowship, which provided funding for a unique project. In 1991 this award was presented to David Saar, Carol North, and Childsplay to be used for the development of Saar's play The Yellow Boat.