Our History
History of VCMMSF
In 2015, Carolyn Mack Frank envisioned a meaningful way to honor the legacy of her mother, Viola Cyprian Mack. A devoted mother of thirteen, Viola was deeply committed to her community in Uneedus, Louisiana, an active church member, and a passionate advocate for education. Carolyn shared her vision with her brother, James Mack, who agreed to complete the necessary steps to establish a tax-exempt organization in their mother’s name.
In December 2015, several descendants of Viola Cyprian Mack gathered at Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist Church (Viola’s home church in Uneedus, Louisiana), where they formalized plans to create an educational scholarship program in her memory. Following the service, family members made monetary contributions, and what began as a heartfelt vision soon became a reality with the establishment of the Viola Cyprian Mack Memorial Scholarship Fund.
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On May 11, 2016, the Fund officially received federal tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. A Certificate of Formation was also issued by the Texas Office of the Secretary of State. The charter board members include James Mack, Audrey Mack Harris, and Carolyn Mack Frank.
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In the spring of 2017, the first scholarship applications were distributed to graduating high school students, and two scholarships totaling $2,000 were awarded. Since then, the Fund has received competitive applications from students across the country seeking to further their education. To date, more than $8,000 in scholarship funding has been awarded to deserving students in support of their academic goals.