Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund Receives Record-Breaking $5 Million Gift 

The Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund recently announced a high-impact gift from the estate of the late C. David Hughbanks, a Ballard High School alumnus from the class of 1954.  

The funds will be given to the Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund and the Ballard High School Foundation, an organization that Mr. Hughbanks founded.

The extraordinary gift is the largest donation to the Seattle Public Schools student post-secondary scholarship fund and the largest private donation of any kind to the district.

The gift along with other generous donations, will allow the scholarship fund to continue offering half a million dollars in opportunities for the next 10 years. 

“This gift represents a significant advancement for the Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund’s ability to help our students with tuition expenses at any college, university, or vocation training of their choice.”  Dr. Jones, SPS superintendent said. “We are incredibly thankful to the C. David Hughbanks Donor Advised Fund for choosing Seattle Public Schools students as the recipients of this generous legacy gift.” 

Michael DeBell, Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund chair noted “After a lifetime of service to his city, C. David chose to gift scholarships to deserving young people who have overcome adversity. He wanted hard working students to realize their full potential by pursuing higher education in Washington state. We are humbled and grateful for such generosity and hope other successful residents of our city will follow his lead.” 

The gift will be celebrated at the 50th Anniversary Awards Ceremony of Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund on May 9, 2024. 

About C. David Hughbanks 

A renowned civic leader, Hughbanks devoted his career to public relations and making Seattle a better place through his volunteer service to over 50 boards in his lifetime.  

He played a major role in coordinating several Seattle cultural events including the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the first Bumbershoot, the first NW Folklife Festival, and the 1976 Bicentennial 4th of July celebration. 

About Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund

Every year, Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund provides $5,000 scholarships to students from each of Seattle’s 17 public high schools to attend any institution of higher learning. In the 2022-23 school year, the fund provided 51 scholarships to SPS scholars.

Thanks to this generous gift, SSSF will be able to increase the number of scholarships awarded to 68 and increase the amount of each scholarship to $7,500! Read more about the scholarship fund.