A scholarship fund totaling nearly $200,000 has been established for student tutors with the Community of Hope Tutoring Program.

The fund comes in the form of The Hope Endowment and grants $750 for every year a student tutors. The money will go to the college of their choice once they have been accepted.

Elaine Maust, a pastor at Jubilee Mennonite Church, which hosts the program, said The Hope Endowment was funded in thirds by The Riley Foundation, The Phil Hardin Foundation and various donors in the community, with each contributing $66,000.

Tom Wacaster, vice president for educational programs with The Phil Hardin Foundation, said the foundation takes pride in supporting students.

“We want to work with those that help the community,” Wacaster said. “This is a wonderful way to encourage community service and a sense of stewardship in these students. The neat part is that it provides the money to do that.”

Now in its 15th year, the Community of Hope Tutoring Program hires 10 students from Meridian High School. The students — sophomores, juniors and seniors — receive the minimum wage. They spend 10 hours Monday through Thursday tutoring students from Kindergarten to fifth grade in the Meridian Public School District, focusing on math and reading.

Anita Wansley, coordinator of the tutoring program, said she couldn’t be happier with the support this will provide.

“This is phenomenal,” Wansley said. “This has been such an important thing for these students because you see the difference it makes in the tutors’ lives when they realize the impact they have made on the kids.”

Wansley said the program has helped more than 900 children since 1991. She said several former tutors have gone on to educational careers in Meridian public schools.

The Hope Endowment is fostered by The Community Foundation of East Mississippi. Donations may still be made to the fund by calling Roman Herrington, executive director of The Community Foundation of East Mississippi, at (601) 696-3035 or Becky Farley, executive director of The Riley Foundation, at (601) 481-1430.