The fund was established by John White, Sr., in memory of his late wife, Elsie Mae, who was concerned with improving the lives of disadvantaged children. Mrs. White was a self-taught woman with impeccable manners and style. The fund provides scholarship assistance in the form of tuition and fees to African-American students who are pursuing higher education or training at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to achieve specific goals. This scholarship is primarily for students attending, or planning to attend, land grant colleges and universities.