Edd Balch scholarship fund raiser set for Aug. 29
With the untimely death of Edd Balch in November of 2012, many memorials of monetary donations came in from several schools where he had served as a substitute teacher.
Friends of his wife, Elaine, his sons, Dustin and Ashley, as well as other family made donations as well.
Balch had a well-known love of young people as well as a strong belief in the importance of education. To honor Balch, his family decided to establish a scholarship fund in his memory.
From May 2013 until this year. The family has awarded nine $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from this area. Balch believed and lived his life by the philosophy that everyone should strive to make a difference in the lives of others.
The family has named the scholarship “Make a Difference Scholarship,” and the family looks for deserving young people who have made a difference in the lives of others or who plan to make a difference in the future.
For the last few years, funds for the scholarship were raised through a talent show held for local talent.
This year, instead of a talent show, the third annual fundraiser for the Edd Balch Memorial Scholarship Fund will feature the group “Replay.” The band organized in 2014 by Ray Phillips is made up of eight musicians and vocalists with over 350 years of music, entertaining, teaching and directing music. The band provides music from four-part country, gospel, 60s and 70s rock, patriotic and other genres.
The group is comprises of Ray Phillips, Wayne White, Marty Shelton, Kenny McCulloch, Billy Chancellor, Tom Taylor, Ricky Holtzclaw, Phillip Byers and Drew Pepper.
The public is invited to the fundraiser Sat., Aug. 29. The event will be held in the Hartselle High School auditorium at 6:30 p.m.
Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and children 4 and under are admitted free.