“We take a personal interest in our scholars…we make every effort to stay in contact….so that we can be supportive and help them succeed.”

 

The Nina Haven Foundation was established in 1953 by Nina Haven’s son, education advocate Stephen Peabody, and two of his attorney friends from New York. They were the original directors of the foundation. Formerly a resident of Massachusetts, Peabody moved to Stuart, Florida after visiting the area for a number of years.

Martin County resident Evans Crary, Jr. joined the foundation two years later, along with Paul Tenney. Crary was a city judge at the time and Tenney was a retired State Department officer.

Peabody died in 1963, leaving his entire estate to the foundation. It included a house and acreage in Nantucket, which were donated to the University of Massachusetts to use for research. The remainder of the estate was sold and invested, resulting in the Nina Haven Charitable Foundation academic scholarships that have now assisted nearly 1,000 students.

The Nina Haven Charitable Foundation gives scholarships to Martin County high school graduates who are continuing their education at a two-year or four-year school. Scholars are eligible to receive up to a $2,500-a-year scholarship and students may receive as much as $10,000 towards their education.

The Nina Haven Charitable Foundation was the first to ignore race in awarding scholarships to Murray High School, which was all African-American before Martin Country schools were integrated. Today, the Foundation continues to embrace diversity and has a solid history of selecting scholars from all races.

 

The Nina Haven Charitable Foundation is governed by an all-volunteer board.