Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has established a scholarship fund of more than $30,000 to honor former Executive Director Charles Maynard and his wife Janice. The announcement was made during a recent fund-raising event for the Parks as Classrooms program at the Park Grill in Gatlinburg.

The scholarship funds will be transferred to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont to allow underprivileged children the opportunity to attend Tremont’s programs.

In January, the Alcoa Foundation announced a $250,000 grant to support Tremont, a residential environmental education center located in the park near Townsend, Tenn. Friends of the Smokies offered to match Alcoa’s contribution, and the Charles and Janice Maynard Scholarship Fund will serve as part of those matching funds.

Gifts to the scholarship fund have ranged from $20 to $5,000. Supporters may send additional contributions to “Friends of the Smokies,” P.O. Box 5650, Sevierville, Tenn., 37864-5650.

Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, an independent, non-profit organization, assists the National Park Service by raising funds and public awareness and providing volunteers for needed projects. Since 1993, Friends of the Smokies has raised more than $8 million to support conservation, education, and other projects in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.