Background
LTC Michael Rainbolt, retired, established the Military Science Scholarship Endowment Fund (MSSEF) in 1991. Its purpose was to provide privately funded scholarships for Army ROTC cadets at Oregon State University and Western Oregon University. The MSSEF is a 501(c)3 charitable organization not affiliated with Benton Community Foundation (BCF). As MSSEF grew, scholarship opportunities were expanded to include cadets and midshipmen from the Air Force and Naval Science programs.
About the Fund
In 1996, LTC Rainbolt approached BCF with a proposal to accept management of the endowed scholarships that he had created. In the ensuing years, Mike transferred these endowments to BCF, creating new endowments.
ROTC scholarships are open to ROTC students at Oregon State University and its extension campuses, including, but not limited to WOU, Corban University, and OSU Cascade. In 2009, the scope of the original effort expanded further to include support to veterans, military families, and military children through the establishment of several designated funds, and a donor advised fund. This expanded support gives the Benton Community Foundation the flexibility to support a wide range of military and veteran needs.
The ROTC & Veterans Support Fund is a donor advised fund. As fund advisor, Mike Rainbolt recommends grants to various charities serving veterans, military families, and children of the military.