During his tenure as Pastor of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church and President of the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship (IMF) of Metropolitan Davidson County, Dr. Marcel Kellar proposed that the Fellowship establish an endowed fund to benefit the students of the local historically Black Colleges and Universities of Nashville, Tennessee: American Baptist College, Fisk University, Meharry
Medical College, and Tennessee State University. Realizing the need for such financial support, the IMF enthusiastically endorsed Dr. Kellar's proposal. With his leadership, together with the late Drs. Kelly Miller Smith, and Andrew White, Dr. John G. Corry, Dr. Norman Reed, and Dr. Charles Hudson the "College Trust Fund for Students of Historically Black Colleges and Universities of Nashville, Tennessee" was chartered on May 23, 1983, as a not-for-profit corporation. Members from IMF, representatives from the four historical institutions, and citizens at large from the community constitute the Board of Directors. From the initial fund-raising activity at Fisk University the community has been constant in its support of this worthy endeavor. Many churches, organizations and individuals have contributed to the College Trust Fund on a regular basis. To ensure the continuing fulfillment of the College Trust Fund's mission its Board of Directors appeals to individuals, especially local HBCU alumni, churches, and organizations for financial support, and asks that all remember the words of Omar the Persian poet, which addresses the common good:
God will not ask thy race,
Nor will He seek thy birth,
Alone He will demand of thee,
What hast thou done on earth? Scholarships include:
• The Lynette Reed Memorial Scholarship
• The Congressman John Lewis Scholarship
• The Dr. Matthew W. Kennedy Scholarship
• The Lloyd C. Elam M.D. Scholarship
• The Dr. James A. Hefner Scholarship
