In 1962, Dr. Benjamin King, a microbiologist at Bartholomew County Hospital, raised the issue of the numerous barriers faced by African Americans in the community with Dr. William R. Laws, Jr., then pastor of First Presbyterian Church. Dr. Laws brought together a group of concerned citizens to address funding a foundation to provide scholarships for minorities to be used for post-secondary education. In 1976, the criteria broadened to include all Bartholomew County financially disadvantaged residents. In 2008, the William R. Laws Foundation Board asked Heritage Fund to take over management and administration of the fund. The Heritage Fund Board agreed to the request and, effective August 2008, the community foundation assumed responsibility for the scholarship program.