The Foundation's grant to Muscular Dystrophy Association Summer Camp -- in honor of Stone's volunteering -- were sent again this spring. Carrie Dalton of MDA reports that around 1600 campers and volunteers will be joined by MDA staff members. And a total of 24 camp sessions across the country will run through the end of August. She adds that MDA Summer Camp will celebrate 70 years this summer.

Holt and Stone, Spring 2009

Inspired by Holt's and Stone's reverence for Nature at early ages, The Foundation issues annual grants to Nature Forward, a wildlife sanctuary in suburban Washington.  Stone and Holt frequented the lovely grounds at Woodend when they were young and would be amazed at the pro-environment work that continues there today. The Foundation grants enable underserved students to take field trips and walk the same paths that Stone and Holt walked.

Alison Pearce, Nature Forward's new Executive Director, wrote to tell us that The Foundation's gifts in 2024 and 2025 funded dozens of free programs offered to DC area schools, serving more than 600 students.

According to Youth Programs Director Brenna Houck, following educational visits to classrooms, those students "join us at Woodend Sanctuary for field trips and nature play twice a year in the fall and spring." ....And "we have reached 375 preschoolers from the Montgomery Housing Partnership centers this year."

The Foundation also supports Nature Forward mini-camps on no-school days -- and provided scholarships for four low-income campers to attend Days Off and Spring Break camps during the 2024-2025 school year. We also help fund summer camp scholarships.

"Thank you for the continued generosity of the Stone and Holt Weeks Foundation," Brenna writes, "that makes it possible for Nature Forward to deliver these important programs for children and families, especially those from lower income households and with disabilities."

Dear All,

In the Fall 2024 Newsletter we featured a video that will be shown each year to the members of Holt's high school Leadership Class in Bethesda.

And we noted that at that time, the phenomenon of "Leadership" was consuming what felt like the entire world. That is even truer now.

We also mentioned in the Fall that another video was created some years back -- also by Caroline Lacey, Holt's high school friend and Advisory Board member -- for Stone's fraternity at the University of Delaware. Every year Pi Kappa Phi, Theta Nu chapter, shows this video to its new members -- to help introduce Stone, his role in their chapter's history, the Foundation and our annual grant in honor of Stone to their national charity. The Ability Experience advocates for people with cognitive and physical disabilities including veterans.

Each spring The William Holt Weeks Leadership Award is presented to a deserving student at Walter Johnson High School whose teachers believe "best represents the character and spirit of Holt Weeks -- Leader, Scholar, Athlete, Volunteer -- and shares his passions of History and Government". This year's awardee is Candice Nsoga-Mahob.

Candice's teachers described her, "A true leader.... a consistent leader.... very curious about the world.... asks amazing questions.... supports other students and encourages them to get involved in class discussions.... a student every teacher dreams of having.... curious, independent, kind, caring, hardworking.... captain of the Cheer Team.... most importantly, a student who follows through on her commitments.... a spark of sunshine who approached each day with optimism."

Candice plans to major in biology at Lafayette College beginning in the fall.

Holt's dear high school friend Nathan Barash, also on the Foundation's Advisory Board, presented the award and delivered our remarks.

Also each spring, Stone's high school St. Andrews Episcopal School in Potomac, announces the recipient of The Stone Taylor Weeks Award for Excellence in the Study of History. Stone' friend Rob Bouknight represented us there this year. Each year's Senior Honors Day program devotes several pages to Stone's passion for history throughout his school career, and those two years after.

From the program:  

Stone's scholarship blossomed at the University of Delaware, where as a senior he was teaching assistant for the history department. The following words from his professors serve as a model to all students. Professor Guy Alchon noted that Stone was a particularly outstanding student. Commenting that a class he had with Stone was the best class he taught in 20 years, he writes, "And much of its success was due to the work and influence of Stone Weeks. Early on, the seminar's students developed a marvelous 'chemistry,' at once relaxed and humorous, while simultaneously expecting of themselves and each other a serious effort 'to rise to the occasion' of their professor's demands. This they did, and largely because of the early and consistent example of Mr. Weeks. Stone was unafraid to raise provocative and probing questions, and not only of the readings, but of the work of his classmates as well. And to their credit the other students followed his example, discovering the joys to be found in serious discussion of serious things. These acheivements were largely the result of Stone Weeks' superior work and

of the 'enthusiasm for the serious' that he both brought to and 'taught' to the class." ....

This year St. Andrew's presented their award -- created in memory of Stone -- to Alan Mehmetoglu. Alan plans to attend George Washington University in the Fall.

In closing, we want to thank all of our Advisory Board members and friends who have represented us through the Foundation recently.

We also thank all friends and supporters. As we navigate another dreadful anniversary in July, the Foundation approaches the million dollar mark of giving to good causes in the U.S. and around the world --   all given in loving memory of Stone and of Holt.

Who we miss in all ways.

Always,

Linton and Jan