In 1967, East Mt. Zion Baptist Church Sunday School established an Aid to Education Fund as an effort on the part of the Sunday School to share in the advancement toward the college education of all its students. Unlike other scholarship grants and aid funds, this program is designed to give financial assistance to any and all students of East Mt. Zion Baptist Church Sunday School, provided they meet this one requirement: That they have been regular and active in their attendance for three (3) years in the church school immediately prior to going to college. In February 1976, the name was changed to the W.M. Downs Aid to Education Fund, as a living monument in honor of the late Dr. William M. Downs, because of his interest in youth and education. Updates have occurred during the 40+ years of the funds existence, in 1993 money was allocated to the fund from the church budget. Currently the is for all students of the church entering post secondary education within 2 years of high school graduation. They must be bona fide members and active in one or more auxiliaries of the church for 2 or 3 years prior to applying. We welcome contributions for this on-going program. We even solicit your cooperation when preparing that last will or bequeath. What better way to be remembered than as one who showed concern for the educational development of these young people whose religious training and Christian lives we helped mold.