Benton Fisher, a Northern Virginia local and an economic consultant at FTI Consulting, has long championed community-driven causes. Long before he founded his donor-advised fund, the Avalon Charitable Fund, with the Community Foundation, Benton was the child of a Naval officer and a Unitarian minister. This upbringing ingrained an interest in service and has shaped his philanthropic endeavors ever since. Benton’s journey toward philanthropy was further influenced by his time coaching his children in team sports, which fostered his passion for leadership and collaboration. These experiences taught him that the most meaningful rewards come from uplifting others.
Alongside his wife Joan, Benton now promotes and supports impactful initiatives such as Fairfax CASA, the Culmore Clinic, Life with Cancer, and Lab Rescue LRCP. His commitment to community also motivated him to serve on his neighborhood’s association board for over a decade, including four years as president.
Joining the Community Foundation
When the pandemic struck in 2020, Benton learned about the Community Foundation through the news of the COVID-19 Response Funds. He was impressed with the Foundation’s rapid response to emergency support and invigorated to work with our team. After initial conversations with our staff, Benton and Joan started the Avalon Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund. Soon after, he joined the Board of the Justice High School Scholarship Fund, which helps graduates from his alma mater further their education by easing their financial burden.
The Justice High School Scholarship Fund
The Justice High School Scholarship Fund focuses on “last dollar” scholarships—bridging the gap between a student’s total financial aid (along with grants, work-study programs, and loans) and cost of attending school. This cause holds special meaning for Benton and his family because it supports students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, especially those from underserved communities in eastern Fairfax County. Benton reviewed scholarship applications and met some recipients in person to gain an appreciation for these young adults’ remarkable potential.
The student body at Justice High School includes many first-generation college students and Pell Grant recipients. This past spring, the Fund awarded a record $300,000 to 91 graduates from the Justice High School Class of 2024. To date, the Fund has awarded more than one thousand scholarships, totaling more than $2.5 million.
Giving Back to Address Economic Disparity
Benton believes strongly in the importance of giving back to his community, especially in addressing economic inequality. He states, “All of us should be able to access basic life needs– and as the Foundation’s Values and Strategic Plan help make clear, all of us can make a difference and help others, often with less effort than you think would be required.”
Learn How You Can Support the Northern Virginia Community
Even after launching his philanthropic journey, Benton is excited to learn and grow with the fund. Thank you, Benton, for your and your family’s contributions, which are making a lasting impact on Northern Virginia. Explore how you and your family can make an impact by browsing our donor page or establishing a fund today!
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