Melissa Dora Benjamin Colbeth Scholarship Fund

Established by Linda and David Benjamin in memory of their daughter

Much as a bird has to sing, Melissa had to write. Stories swirled in her mind and filled it until they flowed out into the world. She was endlessly creative. Melissa loved writing short stories, the shorter, the more succinct, the better. Publishing under the pen name Lyn Thorne-Alder, she designed and sent to family and friends limited edition story postcards (Alder Grove Press) and hand-typeset broadsheets on beautifully textured paper (Aldersprig Press). She ran a lively blog entitled “Alder’s Grove Fiction,”and several of her works were published in literary journals and anthologies.

A gardener, hiker, and lover of cats, cooking, and wine tasting, Melissa also left behind the beginning of a novel, the proceeds from which, once published, she planned to start a scholarship fund to benefit emerging creative writers.

Established to honor her wish, this Fund reflects how Melissa embraced life as a kind, loving, giving, and thoughtful individual. It will support the artistic and professional development of adult writers by providing tuition-free residencies at Gell: A Finger Lakes Creative Retreat and need-based scholarship awards to participants in Writers & Books’ daylong “The Great Write-In” workshops.

Prefer to mail your donation? Checks can be sent to:
Writers & Books
740 University Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607-1259

Need Help? Please contact office@wab.org for assistance.