The Belva A. Waite Memorial Scholarship Fund is one of the largest scholarship funds supporting students through the Allegany County Area Foundation. Established through the estate of Belva Ann (Bopp) Waite in 1999, the fund reflects a life rooted in hard work, community, and support for local youth.
In 1940, Belva married Max Waite. Together, they spent nearly thirty years building their livelihood in the restaurant and bowling alley business — most notably through Waite’s Luncheonette (later renamed Waite’s Coffee Shop) in Rushford, NY.
Better known as Belva’s, the Rushford restaurant was more than just a diner. It was a gathering place. A space where young people could listen to music on the jukebox, play pool or pinball, and simply belong.
Though Belva and Max never had children of their own, she held a special place in her heart for the youth of the community. She believed that by giving young people a welcoming place to go, she was helping keep them off the streets and out of trouble. In the small town of Rushford, there was room for everyone at Belva’s.
After Max’s passing in 1968, Belva continued running the restaurant, often alongside her sister Lula. When Belva passed away in 1999 at the age of 81, she left behind not only a remarkable story of entrepreneurship and perseverance, but also a transformative gift to the young people she cared so deeply about.
The Belva A. Waite Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to provide scholarships to students in Allegany County who displayed promise based on their all-around high school performance. Today, it is the most general undergraduate scholarship offered from ACAF — open to a broad range of students pursuing higher education.
What makes this fund especially powerful is the story of its growth. Originally established through Belva’s $1 million estate, the endowment has grown to more than $4 million. Today, Belva’s Scholarship Fund awards about $125,000 in scholarships each year to students across Allegany County. Belva’s legacy lives on in the students who pursue their dreams with the support of her gift.
