About the Fund
The Ted Trimble Scholarship Fund for Vocational Training honors Edward C. “Ted” Trimble, former vice chair of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties and a passionate advocate for education and community service. Established with memorial gifts from his wife, Bobbie, his family, and many friends across the country, the endowed fund provides scholarships for Martin County high school graduates pursuing vocational studies or careers in the service industry. Scholarships may be used at community, public or private colleges, or accredited vocational training institutions.
A native of Rochester, New York, Ted graduated from Princeton University with a degree in political science. He served five years in the U.S. Army during World War II, earning the Legion of Merit and the Italian Cross of Military Valor for his leadership in the European theater. After the war, he returned to Rochester to join the family business, Trimble Nurseryland Furniture Company, and later co-founded several entrepreneurial ventures, including a network of radio and television stations and companies manufacturing golf carts and architectural materials.
Community service remained central to Ted’s life. He served as president of Planned Parenthood in Rochester, chaired the Baden Street Settlement, and served on the boards of the Rochester Maternal and Adoption Service Center and the local school board. He was instrumental in founding the Rochester Area Community Foundation, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to strengthening communities.
Ted and Bobbie Trimble began wintering in Florida in 1972 and became important figures in the region’s philanthropic landscape. In 1989, they established the Briggs-Trimble Family Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation, inspiring the Foundation to expand its mission to include Martin County.
As a board member and later as vice chair, Ted helped shape the Foundation’s direction with intelligence, kindness and humor. The scholarship fund created in his name reflects his vision, values, and belief in providing practical pathways for young people to build strong careers and lives.
