GE Capital recently made a donation to the Steven P. Dutton Scholarship for the Culinary Arts, on behalf of Ocean Point summer resident John Abbott. As the president and CEO of the Aviation Asset Management Group, located in Stamford, Conn., Abbott was the recipient of an annual chairman’s award for outstanding business performance. The award is a check for $2,500 to be given to the recipient’s charity of choice.

Abbott made his choice of charities: the Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund (BRSAF), and, more specifically, the Steven P. Dutton Scholarship for the Culinary Arts, which is one of the BRSAF’s 60 “Named Scholarships.”

This scholarship was created in Steve's honor in 2013 by his widow, Deb Wyman, shortly after Steve's untimely passing. The scholarship seeks to encourage Boothbay Region High School graduates to pursue careers in the culinary arts as Steve himself was a creative, passionate and highly talented cook.

John greatly admired Steve, not only for his skills as a talented cook, but also for his far-ranging intelligence, curiosity and enthusiasm for life. Indeed, John describes Steve as truly a “Renaissance man.”

Over the years, the Abbotts spent countless happy hours with Steve and Deb savoring many of the wonderful meals that Steve would create for his dear friends. John is proud to financially support the aim of the Dutton Scholarship Fund to encourage Steve’s passion for the culinary arts. And, in fact, one of the key objectives of GE’s charitable giving program is to encourage educational causes.

While Deb Wyman resides year-round in East Boothbay, her friends the Abbotts live in Connecticut, where Nancy works for another GE business, GE Capital Real Estate. Nancy is also a board member of the Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund.

Abbott’s $2,500 gift helps reach the scholarship’s 5-year goal of $10,000. Both John and Nancy join Deb in inviting further contributions to the Steven P. Dutton Culinary Arts Scholarship, to enable career opportunities for young people in the culinary arts. Donations, of any amount, to the BRSAF "Steven P. Dutton Scholarship Fund" are encouraged, welcomed and very much appreciated and can be sent to P.O. Box 297, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.