Hunter Trewin, like many students his age, has enthusiastic aspirations for the next few years.

A junior at Lake Washington High School, Trewin hopes to attend Stanford University to study physics. But he is a pragmatist.

“I don’t think anyone can feel optimistic about getting in to Stanford,” Trewin said.

He plays baseball for the Kangs, and has been a music-lover and violinist since his elementary school days.

Before potentially venturing out to Palo Alto, he wants to leave a lasting mark on his community.

That’s why Trewin, 17, has started a foundation to help low-income children afford to get into music education.

“Music has been shown many times to help you develop in ways that not much else can,” he said. “It has shown great ties to developing math skills and basic comprehension skills, which realy help you succeed in school. I’d like to think that’s part of why I’m one of the top students in my class.”

“If you can get that help through music, then you’re more likely to succeed in school, which helps you further on in life.”

The Trewin Music Foundation will provide scholarships to low-income families in Kirkland to assist in instrument rental beginning next year.

The foundation isn’t for extra credit on a school project or as part of a Stanford-aimed portfolio of accomplishments. The way Trewin tells it, he initially wanted to hold a benefit concert and donate money to the district.

“Then, we decided as a family that we should start a foundation so that I could have more of a long-term way to help the community and help it in this specific way,” he said.

Since starting in February, the foundation has raised enough money to provide 20 scholarships of $100-150, Trewin said, reaching the initial goal in about two months.

The Trewins have put in the legwork to start a nonprofit organization through which the foundation is run, and on Saturday the foundation will hold its first spring benefit at Rose Hill Middle School.

The benefit includes a silent auction of handcrafted items from local artisans, and autographed music and sports items. There will also be coffee and a dessert buffet, and performances by local musicians, including the Carillon Chamber Orchestra for which Trewin used to play.

There is no admission and no suggested donation, but led by Trewin’s generous spirit — even his physics dreams are centered around helping people — there appears to be a bright future for the young foundation.

“If it develops really well, I’m hoping it would be able to provide scholarships of both instruments and private lessons to low-income families from elementary to high school,” Trewin said.

The event is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.