Eleven Years Later, Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund Has Awarded More Than $80 Million in Need-Based Scholarships To 2,117 Students
New York, NY—September 9, 2012—Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund®, the largest private scholarship fund for children, spouses and domestic partners of people who were tragically killed on September 11, 2001, or permanently disabled during the rescue operation, announced that it has distributed $80,200,763 to 2,117 students in the past 11 years. This figure includes $12,715,367 in new needs-based postsecondary scholarships awarded during the 2012-2013 academic year.
“Eleven years ago just over $100 million was donated by corporations, foundations, educational institutions and individuals. Our scholarships have enabled thousands of students to fulfill their dreams of college. We stand ready to support the 4,387 financially needy students registered with our Fund who will need our help in the future.” said Rhianna Quinn Roddy, Executive Director of the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund.
According to Tim Miller, one of the Fund’s recipients, “My father, a Port Authority Policeman who worked on the rescue effort at Ground Zero, died due to the effects of the September 11 attacks. The Fund allowed me to complete my undergraduate education at Johns Hopkins University and gave me the opportunity to pursue medicine at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. I will not waste this beautiful gift that I have been given.”
The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund has transformed the lives and supported the educational dreams of financially dependent children, spouses and domestic partners of those who were tragically killed on September 11, 2001. Beneficiaries of the Fund also include families of airplane crews and passengers, World Trade Center and Pentagon workers and visitors who were killed on September 11th and who were permanently disabled resulting from their work during the rescue operation. The Fund is managed by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest nonprofit, private sector scholarship and educational support organization.
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Goldman Family Foundation Makes $50,000 Gift to Families of Freedom
When Regina Goldman and her brother, Robert Goldman were invited to be a part of the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation’s next generation of philanthropists, they thought long and hard about what issues and needs they wanted to address in the world. Concerned for college bound dependents of 9/11’s fallen heroes, Regina and Robert were led to Scholarship America’s Families of Freedom Fund. As a result, the Foundation recently awarded the Fund $50,000
Robert and Regina were teenagers living in New York City during the September 11th attacks. Their family’s business had just become a partner in the lease of the World Trade Center, and so the shock and horror of that day became quite personal. "Robert and I always wanted to help the families of those who lost their lives that day," said Regina, "but it wasn’t until we graduated from college, that we fully questioned how we could be of service." Always aware of the value of a college education and the struggles that so many go through to afford a college degree, Regina and Robert realized that the Families of Freedom Fund had the answer. The Fund made it clear and compelling: the significant financial needs for the students of surviving 9/11 families to attend college, the increasing number of surviving dependents due to disabilities and deaths of 9/11 rescue workers years later, and the current peak of need for the Fund as a record number of applicants seek support. "The Fund’s extraordinary efforts to meet its constituents’ needs aligned with our funding criteria and passion to serve the community. We are deeply grateful to the work of the Families of Freedom Fund and truly inspired by the students that it serves."
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The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund Will Provide More Than $11 Million in Needs-Based Scholarships to 9/11 Family Members and Rescue Workers for 2011-12 Academic Year
$74 Million in Scholarships Awarded since 2001
New York, NY—September 8, 2011—Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund® announced today that it will provide more than $11 million in needs-based postsecondary scholarships to 641 members of the 9/11 community for the 2011/2012 academic year. By the end of this academic year, the Fund will have distributed $74 million to 1,876 students since its establishment in the days immediately following 9/11. Over the recently completed 2010/2011 academic year, the Fund dispersed $13.7 million in scholarships, making the full 2010/2011 distribution the highest since the Fund’s inception.
Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund has been able to transform the lives and support the educational dreams of financially dependent children, spouses and domestic partners of those who were tragically killed on September 11, 2001. Beneficiaries of the Fund include families of airplane crews and passengers, World Trade Center and Pentagon workers and visitors, and those who were permanently disabled. The Fund is managed by Scholarship America, the nation’s largest non-profit, private sector scholarship and educational support organization.
"This is an important moment in the history of the Fund," said Rhianna Quinn Roddy, executive director of Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund. "Nearly 10 years ago, $100 million was donated by thousands of organizations and individuals. Since then, we have awarded $74 million and are able to provide support for the 4,800 financially needy students yet to take advantage of the Fund."
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The Source newsletter features everything you need to know about the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, and is published twice a year. The most recent issue features independent review findings, recent history and performance information, recipient stories and much more.
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"The Families of Freedom Scholarship sustains the memories of all those lost or suffering due to 9/11. It is so humbling that donors, who are seemingly strangers, can show such kindness and compassion. Scholarship America gives me strength and hope for a better future."
The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund benefits financially needy dependent children, spouses, and domestic partners of 9/11 victims. If you are eligible to receive assistance, you'll need to complete a one-time registration; after that, you will need to submit an application each year.
Use the "Planning Ahead" Estimated Award Calculator to stimate what the family is expected to contribute to the student's college expenses, and the amount that may be awarded to you for the upcoming academic year.