Bill Clinton, Bob Dole Spearhead 15th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign
Bill Clinton and Bob Dole appeared on Larry King Live in 2001 to announce the establishment of the Fund.
The 42nd President and the longtime Senator co-chaired the original fundraising for the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund
Former President Bill Clinton and retired Senator Bob Dole, co-chairs of the initial Families of Freedom fundraising campaign, have released a letter in observation of the Fund’s 15th anniversary, emphasizing the need for ongoing support as the true toll of the 9/11 attacks continues to expand.
They write:
“Last fall, we observed the 15th anniversary of September 11, 2001 – a day that forever changed 3,000 families and the world as we knew it. We remember the pain and the anger we all felt that day, and much of that lingers. But we were also uplifted by the extraordinary strength, kindness, resiliency, and selflessness shown by countless individuals across our great nation. From the volunteers who spent months at Ground Zero, to the blood donors whose lines wrapped around neighborhood blocks, to the people who contributed food or money – the tremendous outpouring of love and support unified this country and showed the world how a crisis can strengthen, rather than weaken, our belief in our common humanity. …
“The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund was established just days after the attacks to provide funds for postsecondary study to financially needy dependents of those killed or permanently disabled in New York, the Pentagon, or in Pennsylvania. We were honored to co-chair the fundraising effort. Since its founding, the Fund has awarded $136 million to 3,100 students, helping them achieve their dreams while making the world a little better for us all. We couldn’t have accomplished this without the generosity of people like you.
“However, since the inception of the Fund, the need has expanded exponentially – for example, the number of people receiving treatment for cancer related to the attacks has tripled since 2014. In spite of this – thanks, in large part, to the management by Scholarship America – the Fund continues to benefit anyone who qualifies. The increase in recipients has resulted in the award amounts covering, on average, just 50 percent of a student’s educational costs, down from 90 percent previously.”
You can read the full letter in PDF format here, and learn more about contributing to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund on the Donate page of this website.