Colorado Marine Corps Golf Classic Provides College Scholarships As Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Celebrates 50th Anniversary

DENVER, Aug. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On August 7, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, the nation's oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to military families, will host its 10th annual Colorado Golf Classic, which honors local business and military leaders and celebrates the organization's 50th anniversary.

Since 1962, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation has honored Marines by educating their children, awarding more than 30,000 scholarships valued at over $70,000,000. These awards have had a major impact on Marine families, particularly when a parent has been killed or wounded in combat, and continue to make a difference at a time when the ever-increasing cost of higher education significantly outpaces the average family income. 

Over the last 10 years, the Colorado Golf Classic has raised $1,200,000 in scholarship support for Colorado students.  For the upcoming 2012-2013 school year, 46 Colorado students, who are the children of Marines, former Marines or Navy Corpsmen who served with Marines, will receive scholarships.

"In keeping with the Marine Corps values of helping others, the Colorado community has rallied around this important cause, providing both vital funds and a support network that allows the foundation to award more scholarships every year," said veteran Marine and event chairman Mike Boian.

For the 2012-2013 academic year, more than $6,000,000 has been awarded to 1,909 students.  Approximately 89 percent of the recipients are attending a 4-year college or university, and 42 percent are pursuing majors in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Scholarship Foundation reports that its recipients are graduating from four-year degree-granting institutions at a rate of 79 percent, while the national graduation rate is 31 percent.

"The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is keenly aware of the struggles military families face, made all the more challenging by a parent's absence, injury, or in some cases untimely passing.  By helping send Marine children to college, the foundation creates a lasting legacy for those who serve while relieving them of a major financial burden," said Margaret B. Davis, President and CEO of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.

Local scholarship recipients will attend the Colorado Golf Classic to share their remarkable success stories, as well as their talents. Megan Flanary will speak on behalf of Colorado scholarship recipients.  Flanary is a senior at Colorado State University who is studying hospitality management and representing the Disney Corporation on her campus. Both of Megan's parents retired from the United States Marine Corps as Gunnery Sergeants, each with over 20 years of service.

The 10th annual Colorado Golf Classic will be held on August 7, 2012, at the Inverness Hotel and Conference Golf Course, located at 200 Inverness Drive West, Englewood, CO.  For additional information contact: [email protected].

About the Foundation: Celebrating its 50th year, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is the nation's oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to U.S. military families. Since inception, the Scholarship Foundation has provided more than 30,000 scholarships valued at over $70,000,000 to Marine Corps sons and daughters whose parents have been killed or wounded in combat or have demonstrated financial need. The Scholarship Foundation has a four-star Charity Navigator rating and is proud to have been named by Independent Charities of America as 'Best in America' for demonstrating "the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness."  For more information on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation please visit http://www.mcsf.org/.

SOURCE Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation