Dr. Irving Fradkin, Founder of Scholarship America®, Named NCAN's 2010 Champion for College Access

MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 12, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dr. Irving Fradkin, founder of Scholarship America^®, the nation's leading nonprofit scholarship and educational support organization, was named the National College Access Network's (NCAN) 2010 Champion of College Access award on October 11, 2010.

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Dr. Fradkin, a retired optometrist, founded Dollars for Scholars^® – the original Scholarship America program – in 1958 in Fall River, Mass. after hearing many of his high school patients say they would not be attending college upon graduation due to the high expense of college. His theory was that if everyone in the community donated just one dollar, they could send every local high school graduate to college. Although he often heard that "it couldn't be done," Dr. Fradkin raised $4,500 in that first year and provided renewable scholarships to 24 deserving students.

Dollars for Scholars soon spread across the United States, and now boasts nearly 1,100 chapters in 40 states and Washington, D.C. that raise local dollars in support of scholarships for local students. Scholarship America has awarded more than $2.5 billion in scholarships through its three core programs, Dollars for Scholars, Dreamkeepers(SM) and Scholarship Management Services^®, to more than 1.7 million students since its founding.  

Though retired, Dr. Fradkin, 89, continues to work tirelessly in support of students. "It is my fervent love of country, freedom and democracy that motivates me to build a better America through education," said Fradkin. "I am honored to receive this award for doing something I believe in so strongly."

NCAN's Champion of College Access award recognizes an individual, organization, or corporation who has made remarkable contributions to "Changing the Face of Education."

"Dr. Fradkin's vision to make education beyond high school affordable for students from all walks of life has had an incredible impact on our nation," said Lauren A. Segal, president & CEO, Scholarship America. "We are thrilled that NCAN recognized his lifetime of achievement, and congratulate Dr. Fradkin for being named the 2010 Champion of College Access. No one has done more for students and is more deserving than he."

About Scholarship America^®

Scholarship America^® is a national education service organization that mobilizes support for students getting into and graduating from college. We have three core programs that help us achieve our mission: Dollars for Scholars^®, Scholarship Management Services^®, and Dreamkeepers(SM). Scholarship America has distributed more than $2.5 billion in scholarship assistance to more than 1.7 million students since 1958. More information is available at www.scholarshipamerica.org.

SOURCE Scholarship America