Eleven Years Later Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund Has Awarded More Than $80 Million In Needs-based Scholarships to 2,117 Students

NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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 11^th 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.

"For 11 years Scholarship America has been honored to manage the Fund," said Lauren Segal, president and CEO of Scholarship America.  "Helping eligible families achieve their educational goals has always been important to us. Stewarding the success of those who were most impacted by this terrible tragedy is a humbling privilege." 

Scholarship America has been operating the Fund with no fees and remains committed to helping eligible students from September 11th families realize their goals and full potential through education. Scholarship America will continue to steward the Fund until the year 2030 when the last of the 9/11 children will have completed college.

For information about the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, or to find out how to register please go to www.familiesoffreedom.org or call 877-862-0136.

About Scholarship America^®

Scholarship America mobilizes support for students getting into and graduating from college.  Since 1958, Scholarship America has distributed more than $2.7 billion in scholarship assistance to more than 1.8 million students, funding both entry-level and multi-year scholarships and emergency financial grants. More information is available at www.scholarshipamerica.org.

SOURCE Scholarship America