Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund Reaches $100 Million in Awards to Family Members of Those Lost or Permanently Disabled by 9/11

NEW YORK, September 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund®–the largest private scholarship fund for 9/11 families—announced it has reached the $100 million mark in needs-based scholarships awards to 2,568 students since September 11, 2001.  That figure includes $11,463,072 in scholarship awards to support 776 students during the 2013-2014 academic year.  The average award is $13,415 per student.

The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund® is 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, transforming the lives and supporting the educational dreams of families of airplane crews and passengers, World Trade Center and Pentagon workers and visitors, and those who were permanently disabled in the attacks.

Following the September 11 attacks, former President Clinton and Senator Bob Dole raised $100 million from over 20,000 corporations, university, philanthropists and individuals to support the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund®. The Fund has performed exceedingly well with each passing year, with plans for the large portion of funds to be distributed during the peak years of 2009-2020, when the most of children affected by the 9/11 tragedies will be going to college. $95.6 million currently remains in the Fund, and that figure is expected grow in the remaining peak years.

"Reaching $100 million in scholarship awards is a huge milestone for the Fund, and for the thousands of children and families who are being given a real chance to pursue their education dreams after these very painful tragedies," said Rhianna Quinn Roddy, Executive Director, Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund.  "We are so thankful to our donors for their generous support of the Fund, as we help more families move forward with their lives, and succeed in the future."

"After my nine siblings and I lost our father, a firefighter, on 9/11, there was no telling how our futures would turn out," said Joseph Palumbo, a recipient of the Scholarship Fund. "The scholarship has been instrumental not only for me and my brothers and sisters, but for so many other kids who lost parents on that day. It's inspiring to see that with each passing year, a new group of kids can get a chance to do whatever they chose to do in life, with the help of the Fund."

The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund® is a program of Scholarship America®, the nation's largest non-profit, private sector scholarship and educational support organization. Scholarship America has been operating the Fund with no fees since 2001 and remains committed to helping eligible students from September 11 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 September 11 children will have completed college.

"Scholarship America has the distinct honor of awarding funds to thousands of students each year, though the Families of Freedom Scholarship holds a special place in our hearts," said Lauren Segal, President & CEO of Scholarship America. "We will continue to do all we can to help the families of those who lost their lives or were permanently disabled by the attacks on September 11. Every wife, husband and child that were affected by that day deserves the opportunities a scholarship can give them, and we are committed to seeing that happen."

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 $3 billion in scholarship assistance to 2 million students, funding both entry-level and multi-year scholarships and emergency financial grants. More information is available at www.scholarshipamerica.org.

Contact: Shruti Sehgal: [email protected] 646-200-5283

SOURCE Scholarship America