Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Honors Arizona Leaders, Marines and Celebrates 50th Anniversary

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On May 12, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, the nation's oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to military families, will honor local business and military leaders and celebrate the organization's 50th anniversary at its annual awards dinner in Scottsdale. Major donors will announce $600,000 in new funding that will help send the children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen living in Arizona to college.

Since 1962, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation has honored Marines by educating their children, awarding more than 27,000 scholarships valued at over $67 million. 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 Marine family income. 

In keeping with Marine Corps values of helping others, the military 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.  Lieutenant General Duane Thiessen, the current Commanding General of Marine Forces Pacific and long-time supporter of the organization, will be the Military Guest of Honor at this year's Arizona Awards Dinner.

"The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is keenly aware of the toughest battles 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 Lt. General Thiessen.

Tim Day, Chairman, President and CEO of Bar S. Foods Co., will announce his latest contribution to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation at this year's Arizona Awards Dinner.  Day served his country for 14 years as a Marine and continues to serve as a higher education advocate and benefactor. With the creation of the Day Scholars Program, a $100,000 matching gift program that supports talented college students obtaining business and entrepreneurial degrees, Day is furthering the foundation's goal of contributing to America's global leadership and competitiveness.

"I firmly believe that learning should be a lifelong endeavor and place a high priority on the continued development of one's intellectual capital and capabilities.  Therefore, it is with great pride that The Timothy T. Day Foundation, Inc. has instituted the Day Scholars Program with the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to provide additional college financial assistance to high performing children of Marines," said Mr. Day. 

Local scholarship recipients will attend the Arizona Awards Dinner and will share their remarkable success stories, as well as their talents. Marguerite Salajko, whose father was a musician in the Marine Corps, will speak on behalf of Arizona recipients and perform a cello solo at this year's awards dinner. Salajko is an accomplished cellist and has performed alongside the Tucson Civic Orchestra.  She is honing her skills and furthering her education at Arizona State University. 

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 Foundation has provided more than 27,000 scholarships valued at over $67 million 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/.

Contact:
Eugenia R. Gardner, Director, Communications & Investor Relations
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
(719) 433-8101
[email protected]

SOURCE Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation