Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation Announces 2010 Scholarship Recipients

Annual Golf Outing Fundraiser Set for September 17

NEW YORK, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation, a program that has provided $1.6 million in college scholarships to children of firefighters and victims of the September 11 attacks as well as other U.S. disasters, today announced its 2010 grant recipients. The awards, which this year totaled more than $250,000, go to high-school students who have demonstrated academic excellence, participated actively in school programs and athletics, and contributed selflessly to their communities, often while working part-time jobs to help support themselves. The Foundation also announced that its annual golf outing this year will be held on Friday, September 17 at Pelham Golf Course in the Bronx, New York.  

This year's grant recipients are: Lisa Berrios (University of Delaware), Claire Buser (College of William and Mary), Jaclyn Calia (Villanova University), Chelsea Collins (Fashion Institute of Technology), Amy Gardner (Quinnipiac University), Taylor Ginley (Florida International University), Michael House (Cornell University), Conor Jones (Fordham University), Robert Klein (SUNY Albany), Christina Mockler (Muhlenberg College), Henry Walker (Villanova University), and Brian Wren (Providence College).

The Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation began in response to a terrible tragedy – the loss of Michael Lynch, a son, brother, fiance, uncle and New York City firefighter who sacrificed his own life on September 11 in an effort to save others. Facing the ultimate loss, the Lynch family saw an opportunity to help finance the education of young people as a living tribute to the human spirit and the family's collective resolve to respond to adversity with courage, strength, compassion and hope. The goal of the Foundation is to provide the means to help change the world, one person at a time, by helping the students of today become tomorrow's stewards of peace and freedom.

Lou Ann Eckert-Lynch, wife of Michael's brother John and director of the scholarship selection committee, said, "The Foundation is proud to support the 2010 scholarship recipients. These young people possess leadership qualities that will enable them to help build a future of peace and freedom for us all.  We hope that Michael's example will teach them about hope, honor and facing adversity with courage, strength and compassion."

Jonathan S. Henes, a partner in the Restructuring Group at Kirkland & Ellis LLP who served as Honorary Chairperson of the Foundation's eighth annual dinner, said, "We are particularly pleased that we were able to increase the number of grant recipients this year, from 10 to 12, due largely to the tremendous success of the annual dinner in March, which raised more than $500,000 for the Foundation. In addition, the Foundation has been able to increase the amount of the scholarship for all 42 current participants by 20 percent – to $24,000 per year for four years. The strong support for the Foundation from the restructuring community, as well as other corporate and individual donors, directly and meaningfully benefits the lives of the scholarship recipients."

This year's grant recipients will be honored at the Foundation's 9th annual awards dinner on March 28, 2011 at Pier 60 at Chelsea Piers.

Annual Golf Outing

The scholarship program is funded by events like the Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation Annual Golf Outing, which this year will be held on Friday, September 17 at Pelham Golf Course in the Bronx, New York. Breakfast will be served starting at 7 AM and the golf will begin at 8 AM. The event is chaired by Michael Lynch's brother Thomas Lynch.

"The golf outing is a reflection of Michael's generosity to people while he lived," Thomas Lynch said. "The outpouring of support from the community and camaraderie that mark the event capture the essence of who Michael was and what the Foundation is all about. Everyone who participates shares our commitment to providing more scholarships and giving back in Michael's name."

The golf will be followed by a party at Michael's Restaurant at American Turners Club (748 Clarence Ave. in the Bronx), which will include dinner, a raffle, and prizes.

To learn more about the scholarship program and the golf outing, or to make a donation to the Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation, please visit www.mlynch.org.

SOURCE The Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation