NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Scholarship America today marks the 25th anniversary of the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, which it established and has administered since the fund’s founding in the direct aftermath of the September 11th attacks.
On September 11, 2001, the unthinkable happened, and the nation was forever changed. Thousands of children, including those of Ground Zero first responders, lost a parent or watched one become permanently disabled. In response, Scholarship America helped establish the Families of Freedom Fund to protect the dreams of these students, which it has proudly administered for more than two decades.
In the years since, the Fund’s scope has expanded to include the children of rescue and rebuilding workers who developed long-term and chronic illnesses tied to their service, nearly doubling the number of students eligible for support. Meeting that growing need has required an equally significant response: more than 20,000 individuals, corporations, foundations, and organizations – including longtime supporters Citi and Strada Education Foundation – have contributed to the Fund, helping award $193 million to 3,877 students who lost a parent or had one permanently disabled as a result of the September 11th attacks and the recovery efforts that followed.
“From the moment the horrific attacks unfolded, we knew the impact would echo across generations,” said Brandee McHale, Head of Community Investing and Development at Citi and President of the Citi Foundation. “We are proud of the work we did with organizations across the country to create this Fund, making a lasting commitment to support the educational needs of the children of victims.”
The Fund’s commitment will carry through 2030, when its youngest beneficiaries complete their undergraduate education.
“Twenty-five years later, we still remember how this Fund began—born out of one of the worst days in our nation’s history in an effort to ensure that these victims’ children wouldn’t lose their futures along with their loved ones,” said Mike Nylund, President and CEO of Scholarship America. “A promise was made to these students, and Scholarship America has been honored to help keep it for the past twenty-five years. Watching them graduate, build careers, and give back to their own communities has been one of the great privileges of this organization’s history. On behalf of every student this Fund has supported, I am incredibly grateful for the generosity that made it possible.”
About Scholarship America
Since 1958, Scholarship America has been committed to breaking down financial barriers to higher education, turning the generosity of donors into life-changing opportunities for students across the country. To date, the organization has distributed more than $6 billion in scholarships to over 3.5 million students, making it the nation’s leading nonprofit scholarship administrator. Scholarship America also partners with individuals, foundations, small businesses, and nearly half of today’s Fortune 500 companies to deliver end-to-end scholarship program management for students pursuing degrees and certifications at technical, vocational, and two- and four-year colleges and universities.
Contacts:
Claire Berge Schmidt
Scholarship America
cbergeschmidt@scholarshipamerica.org
Logan Flynn
Hiltzik Strategies
lflynn@hstrategies.com
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SOURCE Scholarship America
