Fall River, Massachusetts, is the original home of Scholarship America and Dollars for Scholars; fifty years ago, local optometrist Irving Fradkin started what would become the nation's largest non-profit, private-sector scholarship organization. Last week, the city celebrated, with a luncheon featuring speeches from Dr. Fradkin, Scholarship America board chair Mim Schreck, Fall River mayor Robert Correia and Margot Tyler of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

As Dr. Fradkin pointed out: "Democracy rests on three things. Education, education, education. Once upon a time all you needed was a strong back, but now, we need to compete globally."

You can find more wise words from our founder, and high praise from fellow participants, by reading the full story in the Fall River Spirit.