Special Initiatives

Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund®
Disaster Relief Fund for Postsecondary Education Students
DreamKeepers Emergency Financial Aid Program

Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund¨
The terrorist attacks on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 left the nation and the world in shock. Through the generosity of individuals and corporations, over $108 million has been raised to fund this long-term scholarship program.

Along with Lumina Foundation for Education, Scholarship America created the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund to provide education assistance for postsecondary study to dependents of those killed or permanently disabled as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Scholarship America will administer the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund to eligible families through the year 2030. Please visit the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund¨ website to learn more about this unique program.

Disaster Relief Fund for Postsecondary Education Students
When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast, Scholarship America was uniquely qualified to come quickly to the aid of the areaâs students. The Disaster Relief Fund for Postsecondary Education Students was established with major funding from USA Funds and Lumina Foundation for Education.

More than 3,500 college students whose families were devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have received scholarship support from this fund; in fiscal year 2006, Scholarship America allocated awards of $4,119,500 to 158 post-secondary institutions, who dispersed the assistance appropriately. The Disaster Relief Fund is currently closed to new donations.

DreamKeepers Emergency Financial Aid Program
Scholarship America has also joined the American Indian College Fund in administering Lumina Foundation for Educationâs DreamKeepers Emergency Financial Aid program for community college students at risk of dropping out due to a financial emergency.

Whether itâs tending to a health care bill or a sudden reduction in work hours, these unexpected crises contribute to high rates of attrition among community college students. They also impact college completion rates and, ultimately, pose a challenge to securing a better financial future; by helping out with emergency funding, Scholarship America allows those students to overcome that challenge and keep looking ahead. To date, the DreamKeepers program has provided more than $430,000 to nearly 1,200 students.