Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund

In September 2001, less than one week after the terrorist attacks on September 11, Scholarship America, known then as Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America, set up the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund. A campaign was lead by U.S. Senator Bob Dole and President Bill Clinton to raise money, and within one year $100 million was raised to be appropriated among the surviving dependents of people who were killed or disabled in the attacks. Those funds, along with additional donations, are expected to aid in the expenses of education until the year 2030.

Eligible family members include spouses and children of the following victims: passengers and crew on the airplanes that were hijacked, people who were killed in the World Trade Center and Pentagon, and rescue workers of all types. Siblings and parents can only qualify to receive aid from the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund if they have verification that they were financially dependent on the victim. Even those who do not need monetary assistance to pay for their education can still receive at least $1,000 for each year of post secondary education, for up to four years.

The amount of assistance that the family members will receive depends mainly on financial need and may change from year to year depending on changes in tuition or in a family's financial situation. Those who are eligible for the award will not be turned down based on grades. Assistance can be sought from the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund for four years, and longer if the student is only attending school part time. The funds received are only to be used to help pay for post secondary education at any accredited university, college, or vocational school. In 2030, any unused funds will be used by Scholarship America in other scholarship programs.