March 5, 2002
PARK RIDGE, Ill. - Following the national tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001, the Big Ten Conference through its intercollegiate athletic department revenues pledged a $1 million scholarship contribution to assist the families of those affected by the terrorist attacks. On Sunday, March 10, Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany will make a presentation to Lumina Foundation for Education and Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America (CSFA) to provide undergraduate and graduate degree scholarships at Big Ten Conference member institutions.
The contribution will be administered by CSFA as a sub-fund to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund. The Conference's donation shall be called the "Big Ten 9-11 Scholarship Fund." The $1 million contribution will be drawn from Conference reserves, which are generated as a result of football and men's basketball participation in NCAA, bowl and regular season television opportunities.
The presentation will be made during the Conference Men's Basketball Tournament final at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Delany will present a check to Martha D. Lamkin, president / CEO of Lumina Foundation, and Fred Vogel, executive vice president of CSFA.
"Many lives were lost on Sept. 11 and many more lives were forever changed as a result of these attacks," said Delany. "The Big Ten Conference is honored to have the opportunity to make a $1 million educational contribution to the surviving family members of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001."
The Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents/Chancellors (COP/C) unanimously supported the contribution to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund. "This scholarship fund represents our commitment to a hopeful future for those individuals so tragically affected by the Sept. 11 attacks. The Big Ten Conference is honored to offer these scholarships and the full resources of our respective institutions during this time of need," said Dr. Myles Brand, president of Indiana University and chair of the Big Ten COP/C.
"Ensuring educational opportunity is the greatest gift we can give to others," said Vogel. "On behalf of the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund and the families of the victims, I thank the Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents/Chancellors and its member institutions for their extremely generous gift."
CFSA, the nation's largest nonprofit scholarship organization, is coordinating the overall Fund initiative, receiving all monies raised, and administering the scholarship program over the life of the Fund. Headquartered in Minneapolis and St. Peter, Minn., CSFA carries out its mission of expanding access to educational opportunities and encouraging academic achievement through its Dollars for Scholars, Scholarship Management Services, and the ScholarShop? programs.
Since its founding in 1958, CSFA has distributed over $776.2 million to more than 748,000 students through its scholarship and other support programs. For the fifth year in a row, Smart Money, the Wall Street Journal's magazine of personal finance, has ranked CSFA as one of the 17 most efficient nonprofits in the country. Worth Magazine also has named CSFA as one of America's 100 Best Charities in its Dec. 2001/Jan. 2002 issue.
Lumina Foundation for Education, headquartered in Indianapolis, is a private, independent foundation, which strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access to an education beyond high school. Lumina Foundation pledged the initial $3 million that created the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund.
"I'm pleased that my fellow Midwesterners have joined this worthy effort to help families devastated by the events of Sept. 11," Lamkin said. "As this contribution demonstrates, hoops and heart are hallmarks of the Midwest and Indiana. Because education provides an opportunity to overcome life's obstacles, the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund may open doors for these families who have suffered such a great loss."
The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund has been created to provide education assistance for postsecondary study to financially needy dependents of those killed or permanently disabled as a result of the terrorist attacks on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, and during the rescue activities relating to those attacks. Former President Bill Clinton and former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole are serving as co-chairs of the campaign fund effort. For more information go to: www.familiesoffreedom.org, email: familiesoffreedom@csfa.org or call 1-800-335-1102.