$2 Billion - 2 Million Students

[Ken]

I went to a "retirement party" honoring a 92-year-old friend this afternoon. His name is Irving Fradkin. He autographed a copy of his latest book for me. Talk about a guy who has made a difference in the world....

Back in the 1950's, when he was a young optometrist in Fall River, Massachusetts, Dr. Fradkin learned that most kids graduating from high school simply couldn't afford to go to college. Many were dropping out of high school to get a jump on the job market in local mills and factories.

He did a bit of math, and discovered that if every family in the city donated just ONE DOLLAR EACH YEAR TO A SCHOLARSHIP FUND, EVERY KID GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD A COLLEGE EDUCATION.

In 1961, armed with that fact, Irving Fradkin established the "Dollars for Scholars" program called "The Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America." Looking for every dollar he could raise, he placed a COLLECT telephone call to President Dwight D. Eisenhower asking for a contribution. The President TOOK HIS CALL AND SENT IN HIS DOLLAR!

Today, the organization is known as "Scholarship America." It has over 1,000 chapters nationwide and since its earliest days has distributed over $2 BILLION in scholarships to over 2 MILLION students.

I guess one guy really can make a difference.

http://scholarshipamerica.org/news_i...in_history.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scholarship_America

[Desert Rat!]

Thats cool.

[hunter63]

That very cool....need some optimism about now....

[Ken]

Thats cool.

That very cool....need some optimism about now....

At 92, the Doc's had a over-nighters in the hospital in the last few years. When people visit him, he cheers THEM up.

[crashdive123]

Sounds like a good man. Thanks for telling us about him.

[rebel]

Good story

[GreatUsername]

And yet some people lament this exact same type of action when it's the government pushing for it... students need money either way!

Gotta love this guy's drive and pragmatism. I wish I could have shook his hand.

[crashdive123]

And yet some people lament this exact same type of action when it's the government pushing for it... students need money either way!

Gotta love this guy's drive and pragmatism. I wish I could have shook his hand.

Seriously? You don't see the difference between an individual doing this sort of activity because that is what they want to do and the government confiscating money at the point of a gun to redistribute it?

Just because somebody needs (or wants) something does not mean it is the job of the government to provide it!

[LowKey]

+1
I prefer to select my own charities.

[finallyME]

Seriously? You don't see the difference between an individual doing this sort of activity because that is what they want to do and the government confiscating money at the point of a gun to redistribute it?

Just because somebody needs (or wants) something does not mean it is the job of the government to provide it!

Exactly. One is asking and receiving from people willingly, and the other is taking without asking. Plus, you have operating costs and procedures. I will let you guess which method is more cost effective and efficient.

[1stimestar]

That's fantastic.