Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, November 12, Scholarship America proudly hosted the first-ever Irving Innovation Awards during its annual gala, held at the Army & Navy Club in Washington, D.C. This notable evening brought together a select group of executives, philanthropists, and educational leaders to honor the transformative effects of Scholarship America’s initiatives and to recognize scholarship sponsors for their innovative methods and excellence.
As the largest administrator of scholarship programs in the nation, Scholarship America merges top-notch service with a nonprofit vision. To acknowledge their dedication to enhancing educational access, Scholarship America chose this year’s recipients based on significant improvements made to their scholarship programs that promote inclusivity, accessibility, and community impact. These awards capture the aspirations of the organization’s founder, Dr. Irving Fradkin, whose groundbreaking efforts in creating community-based scholarships have evolved into a nationwide movement.
The Irving Innovation Awards recognize organizations that have transformed their approach to supporting students—making sure their programs offer not only financial assistance but also comprehensive opportunities for personal and career development. These initiatives are significantly impacting not only the lives of individual students but also the communities and industries connected to them.
Background
Irving Fradkin was born on March 28, 1921, in Chelsea, a suburb of Boston. As the second youngest of Russian immigrant parents, he attended the Massachusetts College of Optometry, where annual tuition was $300—equivalent to two months’ wages for his father, who owned a bakery—who funded his son’s education.
After repeatedly hearing from patients about their aspirations for college that were hindered by financial limitations, Dr. Fradkin rallied his neighbors to start a community initiative for scholarship fundraising. In May 1958, Dr. Fradkin’s vision was fulfilled when the first Dollars for Scholars scholarships of $500 each were presented to graduates of public and private high schools in Fall River.
Today, Dollars for Scholars, managed by Scholarship America, stands as the largest grassroots scholarship initiative in the country, with chapters across 475 local communities and supported by 12,500 volunteers. The original chapter, founded in Fall River, continues to thrive, earning the nickname “Scholarship City” for its significant contribution to America’s scholarship legacy.
Awardees
PepsiCo Foundation
The S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship program, initiated by the PepsiCo Foundation, aims to support community college graduates in pursuing a 4-year bachelor’s degree. Alongside the scholarship, PepsiCo provides optional internships, mentorship from its leaders, and quarterly workshops for S.M.I.L.E. scholars to guarantee that recipients receive comprehensive support to reach their educational aspirations.
Chick-fil-A
Every year, Team Members of Chick-fil-A across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico have the chance to apply for scholarships through the Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures™ program. Since its inception, Chick-fil-A has contributed over $191 million to assist more than 105,000 Team Members in their pursuit of higher education and achieving their exceptional futures. Chick-fil-A has expanded the community service portion of the application process to incorporate family support hours. This includes providing care for ill family members or offering unpaid childcare or homeschooling activities for their dependents.
Wells Fargo
Beginning in 2017, Wells Fargo has been honored to collaborate with Scholarship America to grant 253 renewable scholarships to students with disabilities, creating new opportunities and promoting increased accessibility for everyone. The scholarship was renamed “The Stacey Milbern Scholarship” by Wells Fargo in tribute to Stacey Milbern, a Korean-American advocate for disability justice, who was instrumental in founding the disability justice movement and fought for equitable treatment of individuals with disabilities.
Amazon
The Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship grants scholarships of up to $40,000 to 400 high school seniors who are aiming for a degree in computer science or engineering, along with internship opportunities at Amazon and additional benefits. Recipients of the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship are provided with paid internships at Amazon. These internships allow students to gain significant experience prior to their graduation.
Equitable Foundation
The Equitable Excellence Scholarship focuses on enabling students to realize their future goals, allowing them to make a positive difference in their communities. Equitable offers annual scholarships of $5,000 that are renewable for recipients over four years of study. This program supports first-generation and low-income students as they strive to earn a bachelor’s degree. By collaborating with community organizations, their efforts promote economic mobility and create opportunities that motivate and inspire students to fulfill their aspirations.
नमस्ते दोस्तों: मेरा नाम कन्हैया लाल है में इस वेबसाइट पर सरकारी नौकरी, सरकारी रिजल्ट, सरकारी समाचार, सरकारी परीक्षा प्रवेश पत्र, सरकारी परीक्षा पैटर्न, आदि। की जानकारी प्रदान करता हु और मुझे इस फिल्ड में 2 वर्ष का अनुभव है धन्यवाद