The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is a privately-funded, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides academic scholarships to children of United States Marines, with particular attention given to children whose parent was killed or wounded in combat. This funding is provided by private supporters including individuals, corporations, and other nonprofit foundations. The organization's slogan is "Honoring Marines by Educating Their Children."

Work

Since it's founding in 1962, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation has provided more than 25,000 + scholarships valued at over $60 million, with awards ranging in from $1000 to $10,000. The Foundation announced in mid 2009 that it will award a record 1,405 scholarships to the children of U.S. Marines for the 2009-2010 academic year. This new figure represents a 12.4% increase in the number of scholarships given in the previous year.

These scholarship programs provide opportunities for students that cannot afford the full cost of higher education, while increasing their chances for success in their personal and professional lives.

Scholarships for 2008-2009 amounted to more than $4,375,000 in awards as compared to $3,491,000 in 2007. The scholarships have increased a total of 182% since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2002-2003 academic year). The average scholarship award is $1,500.

The Foundation's scholarships are primarily needs-based. Besides requiring applicants to be a child of a Marine or a child of a former Marine, the scholarship eligibility criteria includes a maximum family income equal to the payscale of a sergeant major

Sergeant Major

Sergeants major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers...

, which in 2006 was $65,000. The average household income of 2009 scholarship recipients was only $46,400. The Foundation cites the mounting toll of the War on Terror

War on Terror

The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...

, the rising costs of education, and the maturation of a new generation of Marines as an urgent call for increasing support.

To meet the current and future needs of educating these children, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation launched an aggressive and comprehensive capital drive, “The American Patriots Campaign.” The American Patriots Campaign is led by the American Patriots Campaign Leadership Cabinet, made up of former Commandants of the Marine Corps and luminaries from the worlds of business, entertainment, and philanthropy. Concluding on the 50th anniversary of the Foundation in 2012, this drive will raise $50 million in funds over the next five years. This increase in capital is intended to allow the organization to nearly double the average scholarship award, provide special scholarships to the children of parents killed in the Global War on Terror, and develop a sustainable, diversified base of support to increase their scholarship capacity for the next generation of Marine families.

Origin

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation began by helping one child. In 1962, Brigadier General Martin F. Rockmore and other retired Marine reservists in New York City learned that a Marine World War II Medal of Honor recipient could not afford to send his child to college. Concerned, General Rockmore and his peers organized a charity ball that December, which raised $1,500 (1962 dollars). The annual charity ball, known as the New York Leatherneck Ball, continues to this day. The original event has inspired numerous balls, galas, golf tournaments, and other fundraisers across the country.

Special Commitments

The Foundation has made special commitments to the sons and daughters of Marines and Navy Corpsmen, and in other special circumstances, to the children of all American servicemen and women, whose parent is killed in combat.

After the bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon in 1983, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation awarded a total of $1.1 million in education bonds to the child of every American serviceman killed in this tragedy, constituting 3 children from the Army, 80 children from the Marines, and 19 children from the Navy. Again, after Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the Foundation awarded $2.5 million in education bonds, to the child of every American serviceman and woman killed in this war. Included were 37 children from the Air Force, 131 children from the Army, 66 children from the Marines, and 17 children from the Navy.

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Foundation committed to provide Heroes Tribute Scholarships, totaling up to $30,000 over four years, to every child of a Marine or Navy Corpsman serving with the Marines, whose parent is killed in combat in the Global War on Terror.

Leadership

In March 2010, General Robert Magnus USMC (Ret), who served as the 30th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps

Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps

The Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps is the second highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps, and serves as a deputy for the Commandant of the Marine Corps...

, was appointed as Chairman of the nonprofit Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. His new civilian post continues a distinguished procession of Marine Corps leaders that has supported or endorsed the organization throughout its history including all living former commandants. Magnus is the second Assistant Commandant to chair of the Foundation succeeding General William L. "Spider" Nyland

William L. Nyland

William L. "Spider" Nyland , a veteran of the Vietnam War, is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general who served as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 2002 to 2005...

. Margaret B. Davis is the President & CEO of the Foundation.