Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Players Association give $8 Million to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund

Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig and Donald M. Fehr, Executive Director of Major League Baseball Players Association, have announced today that $8 million will be given to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund (the Fund) from the MLB-MLBPA Disaster Relief Fund.

Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of America (CSFA) created the Fund to provide education assistance to children and spouses of those killed or permanently disabled as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Major League Baseball’s gift a joint contribution from players and owners  has enabled CSFA to surpass its goal of raising $100 million in scholarship support for 9/11 victims’ dependents. The $8 million gift is one of the biggest gifts to the Fund, and the largest received from any sports organization. As announced earlier today, this brings the Fund’s total to $105 million.

"We are grateful to Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association for their generous and collaborative gift. Together, they send a message of hope by ensuring educational opportunities for families most affected by 9/11,” said Dr. William C. Nelsen, president, Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of America.

CSFA launched the Fund on September 17, 2001, along with the Lumina Foundation for Education, a private foundation dedicated to expanding access to postsecondary education. The Fund will provide long-term scholarship support, benefiting students currently enrolled in postsecondary education as well as younger children, including dependents born in the months since 9/11/01.