$25,000 Scholarships Open to 9/11 Illness Families
Children and grandchildren of people who died from 9/11-related illnesses can apply for the foundation's annual September 11th Descendants Scholarship.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Scholarships
The Barasch & McGarry Charitable Foundation granted $150,000 in college scholarships, at $25,000 each, to six graduating high school seniors whose parents or grandparents lost their lives to 9/11-related illnesses. The awards were presented at a reception at 3 World Trade Center on September 10, 2026, on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
Why it matters
For families in the New York City area and beyond, the awards offset college costs for children and grandchildren of people whose deaths are linked to illnesses from the 9/11 response. The scholarships are the foundation's September 11th Descendants Scholarship, which will accept applicants annually.
Each of the six awards is $25,000, for a total of $150,000. Eligibility is limited to children and grandchildren of individuals who lost loved ones to 9/11-related illnesses, and recipients were selected by the September 11 Memorial & Museum.
The players
Barasch & McGarry Charitable Foundation
A private charitable foundation that created and funded the September11th Descendants Scholarship.
September 11 Memorial & Museum
The institution at Ground Zero that selected the six scholarship recipients.
FealGood Foundation
The organization founded by John Feal, a 9/11 rescue and recovery construction worker.
John Feal
A former construction worker who founded the FealGood Foundation after a steel beam crushed his foot during 9/11 rescue efforts.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The federal agency that publishes data on World Trade Center Health Program membership and 9/11-related cancer certifications.
The details
The six recipients were chosen by the September 11 Memorial & Museum, and the foundation funded the scholarships directly. The awards were presented at a September 11th Descendants Scholarship Reception held at 3 World Trade Center, which overlooks Ground Zero. Applicants must be the child or grandchild of someone whose death is linked to a 9/11-related illness, and the foundation says it will accept new applicants each year.
Timeline
September 11, 2001: Terrorist attacks on New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, PA.
2015: First CDC report on 9/11 cancer certifications.
September 10, 2026: Scholarship reception held at 3 World Trade Center on the eve of the 25th anniversary.
Education Landscape
Scholarships tied to specific public tragedies, such as those for 9/11 families, are a long-standing form of targeted aid that supplements general college financing. The growth in 9/11-related cancer certifications since 2015 means the number of families who may qualify for such awards is itself expanding.
If you are the child or grandchild of someone who died from a 9/11-related illness, this scholarship is an annual option to watch for. Families should contact the foundation directly and ask their school's financial-aid office how private awards like this one affect other aid packages.
The takeaway
Private, targeted scholarships like this one can meaningfully reduce college costs for specific families, so it is worth checking eligibility for any award tied to your family's history. Ask a financial-aid office how an outside scholarship will be treated in your aid package before you accept it.
What happens next
The foundation's September 11th Descendants Scholarship will accept applicants annually, with the next cycle following the 2026 awards.
Further reading
For other ways families in the city are funding higher education, browse our Scholarships coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Rockland County Times.
