Triangle Memorial Group Scholarship Program Succeeds For Ninth Consecutive Year
June 20, 2010
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial (TSFFM) announced today that proceeds from its Ninth Annual Dinner, held on March 25, 2010, and Memorial Journal will enable it to provide college scholarships for the academic year 2010-2011 to another twenty students as in past years. Since inception, TSFFM has raised over $250,000 for the scholarship program.
TSFFM’s President, James McCarthy, said, “The largest measure of contributions is made by law firms and health care providers in the state’s workers’ compensation system. We are grateful for their generosity and recognition of the historical significance of the Triangle fire and the unmet needs of children of injured workers.”
March 25, 2011 marks the 100th commemoration of the Triangle Factory tragedy where 146 men and women, mostly young immigrants, perished. While it is expected that next year’s 100th is likely to generate new groups with a multitude of events and ideas, McCarthy indicated that TSFFM would focus on its commitment to the scholarship program. “We – as an all volunteer group – have very limited energy and resources,” he noted, “and have accepted responsibility to continue to assist Triangle Scholars in achieving their educational goals.”
John Sciortino, TSFFM’s Scholarship Chair and President of the state’s Injured Workers Bar Association, added, “Perhaps, the 100th commemoration will increase public awareness and result in even greater contributions to the Triangle Scholars program and enable us to expand our grants to a larger number or boost each individual award.”
Triangle Scholars each receive grants of $2,000 for an academic year and attend both public and private institutions of higher education from Buffalo to Long Island. Students are nominated by their institutions generally upon verification by the financial aid officer that some of their financial means is derived from permanent workers’ compensation benefits. An application form is available by download from TSFFM’s web site – www.trianglememorial.org.
Images courtesy of Cornell University
TSFFM, a recognized 501 ( c )(3) organization incorporated on December 2, 2002, was established to memorialize the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of March 25, 1911, its impact on changing New York State labor laws, and its role in the creation of the Workers' Compensation law. TSFFM seeks to educate the general public regarding workplace safety and to provide scholarships for the children of workers who died or were permanently disabled as the result of workplace accidents or illnesses.