Foundation Awards $150,000 in 9/11 Descendant Scholarships
Six graduating seniors whose family members died of 9/11-related illnesses each received $25,000 college scholarships.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Scholarships
The Barasch & McGarry Charitable Foundation granted $150,000 in college scholarships to six graduating high school seniors at a reception held at 3 World Trade Center on September 10, 2026. The six recipients were selected by the September 11 Memorial & Museum.
Why it matters
The scholarships are awarded to children and grandchildren of individuals who lost loved ones to 9/11-related illnesses, a population whose health burden continues to grow. Recent CDC data show cancer certifications across the 9/11 community have risen sharply since 2015.
The Barasch McGarry Foundation's September 11th Descendants Scholarship awards $25,000 to each of six recipients, totaling $150,000, and will accept applicants annually. CDC data from June 2026 show 145,275 current World Trade Center Health Program members, with 9/11 community cancer certifications up 1,680% since 2015.
The players
Barasch & McGarry Charitable Foundation
The foundation created and funded the September 11th Descendants Scholarship that awarded the $150,000 in college grants.
September 11 Memorial & Museum
The memorial and museum selected the six scholarship recipients from applicants who lost family members to 9/11-related illnesses.
John Feal
A former construction worker who lost a foot during 9/11 rescue and recovery work, Feal founded the FealGood Foundation to aid responders.
The details
At the reception, held on the eve of the 25th commemoration of the September 11 attacks, scholarship recipients were recognized for their families' losses. Lafayette College freshman Domenick Masiello, whose grandfather died of 9/11-linked leukemia in 2021, was among the honorees, and the event was organized as a September 11th Descendants Scholarship Reception.
Timeline
September 11, 2001: Terrorist attacks on New York City, the Pentagon and Shanksville, PA.
2015: First CDC report on 9/11 cancer certifications.
2021: Domenick Masiello's grandfather died of 9/11-linked leukemia.
September 10, 2026: Scholarship reception held at 3 World Trade Center on the eve of the 25th anniversary.
Season Trajectory
CDC cancer certification data for the World Trade Center Health Program began in 2015 and now show a 1,680% rise across the 9/11 community. The scholarship program extends support to the next generation affected by those rising illness figures.
Eligible New York City-area high school seniors whose parents or grandparents died of 9/11-related illnesses can apply to the annual September 11th Descendants Scholarship. The program offers $25,000 per recipient toward college costs.
The takeaway
Families dealing with long-term illness from disasters should look for targeted scholarship programs, which can ease college costs for children of affected responders and survivors. Checking eligibility with organizations that serve the affected community is a practical first step.
Further reading
Explore more education scholarships covering programs like this one for families affected by major tragedies.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Rockland County Times.
