Founder’s Vision

Dollars for Scholars^® began in 1958 with the vision of Dr. Irving A. Fradkin, an optometrist who challenged everyone in Fall River, Mass. to give at least one dollar toward sending its youth to college.

Dr. Fradkin ran for the Fall River School Board in 1957 on a platform calling for community-supported scholarships for local students. Despite his electoral defeat, he kept pursuing his idea. The son of immigrants, Dr. Fradkin valued education as the most important freedom in America. Dr. Fradkin called together friends and area citizens, challenging them to join in a voluntary effort to support local students.

By asking for contributions of $1 or more from community members, the new organization was able to award 24 scholarships to local young people in its first year. Surrounding communities soon learned of Dr. Fradkin's success. By 1961, 21 cities and towns in New England had adopted his self-help philosophy.

“Dollars for Scholars has increased the numbers of children who stay in school and go on to higher education by offering children hope and support to build a better America through education.”

Irving Fradkin,
Dollars for Scholars Founder

Dr. Fradkin's one-man effort would become a national movement. As Dollars for Scholars began to spread across the country, more students benefited from recognition and support from their communities, and more community members shared in the pride and excitement of contributing to the future of their youth. There are now nearly 1,200 Dollars for Scholars chapters in 40 states and the District of Columbia.

Dr. Fradkin has donated his collection of papers, tapes and artifacts documenting the establishment and growth of Dollars for Scholars to the John Hay Library at Brown University, Providence, RI. “This collection provides a snapshot of a significant organization and what one individual, a passionate philanthropist who believes strongly in the value of education, can do as a volunteer,” said Samuel Streit, associate librarian for special collections at Brown University.

“I have donated my papers to the Brown University libraries because I want to see scholarship programs continue to grow and prosper,” said Dr. Fradkin. “Dollars for Scholars has increased the numbers of children who stay in school and go on to higher education by offering children hope and support to build a better America through education. It is my hope that scholars will use these materials in their research about education.”

Since 1997, founding sponsor Nicor Gas has contributed more than a quarter of a million dollars to help establish more than 140 chapters and make Illinois Dollars for Scholars the fastest-growing region in America.