Barasch & McGarry Charitable Foundation Announces Inaugural 25th Remembrance Scholarship Recipients

Six students who carry the legacy of 9/11 responders and survivors will receive $25,000 scholarships toward their college educations

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, August 28, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — As the nation prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, the Barasch & McGarry Charitable Foundation is proud to announce the inaugural recipients of its 25th Remembrance Scholarship, created to honor the lives and legacies of those who became ill and died as a result of their service, sacrifice, and exposure following the 9/11 attacks.

The Foundation will award scholarships to six exceptional students who have lost a parent or grandparent to a 9/11-related illness. Each recipient will receive $25,000 toward their college education.

The scholarship recipients are:
• Thomas Sheehan lost his mother, Delia Tanger, a Battery Park resident, to colorectal cancer in April 2026. Thomas will attend New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Ian Dannenfelser lost his grandfather, Gene, a lifelong volunteer firefighter and the Deputy Chief Fire Marshal with the Camden County Fire Marshal’s Office, to lung cancer in 2017. Ian will attend Penn State University.

The Next Generation: “I was not alive on 9/11.”
The scholarship is particularly meaningful, as the 25th anniversary approaches because many members of this next generation were not yet born—or were too young to remember September 11, 2001.

That sentiment appeared repeatedly throughout the students’ applications. While they may not have memories of that day themselves, they have grown up with its consequences. They carry the stories of parents and grandparents who responded, worked, served, and ultimately became sick because of their connection to 9/11.

The Barasch & McGarry Charitable Foundation was established to ensure that the legacy of the 9/11 community extends beyond remembrance, providing meaningful support and opportunities for future generations.

“Twenty-five years after September 11th, we are entering a new chapter of remembrance,” said Michael Barasch, co-founder of the Barasch & McGarry Charitable Foundation. “These young people may not remember the day itself, but they know its impact intimately. Their parents and grandparents gave so much, and we want to honor those sacrifices by investing in the futures of their children and grandchildren.”

The Foundation will formally recognize the six recipients at an award ceremony on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 3 World Trade Center in New York City from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., as part of the 25th Remembrance of September 11. The awards will be presented by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand; former Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Peter King; 9/11 advocate

John Feal; former VCF Special Master Kenneth Feinberg; and Dr. Kerry Kelly of the FDNY, each of whom has played a significant role in supporting and advocating for the 9/11 community. The inaugural scholarship marks the beginning of the Foundation’s broader commitment to supporting the 9/11 community and honoring the enduring legacy of those who served, sacrificed and continue to be affected by September 11.

About the Barasch & McGarry Charitable Foundation
The Barasch & McGarry Charitable Foundation was established to support the 9/11 community and honor the legacy of those whose lives were forever changed by September 11, 2001. Through scholarships, education, advocacy, and charitable initiatives, the Foundation seeks to preserve the stories and sacrifices of the 9/11 generation, raise awareness of the lasting health impacts of the World Trade Center disaster, connect responders and civilians with available government resources, and create opportunities for the generations that follow.

Bridget Gormley
Barasch & McGarry Foundation
email us here

Media gallery