Irving A. Fradkin
{{Infobox biography
| name = Irving A. Fradkin
| image = Irving A. Fradkin.jpg
| image_size = 220
| caption = Headshot of Irving A. Fradkin
| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|3|28}}
| birth_place = Chelsea, Massachusetts, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|11|19|1921|3|28}}
| death_place = Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
| alma_mater = New England College of Optometry
| occupation = Optometrist
| title = Founder and President Emeritus, Scholarship America
| spouse = {{marriage|Charlotte Fradkin|1946}}
}}
Irving A. Fradkin (March 28, 1921 – November 19, 2016) was an optometrist and founder and president emeritus of Scholarship America.
Fradkin has been referred to as the "Johnny Appleseed" of college scholarships due to his leadership in scholarship access;{{cite web|last=Norman|first=Arthur|title=Dr. Irving Fradkin, the ‘Johnny Appleseed’ of college scholarships|url=http://www.jvhri.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4540:dr-irving-fradkin-the-johnny-appleseed-of-college-scholarships&Itemid=62|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140418030541/http://www.jvhri.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4540:dr-irving-fradkin-the-johnny-appleseed-of-college-scholarships&Itemid=62|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2014|publisher=The Jewish Voice|accessdate=10 March 2014}}{{cite web|title=Editorial: Dollars for Scholars financing a dream|url=http://www.patriotledger.com/article/20080222/NEWS/302229975|publisher=The Patriot Ledger|accessdate=24 March 2014}} his work has received national media coverage and government support.{{cite web|title=Huge Surprises for the Man Behind "Scholarship America"|url=http://katiecouric.com/videos/special-thanks-to-the-man-behind-scholarship-america/|publisher=katiecouric.om|accessdate=11 March 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330183820/http://katiecouric.com/videos/special-thanks-to-the-man-behind-scholarship-america/|archivedate=30 March 2014}}
Since its founding, Scholarship America has distributed more than $3.7 billion in scholarships and educational assistance to 2.3 million students,{{cite web|url=https://scholarshipamerica.org/about-us/scholarship-americas-mission-vision-history/|title=Scholarship America: Who We Are|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=ScholarshipAmerica.org|accessdate=22 November 2016}} which the organization cites as being the largest nonprofit, private-sector scholarship support and educational support organization in the United States.{{cite web|url=https://scholarshipamerica.org/about-us/scholarship-americas-mission-vision-history/|title=Who We Are|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=ScholarshipAmerica.org|accessdate=22 November 2016}}
Early life
Fradkin was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and was the seventh and youngest child of Jewish Russian immigrants. He graduated from the Massachusetts College of Optometry in Boston (now the New England College of Optometry). In 1943, with $700 borrowed from his father, Fradkin opened his first optometry office in Fall River, Massachusetts. He married his wife, Charlotte, in 1946.{{cite web|last=Daley|first=Lauren|title=Saving America's treasures|url=http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130719/SCBULLETIN/307290322/-1/SCBULLETIN09|publisher=Southcoast Business Bulletin|accessdate=17 January 2014}}
Scholarship America
Fradkin ran for the Fall River school committee in 1957 on a platform calling for community-supported scholarships for local students. After not being elected to the committee, Fradkin pursued his idea and founded the initial chapter of what he later called "Dollars for Scholars" in 1958, by challenging everyone in his community to give at least one dollar toward sending its youth to college. He cited helping children to get an education as his way of giving back to the country that gave to him.
On May 15, 1961, Scholarship America was officially chartered under the name "Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America." At the time of the charter, the foundation was operating Dollars for Scholars chapters in eleven New England cities. National press attention from publications such as Time, Reader's Digest and Saturday Review provided credibility and awareness for the organization.{{cite book|last=Vieira|first=Michael J.|title=Dollars for Scholars: The Autobiography of Dr. Irving A. Fradkin, Founder of Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America, Inc.|year=2002|publisher=Branden Books|location=Boston|isbn=0-8283-2080-2|page=83|url=https://www.amazon.com/Scholars-The-Autobiography-Citizens-Scholarship-Foundation-ebook/dp/B004AYDBO4|edition=2nd|author2=Irving K. Fradkin|editor=Adolph Caso}} {{As of|2016}}, since its founding, the organization had distributed $3.5 billion to 2.2 million students across the U.S.
At age 92, Fradkin retired from active participation in scholarship activities,{{cite web|title=Dr. Irving Fradkin to be honored at an April 28 retirement dinner|url=http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130227/PUB02/302270355|publisher=The Dartmouth Westport Chronicle|accessdate=16 January 2014}} although he continued to advocate for higher education and Scholarship America.{{cite web|last=Fradkin|first=Irving|title=Your View: Scholarship America and America's renaissance in manufacturing|url=http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131205/OPINION/312050302/-1/NEWS|publisher=SouthCoastToday.com|accessdate=16 January 2014}} He died on November 19, 2016, at his home in Fall River.{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldnews.com/news/20161120/philanthropist-dr-irving-fradkin-founder-of-dollars-for-scholars-dies-at-95|title=Philanthropist Dr. Irving Fradkin, founder of Dollars for Scholars, dies at 95|first=Kevin P.|last=O'Connor|publisher=}}
Awards
Fradkin has been honored locally and nationally for his grassroots success with Scholarship America. Select awards include:
- 1998 National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators’ (NASFAA) Allan W. Purdy Distinguished Service Award{{cite web | url=http://www.nasfaa.org/uploads/documents/AllanPurdy.pdf | title=Past winners | publisher=National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators | work=Allan W. Purdy Distinguished Service Award | accessdate=20 February 2016}}
- Isaiah Avila Award for “Uncommon Common Man”{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}
- Schow-Donnelly Service Before Self Award{{cite web|last=Sloane|first=Art|title='Service before self' honoree in town|url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/mesa/articles/0211seniorscene0211Z11.html|publisher=azcentral.com|accessdate=16 January 2014}}
- Recognition from the President's Task Force for Private Sector Initiatives{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}
- 2010 National College Access Network (NCAN) “Champion for College Access” Award{{cite web|title=Past Award Winners|url=http://www.collegeaccess.org/Past_Award_Winners.aspx|publisher=National College Access Network|accessdate=16 January 2014}}
- Finalist for the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation’s [https://web.archive.org/web/20131204015348/http://cmohfoundation.org/citizen-honors/community-service-awards/ “Citizen Service Before Self” award]{{cite web|first=|title=Rep. Kennedy honors Dr. Irving Fradkin|url=http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4448570/rep-kennedy-honors-dr-irving-fradkin|publisher=C-SPAN|accessdate=3 March 2014}}
- Honorary doctorate from Fradkin's alma mater, New England College of Optometry{{cite web|title=Irving Fradkin, OD43, Founder of Scholarship America|url=http://www.neco.edu/newsroom/index.html?id=2301|publisher=The New England College of Optometry|accessdate=16 January 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116081506/http://www.neco.edu/newsroom/index.html?id=2301|archivedate=16 November 2012}}
- Honorary doctorate from Stonehill College{{cite web|title=Fradkin to Receive Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree|url=http://www.stonehill.edu/events/commencement-2014/fradkin-to-receive-honorary-do/|publisher=Stonehill College|accessdate=22 May 2014}}
Media
In September 2012, CNNMoney cited Fradkin as a pioneer in making higher education affordable as part of its Money Heroes series.{{cite web|title=Pioneers in college education for all|url=https://money.cnn.com/gallery/pf/college/2012/08/31/college-education.moneymag/4.html|publisher=money.cnn.com|accessdate=16 January 2014}}
In October 2013, Katie Couric featured Fradkin on her nationwide daytime talk show, Katie, in recognition of his life's work with Scholarship America. Couric's first book, [https://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Advice-Ever-Extraordinary/dp/0812982584 The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons from Extraordinary Lives], also included a foreword from Fradkin. Proceeds from the sale of her book were donated to Scholarship America.
Fradkin reappeared on Katie in May 2014, along with Scholarship America President & CEO Lauren Segal, as part of the organization's inaugural Dream Award recipient announcement.{{cite web|title=Meet The Man Behind Scholarship America|url=http://katiecouric.com/videos/meet-the-man-behind-scholarship-america/|publisher=katiecouric.com|accessdate=30 June 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709214731/http://katiecouric.com/videos/meet-the-man-behind-scholarship-america/|archivedate=9 July 2014}}
Works
- The Autobiography of Dr. Irving A. Fradkin, Founder; Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America, Inc. with Michael J. Vieira (2002, Branden Books; {{ISBN|0-8283-2080-2}})
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fradkin, Irving A.}}
Category:American optometrists
Category:People from Chelsea, Massachusetts
Category:Philanthropists from Massachusetts