James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund Awards $1.2 Million to Children of Teamster Members

The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund (JRHMSF) today announced that it has awarded $1.2 million in academic and vocational scholarships this year to the children of Teamster members throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The Fund was started in 1999 in honor of Teamsters General President Emeritus James R. Hoffa due to his belief in having education accessible to all children of members of the Teamsters. Since inception, the Fund has awarded over $14 million in scholarships to over 4,000 recipients.

“We awarded $1.2 million in scholarships in 2023 – and not just for college but also for vocational training courses,” said James P. Hoffa, a member of the board of the JRHMSF. “My father valued education and like many of our applicants, my sister and I were the first in our families to go to college and that’s why we feel this Fund is so important to help Teamster children achieve their academic and career goals.” James P. Hoffa led the union as Teamsters General President from when he was elected in 1998 until he retired in 2022.

The Fund has annually awarded scholarships since its founding. This year, 93 students received $10,000 academic scholarships and 203 students received $1,000 academic scholarships. Additionally, scholarships were also given to Teamster children preparing to earn vocational/training program certificates. Click here to view the entire list of recipients: JRHMSF_winners23 v2.pdf

Kaitlyn Engroba, a $10,000 winner this year said, “I’m very proud and honored to be a recipient of the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund. This scholarship has helped me get one step closer to becoming a labor and delivery nurse.” She is attending Miami-Dade College and her parent is a member of Local 769 in Miami, Florida.

For those interested, the application process will reopen at the end of November 2023. Eligibility rules are as follows: For the sons, daughters and financial dependents of Teamster members (including the BMWED, BLET, and TCRC). Academic scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 for high school seniors planning to attend a four-year college or university and Training/Vocational program awards of up to $2,000 for use at community colleges and trade schools.

For more information on the JRHMSF or for details on the application process, please visit www.jrhmsf.org. To view a detailed conversation between James P. Hoffa and Rick Smith (The Rick Smith Show) on the work that the fund does and the positive effect it has on Teamster children seeking an education, please visit here: https://tinyurl.com/4ajb3s97.

About The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund:

James R. Hoffa became a Teamster member in 1934 and served as General President for 14 years, and, in recognition of his tireless service to the union and its members, was honored as General President Emeritus for life. At the November 1999 General Executive Board meeting, then-General Secretary-Treasurer C. Thomas Keegel presented a resolution to establish the new scholarship fund.

The JRHMSF is an independent organization established and registered as a tax-exempt entity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Fund is established solely to provide scholarships to the child or dependent of a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and contributions to the Fund are deductible as charitable contributions to the extent permitted by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231030960328/en/