An important part of the mission of the Carnegie Hero Fund is to provide support for heroes and the dependants of those who are disabled or killed as a result of their heroism.
Heroes or their survivors may be eligible for financial considerations, including one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance. Other support comes in the form of grave markers, graduation honor cords, and Carnegie Medal refinishing at no cost to the hero or their family.
More about each benefit is linked below.
- Scholarships: Limited funding is available to heroes or the dependants of disabled or posthumous awardees to help offset the costs of a higher education at an accredited institution in cases in which personal and other sources of income are inadequate to cover academic expenses, such as tuition, books, and fees. Read more.
- Death benefits: In keeping with founder Andrew Carnegie’s wish that families of deceased heroes should be free from financial hardship resulting from their heroism, we welcome applications for assistance with reimbursement of funerals costs for posthumous heroes. To find out more, please contact us.
- Medical treatment expenses: Carnegie heroes who sustain treatable injury as a result of the performance of their heroic acts may be eligible for assistance with the costs of medical treatment not assumed by the hero’s healthcare coverage. To find out more, please contact us.
- Heroes for Heroes: A peer support network program is available to Carnegie heroes. Participants will be paired with one of a handful of volunteer coaches to discuss common experience and after-rescue issues and challenges where there is need for supportive communication. For more information or to apply online, read more.
- Mental health treatment expenses: The Hero Fund recognizes that rescues can be traumatic and, as a result, the hero may suffer stress-related ill effects, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), requiring professional intervention. For heroes seeking treatment of PTSD or PTSD-related conditions, the Hero Fund may provide assistance with costs, based on need. To find out more, please contact us.
- Ongoing assistance: For disabled heroes and Carnegie Medal recipients who gave their lives through their heroic action, the Hero Fund may provide monthly financial support to them or their dependents to help meet essential living expenses. These benefits are based on individual need. For more information or to apply online for this assistance, read more.
- Grave marker medallion: Grave markers, cast in the likeness of the Carnegie Medal, are available at no cost to the families of Carnegie heroes who have passed. The 3.75-inch bronze medallion are designed for mounting on stone or bronze memorials, including urns. Read more.
- Academic Honor cords: In celebration of graduating Hero Fund scholarship recipients, the Hero Fund is pleased to offer honor cords representing the Tartan plaid of Andrew Carnegie. Read more.
- Carnegie Medal refinishing: The Hero Fund will, at no cost, arrange for Carnegie Medal refinishing to aged and tarnished medals. The medals will be returned as close as possible to their original luster. Read more.
- Replacement Carnegie Medal: It is the Commission’s long-held policy not to replace Carnegie Medals, except in rare cases of documented theft or destruction, even in cases where families offer payment.