Friends of American Writers Chicago Foundation Fund and Scholarships

The Foundation Fund

Friends of American Writers (FAW) President Anne Haines established the Foundation Fund during her term of office (1959-61). This special fund assured the members that there would always be funds to cover the annual awards. Through contributions of $100 or more, participating members increased the principal, with the interest being available at the discretion of the Board of Directors. This fund was generously boosted in 1961 by a $12,000 bequest by member Bess Harrington Cook.

The Foundation Fund as it exists today was established in October 1984 when almost $22,000 was transferred from the treasury of Friends of American Writers to an account designated as the Foundation Fund by President Jane Lederer, Treasurer Alice Lohrer and Trustees Corrinne Silver, Angeline Higginson and Geraldine Parker.

Bylaws for the Friends of American Writers were written to oversee this fund. Three FAW members are elected to serve as Foundation Fund Trustees to administer this money, which remains separate from the other FAW accounts.

Use of this money should reflect the mission of the organization - "to study American literature, to encourage high standards and to promote literary ideals among American writers." Foundation Fund money has been used through the years for education, training and scholarships for students of writing.

Are you interested in making a contribution to the FAW Foundation Fund?

Foundation Fund Contribution Form or donate online.

LITERARY WORKSHOPS

Literary workshops were begun in 1985. Yearly, the Foundation Fund Trustees met with English faculty from the University of Illinois at Chicago to plan a writing workshop for students. A noted author was paid to meet all day with a select group of UIC students to teach writing skills. At the end of the day the author would give a lecture to the students, FAW members and the general public. These workshops were moved to Roosevelt University in 1990. Authors participating in this program included Sara Paretsky, Scott Turow and Garry Wills. This program was ended in 1998.

FOUNDATION FUND SCHOLARSHIPS

Annual student scholarships began in 1999. Interest money formerly used for the workshops was given to writing students selected by university faculty in the writing program. An annual scholarship was granted to a Roosevelt University student since beginning in 1999. The program was broadened to include National Louis University in 2002, and now Columbia College has been added. Each year the winning students and their faculty sponsors are invited to the November FAW luncheon to meet and briefly talk to the FAW membership.

Columbia College Chicago Scholarship Award

2018 - Jessica Love - $1,200
2019 - Samuel du Bois - $1,500
2020 - Ruby Orozco - $1,500
2021 - Annella Thomas - $3,000
2022 - Laura Hawbaker - $3,000
2023 - Tyler Odeneal - $3,000

National Louis University Scholarship Award

2002 - Brian Kleeman - $1,500
2003 - Brian Kleeman - $1,500
2004 - Sara Adams Stephens - $1,500
2005 - Stacy Williams - $1,500
2006 - Samantha Swift - $1,500
2007 - Alex Gasiel - $1,000
2008 - Ann Lichter - $1,000
2009 - Ryan Aranoff - $1,000
2010 - Nicole Lemmon - $1,000
2011 - Debra Jennings - $1,000
2012 - Tara Sparks - $1,000
2013 - Kendra Harding - $1,000
2014 - Kathleen Reilley - $1,000
2015 - Patrick Iovanelli - $1,000
2016 - Kara Brinkman - $1,000
2017 - Jonathan Riesbeck - $1,200
2018 - Candace Nzingha Smith - $1,200
2019 - Stephanie Rogers - $1,500
2020 - Michael Rossi - $1,500

Roosevelt University Scholarship Award

1999 - Clif Marvin - $1,500
2000 - Melanie Montreal - $1,500
2001 - Brian Budzynski - $1,500
2002 - Elizabeth Aiossa - $1,500
2003 - Elizabeth Aiossa - $1,500
2004 - Michael Staples - $1,500
2005 - Katrina Triantasillou - $1,500
2006 - Prairie Markussen - $1,500
2007 - Lori Rader Day - $1,000
2008 - Tara Baldridge - $1,000
2009 - Lisa Katzenberger - $1,000
2010 - Christina Kloess - $1,000
2011 - Timothy Moore - $1,000
2012 - Jake Wrenn - $1,000
2013 - Jim Kurlos - $1,000
2014 - James Yates - $1,000