Students get 9/11 illness scholarships

Six college-bound students whose families were devastated by 9/11-related illnesses received $25,000 scholarships Wednesday night in Lower Manhattan. The Barasch & McGarry Foundation presented the awards.

Among the recipients was Sophia Cucuzza, who lost her mother, Jaime Cucuzza, to cancer years after the attacks. Sophia's mother worked near Ground Zero. Sophia said doctors warned her mother she had only months to live. "They told her she only had three months left to live and she said, 'absolutely not, I am going to power through,'" she said. "She wanted to see me grow up and I'm forever in awe that she was able to live on for those three years and see me grow up a little bit."

The Recipients' Stories

Ian Dannenfelser, another scholarship recipient, said his grandfather, a volunteer firefighter, also died from cancer linked to his time at the World Trade Center site. "He didn't have to go there. He wanted to," Dannenfelser said. "He would have gone the day of if he could have, but they told him to wait."

The foundation stated its goal is to support young people who grew up facing the emotional and financial fallout of 9/11-related illnesses. "I want them to know that their parent or grandparent didn't die in vain," Michael Barasch said.

Ongoing Health Impact

Organizers emphasized that the federal Victims Compensation Fund, created in the years after the attacks, remains a critical resource. "There's help available. There's free healthcare. There's compensation. And yet so many people - especially civilians - still don't realize it," Barasch said.

Dr. Kerry Kelly of the FDNY World Trade Center oncology unit said new cancer cases continue to emerge. "We're averaging 30 new cases a month," she said. "Some of which are more minor. Many of which are significant. I think the good news is we're trying to catch cancers earlier."

Future Goals

For the scholarship recipients, the financial support is directly linked to their academic and career aspirations. Sophia Cucuzza, who spent much of her childhood in hospitals while her mother was treated, is now studying to become a nurse. She explained that her career choice was inspired by the medical staff who cared for her family. "They really did help my family and help my mom so I wanted to be that person for someone else," she said.

The foundation's scholarship programme provides direct aid to students impacted by the long-tail tragedy of 9/11-related illnesses. The event served as both a recognition of past sacrifice and a practical investment in the next generation's education.