Irving A. Fradkin

Irving A. Fradkin
Headshot of Irving A. Fradkin
Born	(1921-03-28)March 28, 1921 Chelsea, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	November 19, 2016(2016-11-19) (aged 95) Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma mater	New England College of Optometry
Occupation	Optometrist (retired)
Title	Founder and President Emeritus, Scholarship America
Spouse(s)	Charlotte Fradkin (m. 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; his work has received national media coverage and government support. Since its founding, Scholarship America has distributed more than $3.5 billion in scholarships and educational assistance to 2.2 million students, which the organization cites as being the largest nonprofit, private-sector scholarship support and educational support organization in the United States.

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.

Fradkin ran for the Fall River school committee in 1957 on a platform calling for community-supported scholarships for local students. Despite his electoral defeat, 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 11 New England cities. National press attention from publications such as Time, Reader's Digest and Saturday Review provided credibility and awareness for the organization. Since its founding, the organization has distributed more than $3.5 billion to 2.2 million students across the country.

At age 92, Fradkin retired from active participation in scholarship activities, although he continued to advocate for higher education and Scholarship America. He died on November 19, 2016, at his home in Fall River.