THE FREDDIE N. PORTER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Freddie N. Porter Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in 2008.  On the night of October 11, 2007 Freddie and his team were on a night mission as part of his Navy Seal Training in Norfolk, Virginia.

 

Their boat was in a tragic accident with a tugboat carrying eight barges.  Since Freddie was the “Look Out” person, he sustained fatal injuries. The other two sailors survived. He was my only son and died at the age of nineteen years.

 

     I wanted to find a way in which to keep my son’s memory alive and to let everyone know his death was not in vain. Each year since 2008 in order to raise funds for the scholarship fund, I have a Beefsteak Dinner in Garfield, New Jersey.

 

Since the beginning the people of Garfield including elected officials, family and friends have supported my cause. One hundred percent of the funds raised goes directly to the Scholarship Fund.

 

This event is held in early May. Deserving students from Garfield high school where Freddie attended and graduated from receive scholarships and other students who are in need. The committee selects students from a written application for review.

 

We are a non-profit organization and my goal is to help as many students as possible. Freddie was not able to fulfill his dreams. I want others to fulfill theirs. Over the past six years we have given out more than one hundred scholarships.

    

In the future I hope to expand the Scholarship Fund to those Soldiers returning from war and may need assistance. We will help to provide some financial assistance to them through the Scholarship.