35 Years of Murphy Scholars

Bob and Jim Murphy watched their dad work tirelessly to be able to send them to Loyola Academy. Their lived experience planted the seed of supporting talented young people with financial support to attend the school of their choice. In honor of their dad, Daniel Murphy, Bob and Jim, along with their family and friends, launched the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund (DMSF) beginning with four Murphy Scholars in 1989. For the last 35 years, DMSF has unlocked the potential of over 2,300 young people in Chicago. Our Scholars come from every corner of the city and each embodies resilience, leadership and dedication - qualities that make our Scholar community so special. When we meet our Scholars during the interview process, they are 8th graders eager to take on the rigor and challenge of high school.The people we see them transform into in a four-year period and what they accomplish is remarkable! By providing access to an excellent education and supporting them on their journey, we are transforming the lives of our Scholars, families and communities. 

Our growth as an organization is a testament to the efficacy of our mission and the great need that continues to exist in our city. Today we support 501 Murphy Scholars who are currently enrolled in our 87 partner high schools. Recognizing the unique needs of our Scholars, we combine tuition scholarships with specialized programs to give our Scholars the academic and personal support to ensure their success in high school, college and beyond. Our model works and Murphy Scholars are thriving: 100% graduate from high school and are accepted into four-year colleges and 87% have graduated or are on track to graduate within six years! 

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​35 years of Murphy Scholars would not have been possible without our partners and supporters, including our Scholars and families, partner schools, staff, Board Members, donors, volunteers, and feeder schools. Every person that has ever shown up for DMSF has helped us get to our 35th year and we’re thrilled to be able to continue our work of unlocking educational opportunities for talented young people! 

As we embark on our 35th year, we honor our past and are planning for a bright future, one filled with endless opportunities for Murphy Scholars. We remain focused on expanding our reach to serve more young people, deepening our financial and programmatic support of our Scholars, and supporting our ever-growing Murphy Alumni base to ensure their exposure to a variety of careers and matriculation to successful careers. 

Together, we have the power to move the needle towards educational equity and give our next generation of Scholars the endless possibilities they deserve. Thank you for your years of partnership and deep belief in Murphy Scholars! 

We invite you to follow along as we celebrate 35 years of Murphy Scholars. Stay tuned as we celebrate our past, share our plans for the future, and learn ways to join us at upcoming events as we continue to ignite potential and enrich lives.  

With gratitude, 

Cindy Hallums
Executive Director

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