DMSF Celebrates 35 Years of Murphy Scholars and Raises Over $1.65M at the Ignite Potential Gala

DMSF Celebrates 35 Years of Murphy Scholars and Raises Over $1.65M at the Ignite Potential Gala

Unveiling Dreams and Honoring Steve Elkins with the Catalyst Award

Chicago, IL – The Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund (DMSF) marked a significant milestone with the 35th Anniversary Ignite Potential Gala, celebrating three and a half decades of transforming lives through education. The event, themed "Unveiling Dreams," brought together a remarkable community of supporters, alumni, and educators, all united by the shared vision of providing access to the best educational opportunities for students from under resourced communities.

Link to Event Photos here.
Link to our Scholar Impact and Honoree videos played at the Gala here.

Held at The Geraghty, the gala was a night to remember, with over 480 supporters, including over 100 Murphy Scholars and Alums who have benefited from the program in attendance. Together, the community helped raise over $1.65 million, funds that will continue to unlock the dreams of Murphy Scholars, supporting their journey from high school to college and beyond. 
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The evening’s highlight was the presentation of the Catalyst Award to Steve Elkins, a dedicated advocate, mentor, and champion of Murphy Scholars for over 34 years. His unwavering leadership, generosity, and commitment to ensuring Scholars have the resources and support they need to succeed truly embody the spirit of DMSF’s mission. Additionally, Lindy and Mike Keiser, longtime supporters, contributed to the evening’s success by providing a $100,000 match, doubling the impact of donations to support Murphy Scholars and their bright futures.

The success of the Ignite Potential Gala is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the DMSF community. From the educators and mentors to the generous donors and volunteers, it takes a village to provide the resources that allow so many families to give their children access to the best education possible. Over the past 35 years, DMSF has supported more than 2,300 Scholars, contributing to the development of promising futures and strong communities. 

“As DMSF looks to the future, we remain committed to continuing to provide life-changing educational opportunities to more deserving students. The generosity of those who attended and supported the gala ensures that we can continue unveiling dreams and changing lives for many years to come,” shares Cindy Hallums, Chief Executive Officer of DMSF. 
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For more information about the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund or to get involved, please visit www.dmsf.org and follow us on social @MurphyScholars.

About DMSF: About the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund 
The mission of the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund is to unlock educational opportunities for talented Chicago-area students facing financial need. DMSF partners with Scholars, families and schools through high school and beyond by providing scholarships, academic programs, and personal support so each Scholar can reach their potential. Today, DMSF serves 496 Scholars and offers 150 new scholarships to 8th grade students each year. Those students attend roughly 40 different parochial and independent day schools in the Chicago area and 40 boarding schools from coast to coast. To date, DMSF has awarded scholarships to over 2,300 Scholars, allowing them to attend college preparatory high schools and matriculate to college. The median family annual income of Murphy families is $40.9K, and 72% of the recent graduating Class of 2024 are first-generation students, the first in their families to graduate college. DMSF has been serving Chicago and surrounding neighborhoods for 35 years and continues to carry its mission forward thanks to the supporters, staff, volunteer leadership, school partners and high-achieving Murphy Scholars. 
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For more information on DMSF’s impact and ways to get involved, please visit DMSF’s website at www.dmsf.org or follow @MurphyScholars on Facebook or Instagram. ​

Media Contact:

Jessica Ayala
Director of Marketing & Communications
Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund
[email protected]
312-455-7808