The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, also known as Carnegie Hero Fund, was established to recognize persons who perform extraordinary acts of heroism in civilian life in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

and

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, and to provide financial assistance for those disabled and the dependents of those killed saving or attempting to save others. Those chosen for recognition receive the Carnegie Medal and become eligible for scholarship aid and other benefits. A private operating foundation, the Hero Fund was established in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

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, in 1904 with a trust fund of $5 million by

Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie ( , ; November 25, 1835August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the History of the iron and steel industry in the United States, American steel industry in the late ...

, the Scottish-American industrialist and

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...

History

The fund was inspired by Selwyn M. Taylor and Daniel A. Lyle, who gave their lives in rescue attempts following the Harwick Mine disaster in Harwick, Pennsylvania, just outside Pittsburgh, on January 25, 1904. The disaster claimed 181, including Taylor and Lyle, who were killed during rescue attempts. Greatly touched by Taylor's and Lyle's sacrifice, Carnegie had medals privately minted for their families, and within two months he wrote the Hero Fund's governing "Deed of Trust", which was adopted by the newly created commission on April 15, 1904.

Administration

The Fund is administered by a 21-member volunteer board and a small staff. As of December 2022, a total of 10,340 Carnegie Medals have been awarded since the Fund was established, with the Fund paying $40.5 million in grants, scholarships, death benefits, and other aid. About 11% of nominees received the Carnegie Medal.Investigation Process
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. The Commission’s working definition of a hero as well as its requirements for awarding remain largely those that were approved by the founder. The Fund's website states the criteria: About 90% of those awarded are male, and, over the life of the Fund, roughly one-quarter of awards have been given posthumously.

Carnegie Medal

The three inch (7.13 cm) in diameter bronze medals which are given to awardees, are struck by Simons Brothers Co. of Philadelphia and consist of 90% copper and 10% tin. A verse from the Gospel of John encircles the outer edge: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" ( John 15:13). The first medals issued by the trust were in bronze, silver and gold. The trust soon stopped issuing gold medals. The last silver medal was issued in 1981.

Expanded into Europe

On 21 September 1908, Andrew Carnegie expanded the concept with the establishment of the British Carnegie Hero Fund Trust, based in

Dunfermline Dunfermline (; , ) is a city, parish, and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland, from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. Dunfermline was the de facto capital of the Kingdom of Scotland between the 11th and 15th centuries. The earliest ...

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. Within the next three years, the British trust was followed by equivalent foundations in nine other European countries: * The French ''Fondation Carnegie'' – founded 23 July 1909 * The German ''Carnegie Stiftung für Lebensretter'' – founded in late December 1910. The trust was taken over by the German Nazi government in 1934 and wasn't recreated until 2005. * The Norwegian ''Carnegie Heltefond for Norge'' – founded 21 March 1911 * The Dutch ''Stichting Carnegie Heldenfonds'' – founded 23 March 1911 * The

Swiss Swiss most commonly refers to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Swiss may also refer to: Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina * Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses * Swiss Café, an old café located ...

''Fondation Carnegie pour les Sauveteurs'' ("The Carnegie Rescuers Foundation") – founded 28 April 1911 * The Belgian ''Carnegie Hero Fund Commission'' – founded 13 July 1911 * The Italian ''Fondazione Carnegie'' – founded 25 September 1911 * The Swedish ''Carnegiestiftelsen'' – founded 6 October 1911 * The Danish ''Carnegies Belønningsfond for Heltemod'' – founded 30 December 1911. The Danish trust also covers acts of heroism in

Greenland Greenland is an autonomous territory in the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. It is by far the largest geographically of three constituent parts of the kingdom; the other two are metropolitan Denmark and the Faroe Islands. Citizens of Greenlan ...

and the

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References

External links