| In 1962, after learning that a Marine World War II Medal of Honor recipient could not afford to send his child to college, Brigadier General Martin F. Rockmore and a small group of his Marine friends in the New York area decided to take on the task of helping the children of Marines achieve their dream of higher education. General Rockmore and his Band of Brothers decided to organize a charity ball and use the proceeds to provide scholarship assistance. In December of that year, the first “Leatherneck Ball” was held in New York City and enough funds were raised to award one $1,500 scholarship.
In the ensuing years, through an enormous volunteer effort, the Foundation expanded its activities across the country. Golf tournaments were started, other scholarship balls were organized, and volunteers held small gatherings in their homes and other locations to help spread the word and raise the financial resources to carry on the Foundation's work. The Foundation's appeal was straightforward: Youth, Education and the Values that have made our Corps and country great. As a result, there are now four scholarship balls held each year in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, and Los Angeles. Additionally, twenty golf tournaments, and other events, are organized each year from coast to coast. (Click here to see our event listing.)
|
