ChairScholars Foundation - History
History
During his 29 year tenure as Chief of Spinal Surgery at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, Hugo A. Keim, M.D. witnessed the struggles of many disabled youngsters. Dr. Keim and his wife Alicia, having both overcome physical challenges of their own, wanted to help. They strongly believed that “no physical impairment should deter a motivated mind.” So, in 1992, they began by sending two students who were in wheelchairs to college. From this act of kindness, the ChairScholars Foundation emerged. To date, 769 SCHOLARSHIPS have been awarded.
The Foundation began with the National Program. Scholarships are available to students from Maine to Hawaii – and everywhere in between - providing up to $20,000 tuition assistance at the college of their choice. To date, 259 scholarships have been awarded.
In 1995 the Keim’s moved to Tampa, Florida and realized the need for a Florida program. The Keim’s joined forces with “Take Stock in Children” to provide scholarships through the Florida Pre-Paid Tuition program.
The Florida Program is available to 7th to 11th grade students attending public school in all Florida counties. These awards provide tuition for college or vocational school with a Florida Prepaid Tuition scholarship. To date, 502 scholarships have been awarded.
The Keim’s strong ties to New York have resulted in the addition of the Foundation’s New York Metropolitan Area Program. This program is available to students attending public school in the Greater New York Area, including the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, north and central New Jersey, Hudson Valley and western Connecticut. It provides up to $20,000 in tuition assistance over four years for a student to attend the college or university of his/her choice.