The Hero Fund was honored to recognize the heroism of 71 individuals awarded the Carnegie Medal in 2024. Among the recipients were 65 Americans, five Canadians, and one Taiwanese man who together represented 36 states and provinces. Seventeen awards were made posthumously to rescuers who were killed during, or as a result of, their heroic actions. Through the selfless and extraordinary actions of these men and women, we are provided hope anew that the best of ourselves remains present in our society and will not waiver in the face of difficult times.
In continued service to the Hero Fund’s timeless commitment to support heroes and their families, $1,015,893 was provided by the Commission in 2024 to medal recipients and dependents in monetary grants, including initial award and other one-time support grants, monthly continuing benefits, scholarships, funeral and medical costs support, and the cost of medals.
At the Hero Fund’s December meeting, President Eric Zahren shared with commission members some highlights from 2024.
“The Hero Fund Commission continues to evolve with regard to support for heroes and dependents while remaining steadfastly anchored to its founding principles,” he said. “One clear example is the ongoing focus on non-physical injuries that impact many of those recognized by the Fund.”
Zahren, of course, was referring to the Hero Fund’s reimbursement of the cost of PTSD treatment as needed for Carnegie Medal recipients, as well as the Fund’s Heroes for Heroes program that pairs those struggling to cope with the trauma of their rescue with other Carnegie heroes, who understand, first-hand, the challenges that come from the experience.
As has been the historical reality, diversity was again reflected by the heroes of the past year in many respects (ethnic, age, geographic, and circumstantial). The lone commonality remained their willingness to put themselves in grave danger to save another human being, often a stranger.
“It was that common, yet exceptional, trait of humankind that so inspired Andrew Carnegie to create this ‘novel’ fund some 121 years ago,” Zahren said. “He did so without fear that heroism would fade, believing that it was instilled in the fabric of all men and women as a check against fear and disaster.”
Those selfless heroes who have exercised extreme and costly altruism-in-action for their fellows through courage and compassion gave Carnegie hope in his time. Those who have followed in every generation now numbering 10,476 through 2024, continue to give us hope in ours.
Looking ahead to this year, Zahren mentioned opening the Hero Fund’s records for research.
“We must fully utilize the vast records held by the Hero Fund and compiled through over 120 years of exploration of heroism, altruism, and the best of the human condition to understand, inform, and leverage what we have learned about ‘ourselves,’ at least us at our best,” he said.
More to come on that in the future. For now, congratulations and our heartfelt thanks to all heroes recognized by the Hero Fund in 2024, and to this generation’s heroes everywhere.