The Jim Murray Memorial Foundation, a California 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation, was established May 17, 1999, to perpetuate Jim Murray’s legacy and his love for and dedication to his extraordinary career in journalism. The Foundation’s goal is to raise funds throughout the year to provide scholarships for second and third year journalism students. The Foundation coordinates a nationwide essay competition, with winners decided by a panel of nationally known journalists. The greater the success of the Foundation’s fundraising events, the more financial support it will provide for talented students.

Initially, the top 15 journalism schools in the nation were invited to participate in the student essay competition as well as the schools attended by the Foundation’s Board members. The number of participating schools has grown to 29 over a period of eight years.

In addition to Trinity College-Hartford (Jim's alma mater) and Columbia University (to honor Jim's 1990 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary), the following universities participate in the selection process:

Arizona State University

Ball State University

California State University-Northridge

Indiana University-Bloomington

Iowa State University

Loyola University-New Orleans

Northwestern University

Ohio University-Athens

Penn State University

State University New York at Brockport

St. Bonaventure University

Syracuse University

University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA)

University of Florida-Gainesville

University of Hawaii

University of Iowa

University of Kansas

University of Maryland-College Park

University of Minnesota at Twin Cities

University of Missouri

University of Montana

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Pennsylvania

University of Southern California (USC)

University of Texas-Austin

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Wake Forest University

Other journalism schools are considered by special request to the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

To qualify for a JMMF scholarship, each student must be a second or third year undergraduate accepted into the university’s School of Journalism. Each student must have at least a “B” GPA. An essay of 1,000 words, and no less than 750 words, on a pre-selected topic is pre-screened by each Journalism department, and judged by a panel of national writers. The Murray Scholars are recognized each year at the Jim Murray Invitational Golf Classic in southern California.

The JMMF is the recipient of “Five-for-Five” patron grants from the St. Louis Rams, NFL Charities, and American Honda Motor Co., Inc. These grants secure one scholarship each year for a period of five years. Other major contributors are The McCormick Tribune Foundation, The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Newman’s Own Foundation, the Wallis Foundation, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation, Fox Sports, Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita Park, Los Angeles Times, FrameStore, Cardiff Limousine of Palm Desert, and individuals Steve Soboroff, Mace Siegel, Peter O’Malley and Linda McCoy-Murray.

*Financial need gives no special claim to a Murray Scholarship. No student shall be qualified or disqualified on account of race or religious opinions.

Revised 6/01/07