The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is a nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, Virginia. It was founded in 1947 to promote and ensure the American Dream for future generations, honor the achievements of outstanding Americans who have succeeded in spite of adversity, and to emphasize the importance of higher education. The association is named after Horatio Alger, a 19th-century author of hundreds of dime novels in the "rags-to-riches" genre who extolled the importance of perseverance and hard work.
The association gives the annual Horatio Alger Award to exemplars of its ideals. It also grants scholarships and describes itself as the largest provider of need-based scholarships in the United States. All scholarships are funded by the members of the Horatio Alger Association. As of 2024, the association had given "more than $265 million in college scholarships to roughly 37,000 students".
Mission According to its website, the Association's mission is to "induct as lifetime Members contemporary role models whose experiences exemplify that opportunities for a successful life are available to all who are dedicated to … integrity, hard work, perseverance and compassion for others". It also provides college scholarships and support services to young people who demonstrate integrity, determination in overcoming adversity and academic potential to make a unique contribution to society.
The organization also seeks to "spread the message that America's free enterprise system provides the greatest opportunities in the world" and to "motivate and educate our nation's young people to the economic and personal opportunities afforded them by the promise of the American free enterprise system".
Scholarship programs
The Horatio Alger Association is one of the largest, privately funded, need-based college scholarship providers in the United States and supports promising under-resourced students with undergraduate, graduate, and career & technical education scholarships. Since the establishment of its scholarship programs in 1984, the Association has awarded more than $265 million in college scholarships to 37,000 students. National Scholars
The National Scholars Program was created in 1984 to help American high school students who have overcome adversity attend college. Over time, the Horatio Alger Association has expanded the program. Every year, the Association awards more than 100 need-based scholarships to high school juniors from every U.S. state and the District of Columbia. Grants received by these National Scholars are valued at $25,000 each.
The Association also operates a State Scholars program that gives scholarships to students in every state. Award amounts range from $2,500 to $10,000. Career & Technical Education Scholarship The National Career & Technical Education Scholarship awards $2,500 to students who wish to obtain career or technical degrees. This program was established by the Association’s late Chairman Emeritus and Endowment Fund President Walter Scott, Jr.
State Scholarships
The association also operates a State Scholars program that gives scholarships to students in every state. Award amounts range from $2,500 to $10,500.
Dennis R. Washington Achievement Scholarship
Alumni recipients of the scholarship are eligible to receive the Dennis R. Washington Achievement Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to alumni who are seeking graduate and doctoral degrees. The program is funded by a $10 million grant from Horatio Alger member Dennis R. Washington and his wife, Phyllis.
Horatio Alger Award
The association annually bestows the Horatio Alger Award on Americans who exemplify dedication, purpose, and perseverance in their personal and professional lives. Recipients have often achieved success in the face of adversity. Each award recipient becomes a lifetime member of the association.
The annual award series was inaugurated in 1947 by Kenneth Beebe of the American Schools and Colleges Association. In 1946, he had given achievement awards to two New York City businessmen. In 1947, he renamed the award for Horatio Alger and made four awards to businessmen. Recipients in subsequent years have included business and government leaders, athletes, entertainers, innovators, entrepreneurs, teachers, artists, and writers who have overcome adversity and achieved great success. Approximately, ten American awardees are announced each year. Since 1947, more than 750 distinguished individuals have received the Horatio Alger Award.
Additionally, each year since 2003, an International Horatio Alger Award has been presented to a citizen of another country who serves as a role model and embodies the ideals promoted by the association.
Notable awardees have included the following: Hank Aaron, baseball player Roger Ailes, television executive Buzz Aldrin, astronaut Wally Amos, television personality, founder of Famous Amos Walter Anderson, magazine editor Dwayne Andreas, businessman Maya Angelou, poet Albert T. Annexstad, businessman Anousheh Ansari, engineer, businesswoman Philip Anschutz, businessman, investor George L. Argyros, diplomat and businessman Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Anthony Athanas, restaurateur Bill Austin, businessman Bret Baier, journalist Robert Ballard, oceanographer Bernard Baruch Eric Ragnar Benson, businessman J. Robert Beyster Michael Bloomberg, businessman, New York City mayor W. Michael Blumenthal, US secretary of the treasury Norman Brinker, restaurateur Lou Brock, baseball player Tom Brokaw, television journalist, author Benjy F. Brooks, pediatric surgeon Art Buchwald, political columnist Pearl S. Buck, author Dean Buntrock, cofounder of Waste Management Carol Burnett, entertainer Herman Cain, CEO of Godfather's Pizza, presidential candidate Chester Carlson Ben Carson, neurosurgeon, presidential candidate Johnny Cash, country musician S. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A Doris K. Christopher, founder of Pampered Chef Mary Higgins Clark, novelist Jim Clayton, founder of Clayton Homes John B. Connally, governor, cabinet official Jenny Craig (entrepreneur) Mary C. Crowley, company founder and author Nicholas D'Agostino, Sr., immigrant co-founder of D'Agostino Supermarkets Charles Deaton, architect, inventor Michael E. DeBakey, surgeon Fernando De Leon, founder of Leon Capital Group Richard DeVos, cofounder of Amway Leonardo DiCaprio, actor Lou Dobbs, television and radio journalist Bob Dole, senator, presidential candidate Tom J. Donohue, CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce Allen B. DuMont, inventor Dwight Eisenhower, Army general and president Milton S. Eisenhower John Elway, NFL quarterback William F. Farley, businessman Bob Farrell, founder of Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour Ruth Fertel, founder of Ruth's Chris Steak House Zachary Fisher, philanthropist, businessman Gerald R. Ford, congressman and president George Foreman, boxer David Foster, musician Tommy Franks, Army general Allen Gellman, jewelry manufacturer Billy Graham, evangelist Phil Gramm, senator George L. Graziadio, Jr. real estate, developer Wayne Gretzky, hockey player Duane Hagadone, businessman Chuck Hagel, senator Joyce C. Hall, founder of Hallmark Mark Victor Hansen, co-founder of Chicken Soup for the Soul Paul Harvey, radio broadcaster Rick Hendrick, owner of NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports Willie Herenton, mayor of Memphis, Tennessee Walter J. Hickel, politician Conrad N. Hilton, founder of Hilton Hotels Joseph H. Hirshhorn Elizabeth Holmes, biotechnology entrepreneur convicted of fraud, no longer an association member (unlisted on the association's website) Herbert Hoover, president Bob Hope, comedian H. Wayne Huizenga, businessman Arthur Imperatore Sr., entrepreneur, businessman Daniel K. Inouye, senator Alphonso Jackson, US Secretary of Housing and urban development Waylon Jennings, musician Rafer L. Johnson, decathlete and film actor James Earl Jones, actor Quincy Jones, musician Y. Michele Kang, businesswoman, sports owner, philanthropist Jewel Kilcher, musician Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald's Jack LaLanne, fitness expert Tom Landry, NFL coach (Dallas Cowboys) Ken Langone, businessman William P. Lear, inventor and businessman Jimmy John Liautaud, owner, founder, and chairman of Jimmy John's Art Linkletter, radio and television personality Ruth B. Love, education administrator Rob Lowe, actor Clare Boothe Luce, writer, politician, and diplomat Allen Ludden, television personality David J. Mahoney, CEO, author John C. Maxwell, author, professional speaker, pastor Reba McEntire, musician Rod McKuen, poet, musician Ed McMahon, television personality Lorne Michaels, writer, producer Brian Mulroney Joseph Neubauer Jean Nidetch Katherine D. Ortega Norman Vincent Peale, minister, author Ruth Stafford Peale, author Roger Penske H. Ross Perot, technology entrepreneur, presidential candidate Roger Tory Peterson T. Boone Pickens, energy executive Byron Pitts Colin L. Powell, Army general, Secretary of State Wallace Rasmussen, businessman and philanthropist Ronald Reagan, president Ryan Reynolds Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State Kenny Rogers, musician Ralph B. Rogers, industrialist, chairman of PBS John W. Rollins, co-founder of Rollins Inc. O. Wayne Rollins, co-founder of Rollins Inc. Herman J. Russell, entrepreneur and philanthropist Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken Jack Sandner, businessman George D. Sax, businessman Ray Scott, angler, founder of B.A.S.S. Walter Scott, Jr., CEO of Kiewit Tom Selleck, actor Jane Seymour, actress, author, entrepreneur Rose Cook Small, businesswoman C. R. Smith, CEO of American Airlines, Army major general, and politician David L. Sokol Earl W. Stafford, philanthropist and founder of The Stafford Foundation Willie Stargell, baseball player Roger T. Staubach, NFL player Edward Durell Stone W. Clement Stone Marcia G. Taylor Anthony J. Terlato Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court Justice Danny Thomas, entertainer Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's Lowell Thomas, writer, broadcaster, filmmaker Tommy Thompson, governor Byron Trott, founder and CEO of BDT Capital Partners Fred Trump, real-estate developer Frank L. VanderSloot, businessman Herschel Walker, NFL running back and diplomat Dennis R. Washington, businessman Denzel Washington, actor Lawrence Welk, musician Carl Westcott, businessman Frederic Whitaker Oprah Winfrey, television personality Minoru Yamasaki, architect Chuck Yeager, Air Force General, test pilot Jordan Zimmerman, advertising executive
Norman Vincent Peale Award The Norman Vincent Peale Award is presented to a Horatio Alger Member who "has made exceptional humanitarian contributions to society, has been active in the Association, and continues to exhibit courage, tenacity and integrity in the face of great challenges". This award is given in honor of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, who was a Member of the Horatio Alger Association.
Notable awardees include:
Tom Selleck David L. Sokol Joe Neubauer Dennis R. Washington Clarence Thomas Ed McMahon
Walter Scott, Jr. Award The Walter Scott, Jr. Award is presented to Horatio Alger Members who have substantially impacted the programs and mission of the Horatio Alger Association through their leadership and exemplary support. The award is named after late Chairman Emeritus Walter Scott, Jr., who was the founder of Association’s State Scholarship Program and the Horatio Alger Endowment Fund. The award was established in 2024 and was bestowed upon its inaugural recipients, Dennis R. Washington and his wife, Phyllis Washington.
Visionary Philanthropy Award