James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund Annual Essay Contest

The topic of the 2016 Essay Contest has been announced:  "What has living in a Teamster household meant to me and my siblings?" A link to the essay contest application is provided here.  All applicants must use the Essay Contest application and return it, along with their essay by June 15, 2016.

Separate from the annual scholarship for high school seniors, the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund Essay Contest will award one-time $1,000.00 scholarships annually to 200 students. All applicants must comply with the following eligibility criteria:

1. Be the son, daughter or financial dependent of an eligible Teamster member, hereafter also referred to as “Teamster Member Relation”;

2. Be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate college, university or community college program, or a technical or vocational program;

3. Be 23 years old or younger by June 15, 2016.

About the Fund: James R. Hoffa became a Teamster member in 1934 and served as General President for 14 years, and, in recognition of his tireless service to the union and its members, was honored as General President Emeritus for life. At the November 1999 General Executive Board meeting, then-General Secretary-Treasurer C. Thomas Keegel presented a resolution to establish the new scholarship fund. This site describes the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund (JRHMSF) and outlines eligibility requirements and application procedures.

The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund is an independent organization established and registered as a tax-exempt entity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Fund is established solely to provide scholarships to the child or dependent of a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and contributions to the Fund are deductible as charitable contributions to the extent permitted by law. In 2015 the Fund awarded $1,000,000 in scholarships.