- Time Period: Pre-WW1
- Institution: 1904
- Country: Netherlands
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission (or Medaille van het Carnegie Heldenfonds in Dutch), also known as Carnegie Hero Fund, was established to recognize persons who perform extraordinary acts of heroism in civilian life in the United States and Canada, and to provide financial assistance for those disabled and the dependents of those killed saving or attempting to save others.
Those chosen for recognition receive the Carnegie Medal and become eligible for scholarship aid and other benefits. A private operating foundation, the Hero Fund was established in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1904 with a trust fund of $5 million by Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist.
The fund was inspired by Selwyn M. Taylor and Daniel A. Lyle, who gave their lives in rescue attempts following the Harwick Mine disaster in Harwick, Pennsylvania, just outside Pittsburgh, on January 25, 1904. The disaster claimed 181, including Taylor and Lyle, who were killed during rescue attempts. Greatly touched by Taylor’s and Lyle’s sacrifice, Carnegie had medals privately minted for their families, and within two months he wrote the Hero Fund’s governing “Deed of Trust”, which was adopted by the newly created commission on April 15, 1904.
Administered by a 21-member board still based in Pittsburgh, the Hero Fund has awarded 9,893 medals as of September, 2016, and has given $38.5 million in one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Medal Design
The three inch (7.13 cm) in diameter bronze medals which are given to awardees, are struck by Simons Brothers Co. of Philadelphia and consist of 90% copper and 10% zinc.
A verse from the New Testament of the Bible encircles the outer edge: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
The first medals issued by the trust were in bronze, silver and gold. The trust soon stopped issuing gold medals. The last silver medal was issued in 1981.
