FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       CONTACT: Sara Frieden
27 October 2004                                                                     (202) 547-8189

F.O.P. Foundation Makes Award from the Steve Young Memorial Scholarship Program

Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, announced that the Steve Young Memorial Scholarship Program has awarded a scholarship to Paula Land of Cumming, Georgia.

"The F.O.P. sees the Steve Young Memorial Scholarship Program as part of its obligation to our extended law enforcement family," Canterbury said. "When Mrs. Land lost her husband in the line of duty, she became the sole supporter of her family. This scholarship is designed to help families in these circumstances."

The Steve Young Memorial Scholarship Program, created by a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, is administered by the National Fraternal Order of Police Foundation to assist the spouses of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Officer David Paul Land was an officer with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.  On 26 March 2003 he died en route to responding to a domestic dispute call when a vehicle struck his motorcycle. He is survived by his wife.

The scholarship enables recipients to receive personalized career counseling at one of the more than 1,900 One Stop Career Centers, where they will develop an individual employment plan to help them reach their career goals. F.O.P. Grant Liaison Yvonne Williams will accompany Mrs. Land on her initial visit to the Career Resource Center- Cherokee County to meet with her Career One-Stop Case Manager.

"By helping families like Paula’s, we honor the memory of law enforcement officers, like Officer Land, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty," Canterbury said. "We hope that many more survivors will be able to benefit from the Steve Young Memorial Scholarship Grant Program."

The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States, with more than 318,000 members.

For more information or elaboration, please do not hesitate to contact the National F.O.P. Legislative Office at 202.547.8189 or via e-mail.