The Jim Murray Memorial Foundation (JMMF) became an official California 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation on 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 undergraduate journalism students. The JMMF coordinates a nationwide essay competition, with winners decided by a panel of nationally known journalists. The greater the success of the JMMF'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 28 over a period of=2 0nine years.


In addition to Trinity College-Hartford (Jim's alma mater), the following universities currently participate in the essay competition:

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 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 his/her 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 sports topic is pre-screened by each journalism department, and subsequently judged by a panel of national writers. The Murray Scholars are recognized each year at the JMMF awards dinner in southern California.


The JMMF is the recipient of “Five-for-Five” patron grants from the McCormick Foundation, 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 Los Angeles Times, The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Newman’s Own Foundation, Major League Baseball, Angels Baseball Foundation, NASCAR, Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation, The LA Kings, Dodgers Dream Foundation, Fox Sports, The PGA of America, Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita Park, Rydell Automotive Group, and individuals Steve Soboroff, 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 12/10/08