By Michelle Durham

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Today is the 50th anniversary of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, which provides need-based scholarships to the children of Marines and Navy Corpsman and they are marking the occasion with a special announcement.

Scholarship Foundation President and CEO Margaret Davis says they are making history today.

“It’s an exciting day for us. We’re announcing $6 million worth of awards to 1,900 sons and daughters of Marines and Navy Corpsman in need,” the most in one year in their history.

And Davis says those scholarships are funded by private donors and corporations and about 106 students from our area will receive them. She says it’s particularly important to support these families now who have been faced with multiple moves and deployments.

“It takes a few to sacrifice a lot. Our mission is to honor those who do sacrifice by educating their children.”

The foundation has awarded more than 30,000 scholarships totaling $70 million.

For more information on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, click here.