A Statement from the American Federation for Children and Alliance for School Choice on the Passing of Ted Forstmann

It was just a week and a half ago that we brought you the inspiring story of the Children's Scholarship Fund, the brainchild of the late John T. Walton and Ted Fortsmann. The Wall Street Journal was profiling Fortsmann and his amazing organization, which has helped hundreds of thousands of low-income kids get a good education since Fortsmann and Walton started it in 1999.

Today, we're sad to be writing about Fortsmann again. The philanthropist and education reformer died yesterday at the age of 71. Our chairman, Betsy DeVos, released a statement expressing her sadness upon learning the news of Fortsmann's death:

On behalf of the entire American Federation for Children and the Alliance for School Choice, I want to express my heartfelt sadness upon learning of the passing of our friend Ted Forstmann yesterday.  

 Ted was a revolutionary thinker in the fight for education reform, a pioneer who dedicated his life to helping disadvantaged children and advancing the cause of educational equality throughout the country. One of his crowning achievements was the Children’s Scholarship Fund, which he founded in 1999 with another school choice visionary, the late John T. Walton. 

Through the work of the Children’s Scholarship Fund, Ted helped give over $480 million in scholarships to hundreds of thousands of low-income children nationwide. He brought together a bipartisan coalition of philanthropists, business leaders and public officials, giving strength to the long-term prospects of fundamental and substantive school reform for disadvantaged kids.

You can read the full statement here. The Forstmann family is in the thoughts and prayers of the entire Alliance and Federation staffs.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG