The single event that stimulated Andrew Carnegie to create the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission was a coal mine disaster in Harwick, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, in January 1904, which claimed 181 lives. The victims included an engineer and a miner who went into the stricken mine in a valiant attempt to rescue the others. The tragedy and the sacrifices so moved Carnegie that he promptly took action on his then-novel idea of honoring and helping the “heroes of civilization.”

The Commission’s Deed of Trust, dated March 12, 1904, established a $5 million fund to recognize persons in “peaceful vocations” who act to “preserve or rescue their fellows.” Carnegie specified that each hero to be recognized, or the next of kin, was to receive a medal reciting the heroic deed it commemorated. In addition, the Commission was empowered to make monetary grants to the awardees, especially those who suffered “from pecuniary cares resulting from their heroism.” A 21-member self-perpetuating board of trustees was appointed to administer the Fund.

In the 102 years since its founding, the Commission, which has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, has presented the Carnegie Medal to more than 9,000 men, women and children and given $29 million in accompanying grants, including scholarship aid and continuing assistance. A book published in 1973, A Walk on the Crust of Hell, by Jack Markowitz, describes in detail several dramatic acts of heroism that were recognized by the Commission. In 2004, in recognition of its centennial, the Commission published a 240-page book, A Century of Heroes, which details the history of the Hero Fund and includes numerous summaries of its awardees’ heroic acts.

The Commission maintains a staff of nine, including case investigators who look into rescue acts and also provide regular updates to the Commission on the well being of its beneficiaries.

Rescue acts are brought to the Commission’s attention in a variety of ways, including by interested individuals, civic organizations and a newspaper clipping service retained for that purpose. The materials are carefully evaluated, and those rescues that appear to have award potential are then investigated and reported to the executive committee for a decision. Award criteria require that there be conclusive evidence that the rescuer voluntarily risked his or her own life to an extraordinary degree while acting in behalf of another person.

The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission has as its geographic scope all of the United States and Canada. Its establishment was soon followed by that of similar but independent hero funds in ten European countries.

Carnegie Hero Fund Trust, United Kingdom (founded 1908)

Fondation Carnegie, France (founded 1909)

Carnegie Stiftung für Lebensretter (founded 1910, re-established 2006)

Carnegie Heltefund for Norge, Norway (founded 1911)

Fondation Carnegie pour les Sauveteurs, Switzerland (founded 1911)

Carnegie Heldenfonds, The Netherlands (founded 1911)

Carnegiestiftelsen, Sweden (founded 1911)

Carnegie Belønningsfud for Heltemod, Denmark (founded 1911)

Fondation Carnegie, Belgium (founded 1911)

Fondazione Carnegie, Italy (founded 1911)