THE SWEDISH CARNEGIE
HERO FUND
In the beginning of 1911 the American industrialist Andrew Carnegie, born in
Scotland, offered Sweden 230 000 US Dollars to establish a Swedish Hero Fund. The Swedish Government
approved the by-laws for the Swedish Carnegie Hero Fund on October 6th, 1911.
The main purpose of the statutes was:
"To give awards to persons who voluntarily or otherwise beyond what may be
deemed to be their duty, have, by some gallant action in the peaceful walks of life risked their
lives in order to save human lives in the territory of Sweden and on Swedish ships."
For many years the fund offered money to those who had suffered when saving or
trying to save lives. Nowadays the social insurance system in Sweden normally helps in such
situations. Today the award consists of a gold watch with inscription, a diploma and a sum of money.
More than
23 9 5 Carnegie Awards have been given since 1912.
As the number of heroes had deccreased during the years and the fund had more
money than it could give to heroes, the by-laws were in 1993 amended so that the fund, at second hand,
can support research which can be of importance to save human lives in connection with accidents.The
fund has hereafter, besides awards to heroes, given financial support to different medical research
projects and other projects such as the training of a dog which will be skilled in water rescue and
locating victims under water and in burning houses.
The members of the board are also members of the board of a fund established
by Mr Edvard Ros�n who was rescued from drowning 40 years ago. The person who saved his life was given
an award by the Swedish Carnegie Hero Fund. Edvard Ros�ns fund shall according to its by-laws support
the Carnegie Hero Fund. From this fund awards can be given to those who have shown bravery beyond the
call of duty, even if they have not risked their own lives. Money has been given to the Swedish Sea
Rescue Society for a Lifeboat named Carnegiestiftelsen based in the Baltic Sea on Gotland, the largest
island in Sweden.
Chairman of the board is Ann-Christine Lindeblad, former justice
of the Supreme Court, and vice chairman is Andreas Arvidsson. They are both officially appointed. The other six members of the board represent
different skills such as lifesaving on ice, fire fighting, sea rescue, medicine and education and
are appointed by the board. The Ambassador of the United States of America in Stockholm is an
honorary member of the board. The board meets three times a year. The Swedish Carnegie Fund has no
staff besides an executive Secretary of the Ulf Kö
ping-Höggård
.
Awards being given 2009 - 2022 from Carnegiestiftelsen
Research support 2009 - 2022 |