The John & Sophie Choratch Scholarship Fund was initiated by Sophie Choratch in 2005. It will provide educational scholarships to deserving students whose parents either work or volunteer as a first responder.
Sophie Choratch often spoke of wanting to provide scholarships to students in Washington County. She wished for a fair selection process and she also wanted the students to be able to attend the school of their choice. It only seemed natural that when the tragic events of September 11 occurred, Mrs. Choratch was moved to help the victims in New York. In a codicil to her will she instructed that the residue of her estate be set up in a trust “to assist worthy students of post high school studies, in the payment of their tuition and miscellaneous expenses of their training both in college, post graduate school or trade school. It is my direction that the funds be expended for only students whose parents were victims of the September 11, 2001 Twin Towers Tragedy.”
In response to the 9/11 tragedy many Americans, like Mrs. Choratch, were moved to contribute to charities to help the victims. In fact, contributions were so great that charities stopped accepting additional gifts and urged those wishing to help to contribute in their local communities. The original intent of Mrs. Choratch’s fund was no longer practical. Washington County Orphans Court agreed and permitted the Foundation to redirect the scholarships to Washington County.
Sophie Choratch was born Feb. 2, 1916, in Donora, PA, the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Lenhart Andrews. She was a graduate of Donora High School and the Hixson School of Floral Design, and was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Donora. Mrs. Choratch was the owner and operator of John’s Flower Shoppe in Donora for almost 40 years, retiring in September 2002. She was preceded in death by her husband, John.