Fallen Hero’s Children Receive NFL Scholarships

January 29, 2026

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The children of slain NYPD Detective Didarul Islam, who was killed while working security at the NFL headquarters in Manhattan, have received educational scholarships from the Folds of Honor Foundation in partnership with the NFL. Presented on National First Responders Day by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the scholarships ensure the fallen hero’s dream for his children’s education lives on, highlighting the growing trend of corporate and nonprofit support for the families of those who protect our communities.

Story Highlights

Three children of slain NYPD Detective Didarul Islam received educational scholarships from the Folds of Honor Foundation on National First Responders Day
Islam was killed July 28, 2025, during a mass shooting at NFL headquarters in Manhattan while working security in uniform
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell personally presented scholarships alongside Lt. Col. Dan Rooney at the 47th Precinct in the Bronx
The fallen officer’s children, including a newborn born weeks after his death, now have financial support for their educational futures

Honoring a Hero’s Sacrifice on National First Responders Day

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Lt. Col. Dan Rooney of the Folds of Honor Foundation presented educational scholarships to the three children of NYPD Detective Didarul Islam on October 28, 2025, at the 47th Precinct in the Bronx. The timing coincided with National First Responders Day, adding significance to the ceremony honoring Islam’s sacrifice. Islam, 36, was killed on July 28, 2025, during a mass shooting at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan while working a private security job in his NYPD uniform. The gunman targeted NFL offices in the building, killing Islam and three others before taking his own life.

Non profit foundation group to give scholarship to kids of fallen NYPD officer https://t.co/i5AnIR3fEg pic.twitter.com/HslM9UgqbK

— New York Post Metro (@nypmetro) January 25, 2026

Tragedy Strikes Officer Dedicated to Public Service

Detective Islam joined the NYPD in 2021 after immigrating from Bangladesh as a child, embodying the American dream through service to his adopted country. While working security under a special program that allows off-duty officers to serve in uniform, Islam was killed protecting innocent lives at the NFL headquarters building. His wife was pregnant with their third child at the time of his death. The NYPD posthumously promoted him to detective, recognizing his ultimate sacrifice. The family has endured profound trauma, with one son experiencing nightmares about his father’s death, according to brother-in-law Kamrul Hasan.

Corporate and Nonprofit Partnership Secures Children’s Futures

The Folds of Honor Foundation, which supports educational opportunities for families of fallen service members and first responders, partnered with the NFL to provide the scholarships. This partnership reflects a growing trend of corporate involvement in supporting law enforcement families. Goodell stated the scholarships would help the children “realize their dreams” and expressed hope that Islam would be proud. Rooney emphasized the children would “carry on his legacy.” The children expressed intentions to follow their father’s path into policing, demonstrating the enduring impact of his service on the next generation.

NYPD’s Network of Support for Fallen Officers’ Families

The Islam family’s scholarships join a longstanding tradition of NYPD-related nonprofit support dating back to post-9/11 efforts. Organizations like the NYPD Honor Legion’s Scholarship Fund offer annual scholarships to children of slain officers through essay applications. The Sergeants Benevolent Association Widows and Children’s Fund, established after NYPD sergeants died in the World Trade Center attacks, provides benefits and advocacy for fallen officers’ families. Additional groups including Survivors of the Shield, Verrazano 10-13 Association, and Detectives’ Endowment Association Widows’ and Children’s Fund maintain robust support networks. These organizations represent the fraternal bonds within law enforcement that extend beyond the grave, ensuring families don’t face educational and financial burdens alone.

This scholarship presentation underscores a fundamental truth conservatives recognize: when government officials and private citizens work together without bureaucratic interference, real support reaches those who need it most. The immediate financial relief for Islam’s children amid their grief provides both short-term stability and long-term educational opportunities. The partnership between the NFL and Folds of Honor Foundation demonstrates how corporate-philanthropy collaborations can effectively honor fallen officers while strengthening ties between America’s institutions and law enforcement communities. As these children grow with the security their father worked to provide, they carry forward the values of service, sacrifice, and the American dream their father embodied.

Watch the report: NFL awards scholarships to children of fallen NYPD detective