"My father was a recovering alcoholic and addictions counselor for the last 25 years," explains Grahn of her father who died in 2001. "Our family is...pretty well versed on alcoholism and children of alcoholics, as was he. We were all encouraged to take the circumstances and make the best out of them by educating ourselves and trying to help somebody else with it. So we set up a [the Robert Grahn Scholarship Foundation] in his name because he helped so many kids. There were so many kids that came to his funeral and said, 'Your dad saved my life.'"

The Robert Grahn Scholarship Foundation "is a foundation set up for high school students that need money, and they write an essay, and it's called 'Why I Choose Not To Use'" says Grahn. The writer of the best essay receives a scholarship.

"My dad was also a teacher," says Grahn with a smile. "So it takes the two things he did best and puts them together."

Grahn notes that her GH fans have helped make the scholarship a success. "I cannot even tell you how much money GENERAL HOSPITAL viewers have raised for him," she grins. "It's fantastic."

For more on the foundation or how to make a donation, go to http://www.nancyleegrahn.com/grahnfoundation.shtml.