The American Indian College Fund

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Robert P. Murray
Vice President, Communications
(317) 806-1283
bmurray@usafunds.org

Contributions will enhance access to education
for minority students
USA Funds awards $355,000 to national scholarship groups

NDIANAPOLIS — (November 26, 2007) USA Funds ®, the nation's leading education-loan guarantor, has announced the award of $355,000 in contributions to five national scholarship organizations that promote access to higher education for minority students. For the sixth consecutive year, USA Funds has awarded the funds to the American Indian College Fund, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the United Negro College Fund. This is the first year for awards to the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and the Asian and Pacific Islander Scholarship Fund. These contributions address the findings of a federal advisory committee, which reported that members of ethnic-minority groups will account for a large part of the future growth in the college-going population and that these students will have significant financial need.

“Through the support of organizations like USA Funds, the United Negro College Fund is able to provide scholarships for African-American students,” Andrea Neely, UNCF area development director. “We are extremely grateful for USA Funds' continued generosity in making sure that more African-American students will realize the dream of a college education.”

USA Funds' contributions to the national scholarship organizations complement USA Funds' own $8.3-million scholarship programs, which assist students in financial need. Up to half of USA Funds' scholarship awards will go to students who are members of ethnic-minority groups or are physically disabled.

In announcing the awards, William R. Neale, chairman of USA Funds' board of trustees noted, "In keeping with our mission to promote access to higher education, we are pleased to support the scholarship programs of these outstanding organizations. These organizations are working to ensure that ethnic-minority students have the chance to realize their dreams of postsecondary education, and that is at the heart of the USA Funds mission."

Headquartered in Indianapolis, USA Funds is a nonprofit corporation that works to enhance postsecondary-education preparedness, access and success by providing and supporting financial and other valued services. USA Funds annually guarantees education loans totaling $27.3 billion for students and parents throughout the nation. For more information about USA Funds, visit www.usafunds.org.

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