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The Sallie Mae Fund donates $5,000 to A Shepherd's Hand Resource Center

Funds to provide an educational tutorial program for economically challenged students.

Reston, Va., June 13, 2003—The Sallie Mae Fund today presented A Shepherd's Hand Resource Center, Inc. with a $5,000 donation at a luncheon in Havana, Fla. The funds will provide an educational tutorial program for economically challenged students in Gadsden County where eighty percent of eighth grade students fail the state's standardized academic achievements tests and have an overall educational state grade of "F".

A Shepherd's Hand Resource Center is a community faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to providing an environment filled with resources to help families within the Gadsden County rural communities succeed.

The donation from The Sallie Mae Fund marks the first significant foundation contribution to the Center's $100,000 fundraising campaign. Proceeds from the campaign will be used to develop an academic mentoring model and the William Law Learning Center. The learning center will create a positive environment where both children and their parents can find the tools they need to enhance the student's educational experience. The center will prepare students to meet the challenges they will face both in and out of school by teaching good study habits, test-taking skills and responsible decision making.

"The Sallie Mae Fund opens the doors of higher education for America's children by supporting organizations such as A Shepherd's Hand Resource Center that help children succeed academically," said Susan Porter, Chairman of The Sallie Mae Fund board. "This learning center is much needed in this community and we hope it will have a significant impact."

The $5,000 donation from The Sallie Mae Fund, combined with an equal grant from the Gadsden County Board of Commissioners, brings A Shepherd's Hand Resource Center one-tenth of the way toward their $100,000 campaign goal. News of the donations also prompted the Capital City bank to provide a loan to A Shepherd's Hand Resource Center for further development of the education program.

"We are thrilled by The Sallie Mae Fund’s show of compassion for the educational needs of the children in our rural community,” said Pastor Stanley B. Sims, Sr., Executive Director of A Shepherd's Hand Resource Center. “Their donation gives us hope—a ray of light at a dark moment."

The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Mae, achieves its mission—to increase access to a post–secondary education for America's students—by supporting programs and initiatives that help open doors to higher education, prepare families for their investment, and bridge the gap when no one else can. For more information visit www.salliemaefund.org.

A Shepherd’s Hand Resource Center, Inc., a Community Faith-Based Organization, is dedicated to providing education, health care, and job readiness resources to the rural Gadsden County Community. The Center promotes a safe-positive environment focusing on the whole family.