News

Students at a Paying for College Bus Tour stop, Reading PA

The Sallie Mae Fund Donates $30,000 to Shade Tree Shelter

Seven-years of Fundraising Total Nearly $300,000 for Las Vegas Cause

LAS VEGAS, Nev., Dec. 9, 2005—The women and children of The Shade Tree Shelter will receive some holiday cheer this year courtesy of The Sallie Mae Fund. The charitable organization, sponsored by Sallie Mae, today will donate $30,000 to Shade Tree to help feed, shelter and clothe thousands of women and children in the Las Vegas community this holiday season.

Representatives from The Sallie Mae Fund and employees from Sallie Mae's Las Vegas-based Western Collections Center will present a $30,000 check to Brenda Dizon, executive director of The Shade Tree Shelter, at a private ceremony. Over the past seven years, The Sallie Mae Fund and employees from Sallie Mae have generated nearly $300,000 for Shade Tree.

"The Sallie Mae Fund and Sallie Mae employees here in Las Vegas make our holiday shine brighter each year," said Brenda Dizon, executive director of The Shade Tree Shelter. "They are a beacon of inspiration and generosity, and we are very grateful."

"The Sallie Mae Fund is committed to giving back to the communities where we live and work," said Susan Corsini, senior vice president, The Sallie Mae Fund. "We are proud of the long association we have had with Shade Tree, and pleased we can make a difference in the lives of those who need help this holiday season."

The Shade Tree Shelter is Clark County's primary 24-hour emergency shelter specifically for women and women with children who find themselves in a crisis situation. The local non-profit organization assists more than 4,000 homeless women and children each month and provides an environment that helps each client achieve self-sufficiency. For information about fulfilling volunteer opportunities or providing items needed at The Shade Tree Shelter, please call (702) 385-0072, or visit www.theshadetree.org.

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.