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The Sallie Mae Fund donates $10,000 to Shade Tree Shelter

LAS VEGAS, Nev., Dec. 21, 2006—The women and children of the Shade Tree Shelter will once again receive some holiday cheer courtesy of The Sallie Mae Fund. The charitable organization, sponsored by Sallie Mae, will donate $10,000 to Shade Tree to help feed, shelter and clothe thousands of women and children in the Las Vegas community this holiday season. Over the past eight years, The Sallie Mae Fund and employees from Sallie Mae have generated more than $300,000 in contributions to Shade Tree.

"Sallie Mae is a community-oriented company, first and foremost, and through The Sallie Mae Fund, we are committed to giving back to the communities where we live and work," said Fran Haas, Center Head of Sallie Mae's Western Collections Center in Summerlin. "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.

Sallie Mae and The Sallie Mae Fund have a long tradition of supporting many important causes and community needs. The company was recently awarded the prestigious Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership for its work providing scholarships and financial aid information to America’s neediest students and families. Sallie Mae has also been recognized as a top corporate philanthropist by BusinessWeek and the Washington Business Journal.

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. It provides an environment that helps each client achieve self-sufficiency. With steady income, most clients can move out of the shelter and live independently. Established in 1990, the Shade Tree is an independent, non-profit agency. The Shelter’s website is www.theshadetree.org.

The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Mae, achieves its mission—to increase access to a postsecondary 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.