News
Students at a Paying for College Bus Tour stop, Reading, PA
The Sallie Mae Fund honored as "Donor of the Month" by Reading Is Fundamental
National literacy organization recognizes The Fund and Sallie Mae employees for long-time support
Oct. 1, 2008 (Reston, VA) — The Sallie Mae Fund is pleased to announce that it has been selected as the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) “Donor of the Month” for October 2008. The Sallie Mae Fund recently renewed its support of the national children’s literacy organization with a grant of more than $30,000, which will provide funding for RIF programs at 13 sites in six states. For nearly 20 years, The Sallie Mae Fund and Sallie Mae have supported RIF programs with grants totaling more than $965,000 and thousands of volunteer hours in the communities where employees live and work. Since 2001, The Sallie Mae Fund has provided more than 116,000 books through RIF’s Books for Ownership.
“We are grateful for the long lasting and generous support of The Sallie Mae Fund toward children’s literacy,” said Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental, the nation’s oldest and largest children and families’ literacy nonprofit. “In addition to The Fund’s substantial financial support, Sallie Mae employees contribute significant volunteer time reading to children at RIF book distributions, helping them develop a lifelong love of reading.”
This year, The Sallie Mae Fund and teams of Sallie Mae volunteers will support RIF programs in several communities where employees live and work, including:
Founded in 1966, Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. is the nation’s oldest and largest children’s literacy organization. It develops and delivers children’s and family literacy programs that help prepare young children for reading and motivate school-age children to read regularly. RIF’s National Book Program, now known as Books for Ownership, motivates children, families and community members to read together. Students have the opportunity to choose and take home a book at no cost to their families and interact with volunteers, who read stories to the children at events which take place three times a year.
“Financial support from The Sallie Mae Fund and many hours given by Sallie Mae volunteers contribute to Reading Is Fundamental’s ability to provide 4.6 million children with 16 million new, free books and literacy resources each year,” said Erin Korsvall, vice president of The Sallie Mae Fund. “We are proud to be part of these efforts so critical to ensuring that underserved students receive the necessary reading and comprehension skills to prepare them for life.”
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Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF’s highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides 4.6 million children with 16 million new, free books and literacy resources each year. For more information and to access reading resources, visit RIF’s website at www.rif.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.
Contact
Lyntina Townsend
202-608-2745
lyntina.townsend@bet.net
Erica Eriksdotter
703-984-5628
erica.eriksdotter@salliemae.com
