National Children's Literacy Organization Lauds TSMF for Its Continued
Generosity
RESTON, Va., June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sallie Mae Fund is pleased to
announce that it has been selected as the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF)
"Donor of the Month" for June 2007. The Sallie Mae Fund recently renewed
its support of the national children's literacy organization with a
donation of more than $42,000, which will provide funding for RIF programs
at 16 schools in six states. For nearly 20 years, The Sallie Mae Fund and
Sallie Mae have supported RIF programs with grants and volunteers in the
communities where employees live and work. Since 2001, The Sallie Mae Fund
has provided more than 100,000 books and thousands of volunteer hours
through RIF's National Book Program.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030617/SLMLOGO-a)
"Through the generosity of The Sallie Mae Fund, thousands of RIF kids
have received books and literacy resources," said Carol Rasco, president
and chief executive officer, Reading Is Fundamental. "In addition to The
Fund's substantial financial support, the employees of Sallie Mae have
enriched these children's lives through their extensive volunteer efforts.
We are proud to work in concert with The Sallie Mae Fund to foster a love
of reading in children across the nation."
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 the
event.
This year, The Sallie Mae Fund and teams of Sallie Mae volunteers will
support RIF programs in communities where Sallie Mae employees live and
work, including: Mesa, Ariz.; Rockland and West Roxbury, Mass.; Batavia,
Delevan, Horseheads, Painted Post and Perry, N.Y.; Hanover Twp. and
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; and Copperas Cove and Killeen, Texas.
"The Sallie Mae Fund is committed to supporting programs that foster
academic achievement and help ensure that students are prepared to pursue a
higher education," said Kathleen deLaski, president of The Sallie Mae Fund.
"Literacy, and more importantly a love of reading, are key to a successful
academic career. We are proud to support Reading Is Fundamental, which is
doing so much to improve literacy nationwide."
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, preparing families for their investment, and
bridging the gap when no one else can. For more information, visit
http://www.salliemaefund.org.
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 eight. Through community
volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides 4.5 million
children with 16 million new, free books and literacy resources each year.
For more information and to access reading resources, visit RIF's Web site
at http://www.rif.org.
SOURCE The Sallie Mae Fund
back to top
