FISHERS, Ind., March 12, 2008—Sallie Mae, the nation’s leading provider of saving- and paying-for-college programs, will be recognized today as one of the top donors to United Way of Central Indiana. Sallie Mae employees, combined with matching gifts by The Sallie Mae Fund, gave nearly $715,000 for the fall 2007 campaign, making Sallie Mae the third largest fundraiser for United Way in Central Indiana and the single largest donor in Hamilton County.
At an event commemorating the organization’s 90th anniversary today, United Way of Central Indiana also will recognize Sallie Mae as one of five companies who achieved “Breakthrough” growth in giving for three or more years.
“Every year for the past three years, Sallie Mae employees and The Sallie Mae Fund have set and achieved more and more ambitious goals for giving to improve our community,” said Ellen K. Annala, United Way of Central Indiana’s president and chief executive officer. “In the past five years, employees have more than doubled their giving, and the number participating has grown 31 percent. We are grateful for both their generosity and their leadership to help us address both of our priorities—providing vital human services for those who need help most and assuring that kids are ready to learn when they go to school and ready to earn and be active in their communities when they finish their formal education. Thank you Sallie Mae and The Sallie Mae Fund!”
Surpassing initial contribution goals, Sallie Mae maintained its prior year employee participation, with 85 percent of the company’s Fishers workforce participating in the 2007 campaign. The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Mae, provided a $240,000 matching grant to the efforts.
“For 90 years, United Way has provided invaluable service to the children and families of Central Indiana,” said Bob Ballard, senior vice president, Sallie Mae, who will represent the company and The Fund at the anniversary celebration. “We are inspired by our employees’ commitment and dedication to this very worthy cause and are pleased to partner with United Way to help make a stronger, more vibrant region.”
Serving six Central Indiana counties, United Way of Central Indiana helps sustain vital human services by working exclusively with proven human service agencies that direct life-changing opportunities. United Way also helps ensure that kids enter school ready to learn and leave school ready to earn.
Since 2001, Sallie Mae employees in Indiana have led efforts to bring an additional $1.9 million to the state through The Sallie Mae Fund’s Matching Gifts and Dollars for Doers programs.
For more information contact:
Patricia Nash Christel (703) 984-5382
SLM Corporation (NYSE:
SLM), commonly known as Sallie Mae, is the nation’s leading provider of saving- and paying-for-college programs. The company manages nearly $172 billion in education loans and serves 10 million student and parent customers. Through its Upromise affiliates, the company also manages more than $19 billion in 529 college-savings plans, and is a major, private source of college funding contributions in America with 9 million members and $450 million in member rewards. Sallie Mae and its subsidiaries offer debt management services as well as business and technical products to a range of business clients, including higher education institutions, student loan guarantors and state and federal agencies. More information is available at
www.salliemae.com. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.
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 www.salliemaefund.org.