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ACE, Wal-Mart Foundation Announce Recipients of $2 Million in Success for Veterans Award Grants

Washington, DC (April 22, 2009)—The American Council on Education (ACE) and the Wal-Mart Foundation today announced the award of $2 million in Success for Veterans Award Grants. These $100,000 grants were awarded to 20 institutions across the U.S. that operate model programs advancing access and success in higher education for veterans and their families. The recipient institutions include:

• California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
• California State University, Sacramento
• Clackamas Community College (OR)
• Colorado State University
• Empire State College, SUNY
• Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ)
• Fresno City College (CA)
• George Mason University (VA)
• Hunter College School of Social Work, CUNY
• Lane Community College (OR)
• Los Angeles City College
• Madison Area Technical College (WI)
• Onondaga Community College (NY)
• Park University (MO)
• Ramapo College (NJ)
• Southwestern College (CA)
• Trident Technical College (SC)
• University of California, Santa Cruz
• University of Maine, Augusta
• University of Maryland, University College

The grants given to each of these institutions will support efforts to create online veterans-specific orientation programs, expand on-campus veterans service centers, enhance prospective student outreach efforts, and increase capacity for counseling and psychological services. Brief summaries of the selected proposals are available here.      

"We appreciate the service and sacrifice of our nation's military men and women and our veterans, and have historically worked to address some of the special unmet needs facing the military community," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. "The Wal-Mart Foundation is proud to support the American Council on Education, its colleges and universities, and many other programs that help our veterans get the resources they need to succeed in their education and their transition back to civilian life."

Over the past year, the Wal-Mart Foundation has awarded more than $3.6 million in grants to organizations in support of programs that provide educational assistance for veterans.
 
"Higher education is in a unique position to serve the men and women who have so bravely served our nation," said ACE President Molly Corbett Broad. "The institutions receiving these grants currently enroll nearly 25,000 veterans. When the expanded GI Bill benefits become available in August, we anticipate that these numbers will increase by approximately 20 percent, giving these institutions the opportunity to serve nearly 30,000 veterans this fall. These grants will provide needed resources to expand and enhance the work already being done on these 20 campuses, and to support the dissemination of lessons learned to other institutions. We are so grateful to the Wal-Mart Foundation for their generous support of these worthwhile projects."
 
ACE received nearly 250 applications for Success for Veterans Award Grants, which were reviewed by a selection committee of higher education leaders, program and policy directors, and veterans. Thirty semifinalists were selected and reviewed by a panel of judges comprised of retired college and university chancellors and presidents. Selection criteria included quality and sustainability of the existing programs and initiatives, as well as strategies for disseminating best practices to other institutions.

The ACE/Wal-Mart Success for Veterans Award Grants are part of ACE's Serving Those Who Serve initiative, a multi-year effort designed to effect major changes in how veterans learn about their education benefits and postsecondary options, and how institutional leaders can build capacity to serve veterans on their campuses. In addition, ACE's Serving Those Who Serve initiative includes a college planning web site and outreach campaign to inform veterans about accessing and utilizing their education benefits, and several research-based publications. ACE also hosted several regional meetings that allowed institutions to discuss concerns and pose questions about the implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

About the American Council on Education: Founded in 1918, ACE (www.acenet.edu) is the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents, and more than 200 related associations, nationwide. It seeks to provide leadership and a unifying voice on key higher education issues and influence public policy through advocacy, research, and program initiatives.

About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From February 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, Wal-Mart - and its domestic and international Foundations - gave more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

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