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Business-Higher Education Forum Launches New Resource Center for More Effective Education Philanthropy

For Corporations Investing in Education, StrategicEdSolutions.org Provides Resources and a Forum for Philanthropy Professionals

Washington, DC (September 16, 2008) — The Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) has released a new online resource center, StrategicEdSolutions.orgTM, that provides strategies, tools, and successful programs to help corporations and others make strategic investments in education. The site also provides an interactive forum for corporations and foundations to share best practices to maximize the impact of their education philanthropy. Part of BHEF’s College Readiness Initiative, the new site focuses initially on college readiness and access.

“Our members -- Fortune 500 CEOs, university presidents, and foundation leaders -- asked us to identify effective educational practices and programs that would help them and others improve the impact of their education philanthropy,” says Brian Fitzgerald, executive director of BHEF. “We know that philanthropy is a significant source of innovation to improve student achievement and college readiness. The strategies and programs featured on StrategicEdSolutions.org have a strong record of delivering results, and we are excited to shine a spotlight on these best practices so other philanthropies can learn from and replicate their success.”

BHEF advocates that America’s global competitiveness depends upon a skilled workforce, which in turn requires that students must have the skills and abilities necessary to succeed in college. StrategicEdSolutions.org is designed to equip philanthropists to maximize their impact in addressing these needs.

“BHEF understands the strategies needed to improve college readiness and access,” says David Jones, Chairman of Humana Inc. and a BHEF member. “It also understands that too often, corporate CEOs lack reliable information on which to base their education philanthropy decisions. This new site responds to this need for information through practical examples, thorough research, and on-the-ground strategies.”

BHEF will continue to add new programs and build out other dimensions of StrategicEdSolutions.org. More information about the program criteria and vetting process can be found at StrategicEdSolutions.org.

Major financial support for StrategicEdSolutions.org has been provided by USA Funds®, the nation’s leading education loan guarantor. TIAA-CREF and Sallie Mae also have contributed significant financial support for the development of the site.

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About the Business-Higher Education Forum
BHEF is an organization of Fortune 500 CEOs and senior executives, prominent college and university presidents, and foundation leaders working to advance innovative solutions to our nation’s education challenges in order to enhance U.S. competitiveness. BHEF brings together an extraordinary coalition of corporate, academic, and foundation members to influence public policy and inspire other leaders to act. To learn more, visit BHEF’s Web site at www.bhef.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Ursula Gross, Associate Director of Communications
202-367-1284
Ursula.Gross@bhef.com