Grant To Provide Educational Enhancement Opportunities For Students In Five Underserved High Schools In New York City

NEW YORK, N.Y., October 11, 2005 — Foundation for Excellent Schools (FES) today announced a three-year, $300,000 grant from the New York Life Foundation to support The Century Program (TCP) in five of New York City's most underserved high schools. The funds will provide at least 500 high school students with academic and social support to increase their chances of graduating from high school and obtaining a college education.

"This grant from the New York Life Foundation will offer many at-risk high school students in New York City the tools to graduate from high school and improve their lives by attaining a college education," said Herbert F. Dalton Jr., president of the Foundation for Excellent Schools. "There are many obstacles for children in the environments we serve that challenge them as they try to pursue successful academic careers. With the generous support of the New York Life Foundation, these students can not only overcome these obstacles but they can also succeed."

"We are delighted to partner with the Foundation for Excellent Schools and support The Century Program, which shapes the academic future of many disadvantaged children," said Sy Sternberg, chairman and chief executive officer of New York Life Insurance Company and chairman of the New York Life Foundation. "By supporting this program, we are helping many young people set greater personal and academic goals and successfully achieve them. It gives us great satisfaction to know we are helping so many to fulfill their potential."

TCP improves academic performance and attendance, helps students develop personal and academic goals, and ultimately ensures that more students graduate from high school and go on to and graduate from college. Working in partnership with a university, each participating high school identifies at least 100 underserved students — designated "TCP Scholars" — to benefit from TCP activities that include early college awareness, mentoring, goal setting and community service.

In addition to providing at least 500 students with academic and social support, this grant will allow the five funded high schools to participate in FES' Early College Awareness Week where that college's faculty, alumni and admissions officers visit the TCP partner school and help students understand how to access, prepare for, and succeed in college.

Schools selected to participate in the program are: Columbus Institute for Math & Science in the Bronx; DeWitt Clinton High School also in the Bronx; Marta Valle Secondary School in Manhattan; The Urban Assembly School for Law & Justice in Brooklyn; and the Richard R. Green High School in Manhattan.

About Foundation for Excellent Schools
Foundation for Excellent Schools (www.fesnet.org) is a national nonprofit organization that partners with public schools in high-need communities to raise student aspirations and performance. By encouraging every student to take "One More Step," FES works alongside educators to develop practices that sustain a culture of achievement. Since 1991, FES has helped more than 140,000 students in 25 states improve test scores, earn better grades, graduate from high school, and pursue post-secondary opportunities.

About the New York Life Foundation
The New York Life Foundation is the major vehicle through which New York Life Insurance Company channels contributions to national and local nonprofit organizations. Through its Nurturing the Children initiative, the Foundation supports organizations, programs and services that target young people, particularly in the areas of mentoring, safe places to learn and grow, and educational enhancement opportunities. Please visit the Foundation's Web site at (www.newyorklifefoundation.org).

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