News

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
July 28, 2008

CONTACTS: 
Wal-Mart                                                         Freestate ChalleNGe Academy
Amy Wyatt-Moore                                          COL Richard Young
1-800-331-0085                                           410-306-1801

  

THE FREESTATE CHALLENGE ACADEMY TEAMS UP WITH WAL-MART TO PROMOTE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Two Freestate ChalleNGe Academy graduates benefit from Wal-Mart Foundation support

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD – The Freestate ChalleNGe Academy is honored to announce that vocational scholarships have been awarded to recent program graduates, Terrell D. Brown-Pixley and Matthew R. Mehrkam.   The scholarships, made possible by a grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation, will allow Terrell and Matthew to continue their education and job training through vocational programs in Maryland.

The Wal-Mart Foundation contributed $250,000 to support the vocational education efforts of 132 National Guard Youth Challenge graduates from 33 programs in 27 states plus Puerto Rico.  Sixty-six (66) of those scholarships have recently been awarded.  An additional sixty-six (66) scholarships will be awarded in December. 

"We are honored to have the support of the Wal-Mart Foundation," said Lt. Gen. (Ret) John B. Conaway (USAF), Chairman of the National Guard Youth Foundation.  "Wal-Mart's support will allow National Guard Youth Challenge program graduates to continue their education at vocational institutions across the country."

The Freestate ChalleNGe Academy is located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland and works with disadvantaged youth during a 5 month residential and 12 month non-residential mentoring program to provide education, life and job skills. 

"The National Guard Youth Challenge Program has given many of America's youth a second chance," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. "Wal-Mart is honored to do our part to help these students gain the necessary job skills and technical training to enter the 21st century workforce."

 The National Guard Youth Challenge Program is a 17-month, co-ed program for 16- to 18-year-old high school dropouts that offers them the opportunity to enhance their life skills, earn their GED, pursue higher education, improve their employment potential and broaden their chances at success.  Since being founded in 1993, the Youth Challenge has grown to 33 programs in 27 states and Puerto has graduated over 81,100 former high school dropouts.  For more information about the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, go to www.ngycp.org.

About the Wal-Mart Foundation
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 supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability and health. In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

About the National Guard Youth Foundation
The National Guard Youth Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization formed to support the work of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program through public awareness, scholarships, higher education assistance, mentoring and job development programs for graduates.  The Foundation works to expand the number of states and sites per state to accommodate growing demand for the program. The Honorary Board of Directors is co-chaired by Former President George H. W. Bush and Senator Mary L. Landrieu (D-La).  For more information about the National Guard Youth Foundation, please visit www.ngyouthfoundation.org.