Lincoln Financial Group Foundation Awards $750,000 Grant to WHYY to Create Lincoln Financial Digital Education Studio in State-of-the-Art Learning Lab

Lincoln Financial Group Foundation Awards $750,000 Grant to WHYY to Create Lincoln Financial Digital Education Studio in State-of-the-Art Learning Lab

Learning Lab will connect Greater Philadelphia region through digital technology

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Lincoln Financial Group Foundation awarded a $750,000 grant to WHYY, in honor of Lincoln Financial Group's 100th anniversary, to create the Lincoln Financial Digital Education Studio within WHYY's Learning Lab, a planned state-of-the-art facility to be built adjacent to WHYY's headquarters.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050830/LFLOGO )

The Learning Lab will allow local organizations to enhance and expand their work and outreach through digital technologies in the facility and also virtually through digital connectivity. The facility and technology resources will enhance information access, collaboration and foster learning among arts and culture, and human services organizations, as well as residents of the Greater Philadelphia region.

The Lincoln Financial Digital Education Studio, the largest of four main production, performance and meeting spaces in the Learning Lab, will have handicap-accessible seating for 100-150 people. The Lincoln Financial Digital Education Studio also will feature four studio cameras, operated by live technicians or robotically from the control room, which will allow broadcast- quality video production for corporate training, teacher professional development, demonstrations, and university lectures.

Performances in the Lincoln Financial Digital Education Studio before an audience can simultaneously serve as a live, electronic field trip for a high school class, be broadcast on one of WHYY's digital TV channels and datacast through the airwaves to personal computers throughout the region.

In addition, from the Lincoln Financial Digital Education Studio, teachers will learn how to incorporate video and the Internet into their classrooms; community organizations will be able to hold performances, demonstrations, lectures and meetings, as well as job training sessions before live audiences and those participating at remote locations. This space allows organizations the opportunity to extend the life or audience of their event or program.

"Technology is a powerful educational tool that not only enhances teaching but also prepares youth and adults for greater success," says Jon A. Boscia, chairman and chief executive officer, Lincoln Financial Group. "We are proud to support WHYY's Learning Lab by awarding this grant, as part of our 100th anniversary celebration, to provide students, teachers, nonprofit organizations, and the Greater Philadelphia Region with technology resources that will facilitate lifelong learning and community engagement. The new facility also will enhance the programs offered by nonprofit organizations and enhance outreach, volunteer training, and networking efforts that will result in growth. We are confident that the facility will help more people in our region experience the opportunities that technology offers and bring community organizations together," adds Boscia.

Other spaces in the Learning Lab will include: the Community Room, a "smart" classroom where individuals will receive training and learn to express themselves through video and audio; the Digital Kitchen, a workspace with editing stations and meeting tables; and the Portal, the Learning Lab's lobby and digital showcase center, complete with displays of the latest in digital technology.

The Learning Lab is a $10 million project, which includes money for construction and endowment for operations. To date, WHYY has secured approximately $5 million. Final planning and construction will begin once all the construction costs are in hand.

"WHYY deeply thanks the Lincoln Financial Group Foundation for its generous support of the WHYY Learning Lab," adds William Marrazzo, President & CEO of WHYY. "The Lincoln Financial Digital Education Studio will be an integral part of the Learning Lab, which will help extend the footprint of the region's not-for-profit organizations and help community members tell their own stories through WHYY's digital platforms."

About WHYY

WHYY is what a diverse community has in common. WHYY, through television, radio and other communications services, makes our region a better place, connecting each of us to the world's richest ideas and all of us to each other.

About Lincoln Financial Group Foundation

The Lincoln Financial Group Foundation, established in 1962, is the charitable giving arm of Lincoln Financial Group. Under Foundation guidelines, grants are made in the areas of education, arts/culture and human services. Lincoln sets aside two percent of its pretax earnings, averaged over a three-year period, for charitable causes that support philanthropic endeavors in the communities where its employees live and work. The Lincoln Financial Group Foundation is the proud supporter of other WHYY programs, including Showcase on WHYY 91FM and the Lincoln Legacy mural video segments, currently airing on WHYY platforms, that are part of Lincoln's year-long anniversary project that earlier this year brought together the National Constitution Center, the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, and the School District of Philadelphia to inspire hundreds of Philadelphia school children to connect history, art, and community.

About Lincoln Financial Group

Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Group has consolidated assets of $122 billion as of September 30, 2005, and had annual consolidated revenues of $5.4 billion in 2004. Through its wealth accumulation, retirement income and wealth protection businesses, the company provides annuities, life insurance, 401(k) and 403(b) plans, savings plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, institutional investment and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050830/LFLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Lincoln Financial Group

CONTACT: Media inquiries: Anna Christopher, +1-215-351-2066,
achristopher@whyy.org, or Daneil Mazone, +1-215-351-3316, dmazone@whyy.org,
both of WHYY; or Rob Fleener of Lincoln Financial Group, +1-215-448-1455,
MediaRelations@LFG.com

Web site: http://www.lfg.com/

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