NC529 College Savings Account Grows for the Three Riggins Children Featured on ABC-TV's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition!

NC529 College Savings Account Grows for the Three Riggins Children Featured on ABC-TV's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition!

- Smith Barney offices and employees pledge $30K; Individuals can still make additional contributions at CFNC.org -

RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two Raleigh offices of Smith Barney, a division of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., and individual Smith Barney employees, have contributed and pledged an additional $30,000 to the NC529 college savings account set up through College Foundation of North Carolina for the Riggins family of Raleigh, N.C.

The gift from Citigroup is in keeping with the firm's commitment to educate the next generation and to support organizations and individuals who help to build and strengthen communities.

The Riggins were chosen by the popular ABC television show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, as part of a nationwide search for deserving families. The Riggins family story is expected to air on national television January 21.

In December, College Foundation of North Carolina provided $7,500 in seed funding for a 529 college savings account in North Carolina's National College Savings Program for the three Riggins children. Since that time, Foundation employees and other individuals have also contributed to the Riggins college savings account.

To add contributions to the Riggins family NC 529 account, individuals can simply click on the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition logo on the home page of the CFNC.org website. Mail or deliver the contribution form and a check or money order made payable to "National College Savings Program" to the address provided on the downloadable form.

For tax year 2007, qualified individuals may be able to deduct up to $2,000 in taxable income for contributions made to the North Carolina 529 plan. Consult your financial or tax advisor for more information.

About CFNC

College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC), a free service of the State of North Carolina provided by College Foundation, Inc., the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority and Pathways helps students plan, apply and pay for college.

College Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation serving North Carolina students and families since 1955, administers the tax-free "529" college savings program and a portfolio of more than $2 billion, including low- interest federal Stafford, Parent PLUS, Graduate/Professional PLUS and Consolidation Loans, a private loan and the state's college grant programs on behalf of the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority.

The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority is the State agency that promotes access to higher education by administering financial aid and savings programs, informing students and families about paying for college, teaching educators about financial aid administration, and advocating for resources to support students.

Pathways is a state-based initiative including North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction, the University of North Carolina System, the North Carolina Community Colleges, and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities working together to increase access to college for all North Carolinians.

Source: College Foundation, Inc.

CONTACT: Ben Kittner, Market Research & PR Manager of College
Foundation, Inc., +1-919-835-2336, or bkittner@cfi.org

Web site: http://www.cfnc.org/

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